Education (Colleges & Universities)
Here's a look at documents from public, private and community colleges in the U.S.
Featured Stories
University of South Florida: Study Reveals Dramatic Decline in Some Historic Sargassum Populations
TAMPA, Florida, Dec. 6 (TNSjou) -- The University of South Florida issued the following news:
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Study reveals dramatic decline in some historic sargassum populations
By Dyllan Furness, College of Marine Science
A new study led by researchers at the University of South Florida's College of Marine Science has found that certain populations of the seaweed sargassum have experienced a significant decline over the past decade. This was true even as an increased abundance of sargassum in the tropical Atlantic caused large mats of the seaweed to inundate beaches across the Caribbean and Gulf regions.
... Show Full Article
TAMPA, Florida, Dec. 6 (TNSjou) -- The University of South Florida issued the following news:
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Study reveals dramatic decline in some historic sargassum populations
By Dyllan Furness, College of Marine Science
A new study led by researchers at the University of South Florida's College of Marine Science has found that certain populations of the seaweed sargassum have experienced a significant decline over the past decade. This was true even as an increased abundance of sargassum in the tropical Atlantic caused large mats of the seaweed to inundate beaches across the Caribbean and Gulf regions.
The abundance of sargassum in the Atlantic's north Sargasso Sea has plummeted since 2015, according to the paper published this week in Nature Geoscience. Sargassum from the Gulf, which annually supplies the Sargasso Sea, has also decreased substantially.
The findings point to ocean warming as a possible cause of the decline and suggest a dramatic shift in sargassum's distribution, which could affect the health of marine ecosystems.
"What is fascinating is that two opposite patterns occurred in the Atlantic Ocean," said Chuanmin Hu, professor of oceanography at the USF College of Marine Science and senior author of the study. "The tropical Atlantic has seen a significant increase in sargassum in the past decade, but at the same time the Sargasso Sea has a lot less sargassum than it used to."
Much like rainforests, large floating mats of sargassum support high levels of biodiversity. They serve as an important habitat for turtles, crabs, shrimp, fish, and seabirds, some of which are specially adapted to inhabit the mats of seaweed.
However, once sargassum mats wash ashore and decay, they can emit a foul odor, harm marine life, and disrupt coastal communities. Cleanup efforts in the United States alone have cost businesses and governments millions of dollars annually.
Hu has used satellites to study sargassum since 2006 and spearheaded the discovery of the Great Atlantic Sargassum Belt in 2019. His Optical Oceanography Lab is a global leader in sargassum research, providing satellite imagery and monthly bulletins that inform stakeholders about sargassum biomass seen from space.
Read more: USF experts lead on sargassum research, monitoring, and prediction
For the recent study, Yingjun Zhang, then a postdoctoral researcher, and Brian Barnes, assistant research professor at the USF College of Marine Science, analyzed satellite data gathered by NASA to assess changes in sargassum biomass. The lab partnered with researchers at Sea Education Association and Eckerd College, who observed similar declines using field collected data, and provided historical records, temperature tolerance information, and variety-level sargassum distribution insights that were unavailable by remote sensing. Researchers from Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution and Florida Atlantic University also contributed to the study.
The Gulf typically experiences a spring bloom of sargassum, which is carried north by currents to the Sargasso Sea, where peak season occurs during late fall or early winter. Lower levels of healthy sargassum in the Gulf result in a decreased abundance of healthy sargassum in the Sargasso Sea.
"These findings suggest we may be witnessing the early stages of a basin-scale regime shift in sargassum distribution," said Zhang, now a postdoctoral scholar at the Scripps Institution of Oceanography. "Since a wide range of marine life relies on pelagic sargassum ecosystems, this could really make a difference."
Barnes said, "The regime shift also includes changes in sargassum seasonality, as the once fall and winter peaks are now replaced by summer peaks in the north Sargasso Sea."
By analyzing three ingredients all plants depend on -- light, nutrients, and temperature -- the researchers posit that record high temperatures in the Gulf, including more frequent marine heat waves and possible nutrient competition by sargassum transported from the Caribbean Sea, may have stunted the region's population of sargassum. The result is weakened sargassum that struggles to survive once it arrives in the Sargasso Sea.
Studies have shown that waters in the Gulf warmed approximately 0.19 C (0.34 F) per decade between 1970 and 2020, about twice the rate of the global ocean. While sargassum in the Gulf prefer temperatures between 20 and 28 C (68 to 82 F), summer water temperatures in the Gulf have recently exceeded 30 C (86 F).
Even the Great Atlantic Sargassum Belt, which stretches 5,000 miles across the Atlantic, hasn't helped compensate for the decline in the Gulf. Sargassum from the belt may be acclimated to warmer conditions or in poor health upon arrival and thus does not tolerate the colder waters of the Sargasso Sea.
"It's a complex story and challenging to unravel due both to the spatial scale and the fact that each variety of sargassum responds to ocean environmental conditions in different ways," said Deb Goodwin, chief scientist at Sea Education Association and a co-author of the study. "Long-term data identifying and quantifying sargassum varieties provided critical context to the satellite observations."
Looking ahead, the research team aims to better understand how sargassum's shifting population dynamics could impact marine ecosystems, including whether competition from the Great Atlantic Sargassum Belt could drive further declines of sargassum in the Gulf.
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Original text here: https://www.usf.edu/marine-science/news/2025/study-reveals-dramatic-decline-in-some-historic-sargassum-populations.aspx
University of Phoenix Updates Community College Alliance Benefits Across the Nation to Expand Transfer Pathways and Add Sixth-Course Tuition Waiver
PHOENIX, Arizona, Dec. 6 -- The University of Phoenix issued the following news release:
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University of Phoenix updates community college alliance benefits across the nation to expand transfer pathways and add sixth-course tuition waiver
Systemwide upgrade strengthens affordability and access for community college students transferring into bachelor's programs at University of Phoenix
By Sharla Hooper
University of Phoenix announces a nationwide upgrade to its community college alliance program that enhances transfer pathways for working adult learners and introduces a sixth-course tuition
... Show Full Article
PHOENIX, Arizona, Dec. 6 -- The University of Phoenix issued the following news release:
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University of Phoenix updates community college alliance benefits across the nation to expand transfer pathways and add sixth-course tuition waiver
Systemwide upgrade strengthens affordability and access for community college students transferring into bachelor's programs at University of Phoenix
By Sharla Hooper
University of Phoenix announces a nationwide upgrade to its community college alliance program that enhances transfer pathways for working adult learners and introduces a sixth-course tuitionwaiver for eligible transfer and concurrent-enrollment students who enroll at the University. The update provides community college transfer students with unrestricted access to academic programs, removing limitations based on program selection, and is designed to help students save time and money as they continue from associate degrees to bachelor's and beyond in programs aligned to in-demand careers.
"Community colleges are engines of economic mobility," said Raghu Krishnaiah, Chief Operating Officer, University of Phoenix. "By upgrading our alliances with a sixth-course tuition waiver and clearer transfer pathways, we're reducing friction and cost so students can keep momentum toward their goals."
Alliance community college leadership highlighted the impact for their students.
"Bergen Community College has prioritized creating streamlined transfer opportunities that allow students to further expand their social and economic mobility after graduation from the institution," President Eric M. Friedman, Ph.D., said. "That's why I am especially proud of this partnership with the University of Phoenix that not only offers a pathway to a bachelor's degree, but a tuition benefit for Bergen graduates."
"Community colleges know their learners best--our job is to show up, listen and help identify solutions," states Kellie Stubblefield, Director or Community College Strategy and Assistant Dean of Specialized Programs in the University of Phoenix Workforce Solutions. "Together with our alliance colleges, we co-designed transfer pathways, aligned catalogs, set up faster transcript reviews and joint advisor trainings--so students spend less time on paperwork and more time making progress. This update reflects that relational work and extends access to the sixth-course tuition waiver across all pathway programs."
University of Phoenix has established articulation agreements across the U.S. and has implemented policies and strategies that allow transfer students to maximize prior college credits by transferring from more than 5,000 accredited institutions toward a bachelor's degree at the University.
What's new for alliance students
* Sixth-Course Tuition Waiver: Eligible students who enroll at University of Phoenix and start and successfully complete five University courses receive a tuition waiver on every sixth course, subject to terms and conditions.
* Who qualifies: Students must identify as current or former students who have completed credits at an alliance community college and enroll in a University program after the effective date. The benefit applies to concurrent-enrollment, bachelor's, master's and credit-bearing certificate programs; it excludes doctoral and competency-based programs. Benefits cannot be combined with other University of Phoenix offers and are subject to University policies.
* Timing & cadence: To receive the waiver, students must enroll and post attendance in the 6th course within 365 days of the start of their first course in the cycle; once the 6th-course waiver is applied, a new 365-day cycle begins. If a student doesn't reach the 6th course within the initial 365 days, a new 365-day period restarts at the next first course.
Transfer pathways and tools that streamline the journey
University of Phoenix maintains transfer-friendly policies and provides Transfer Guides that help students understand how community college coursework may apply to specific University degree programs -- offering clearer, more efficient pathways from an associate degree to a bachelor's degree.
Students and advisors can also reference published 3+1 pathway guides that show how up to three years of community college coursework (87 credits, depending on program and guide) may apply toward a University of Phoenix bachelor's program, helping reduce time and cost for many students.
Learn more here about transfer credit pathways and opportunities at University of Phoenix (https://www.phoenix.edu/transferpathways).
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About University of Phoenix
University of Phoenix innovates to help working adults enhance their careers and develop skills in a rapidly changing world. Flexible schedules, relevant courses, interactive learning, skills-mapped curriculum for our bachelor's and master's degree programs and a Career Services for Life(R) commitment help students more effectively pursue career and personal aspirations while balancing their busy lives. For more information, visit phoenix.edu/blog.html.
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Original text here: https://www.phoenix.edu/press-release/transfer-pathways.html
University of Arkansas: Special Education Lab to Improve Outcomes for People With Disabilities
FAYETTEVILLE, Arkansas, Dec. 6 -- The University of Arkansas issued the following news:
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Special Education Lab to Improve Outcomes for People With Disabilities
A new lab in the College of Education and Health Professions has established a collaborative hub where faculty, students and community partners can work together to improve postsecondary outcomes for people with disabilities.
The Arkansas Transition Research Advocacy Community Lab (AR-TRAC) will promote meaningful access and positive life outcomes for people with disabilities and their families.
"As the flagship university in
... Show Full Article
FAYETTEVILLE, Arkansas, Dec. 6 -- The University of Arkansas issued the following news:
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Special Education Lab to Improve Outcomes for People With Disabilities
A new lab in the College of Education and Health Professions has established a collaborative hub where faculty, students and community partners can work together to improve postsecondary outcomes for people with disabilities.
The Arkansas Transition Research Advocacy Community Lab (AR-TRAC) will promote meaningful access and positive life outcomes for people with disabilities and their families.
"As the flagship university inArkansas, driven by our land-grant mission, we want to be leaders in connecting research, advocacy and engaging our community to make a positive impact in the state," said Sheida Raley, co-director of the AR-TRAC Lab and assistant professor of special education. "To us, this means not only generating new knowledge but also opportunities to put that knowledge into action for youth, families, schools and service providers."
With a focus on collaborative, person-centered and evidence-based practices, the lab plans to conduct interdisciplinary research that improves transition outcomes for youth with disabilities and their families. Raley is joined by co-directors Melissa Savage, Suzanne Kucharczyk and James Sinclair in conducting the lab's work.
The team hopes to empower youth with disabilities and their families to be self-determined in their journey to achieving the successful life they desire.
The AR-TRAC Lab leverages existing projects, such as ELEVATE, Leaders for Transition, PACE and Teaming for Transition, to support future research and experiences for youth with disabilities. By promoting interdisciplinary studies and impactful research, the college has allowed the lab's faculty to collaborate across departments, including social work, counseling and vocational rehabilitation.
"The College of Education and Health Professions' supportive environment makes cross-departmental and community collaboration possible," said Savage, assistant professor of special education. "This foundation of support by Dean Kate Mamiseishivili and the dean's WE CARE initiatives positions the AR-TRAC Lab to recruit doctoral scholars, grow federal funding and build lasting community partnerships aligned with our mission."
The AR-TRAC Lab founders are focused on creating sustainable and impactful programs and plan to develop a nationally recognized center for transition research and advocacy at the U of A. They also plan to launch a community engagement board to ensure the lab's work is grounded in the needs of Arkansas families.
Through multiple federally funded projects, the AR-TRAC team hopes to sustain consistent leadership training.
"Our work is about ensuring that transition services in Arkansas are best supporting outcomes for youth with disabilities and their families," said Sinclair, assistant professor of special education. "We want to see youth with disabilities not only included but thriving, whether that means securing meaningful work, participating fully in their communities or pursuing higher education, and the AR-TRAC Lab gives us a structure to make that vision a reality."
In the project's first year, the lab has established a website, secured federal grants, launched community partnerships and begun developing tools to shape both research and practice.
"One of our biggest goals is to make sure that Arkansas becomes a national leader in transition innovation," said Kucharczyk, associate professor of special education and head of the college's Department of Curriculum and Instruction. "That means building sustainable partnerships, producing rigorous research and always centering the voices of youth and families in our work."
The lab provides faculty the opportunity to build on efforts that have started to directly improve employment, postsecondary education, community participation and self-determination for youth in Arkansas.
Those interested in learning about or engaging with the work in the AR-TRAC Lab can contact artrac@uark.edu.
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Original text here: https://news.uark.edu/articles/80486/new-special-education-lab-to-improve-outcomes-for-people-with-disabilities
UMass-Amherst: Faculty Mentorship Applications Invited for Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship
AMHERST, Massachusetts, Dec. 6 -- The University of Massachusetts issued the following news:
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Faculty Mentorship Applications Invited for Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship
The UMass Center for Justice, Law and Societies and SBS RISE (Remedying Inequity through Student Engagement) invite applications from tenure-track and non-tenure-track faculty from any school or college at UMass Amherst for a Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship. The purpose of the fellowship, which will be granted to three recipients who will each receive $5,000 of summer funding, is to mentor a student researcher
... Show Full Article
AMHERST, Massachusetts, Dec. 6 -- The University of Massachusetts issued the following news:
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Faculty Mentorship Applications Invited for Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship
The UMass Center for Justice, Law and Societies and SBS RISE (Remedying Inequity through Student Engagement) invite applications from tenure-track and non-tenure-track faculty from any school or college at UMass Amherst for a Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship. The purpose of the fellowship, which will be granted to three recipients who will each receive $5,000 of summer funding, is to mentor a student researcherin SBS RISE, a program serving SBS undergraduate students who identify as first-generation, BIPOC, and/or are from low-income families with a primary or secondary SBS major.
With support from CJLS and SBS RISE, an undergraduate research fellow will conduct original research with a faculty member, providing exposure to research design, methodology and publication. Prior to the start of the summer, faculty mentors participate in a peer mentoring meeting with mentors from previous years. The undergraduate fellows are also supported by a graduate student mentor during the summer. Finally, faculty and student teams will present their research and mentorship experiences at a campus lunch symposium in the fall semester.
To further support faculty for their commitment to quality mentorship, at the end of the summer, $1,000 of additional research funding will be provided to the faculty member to use as they wish.
Interested faculty members should have a concrete project that one undergraduate student can help complete over the course of the summer, with funding to support a 30-hour per week commitment for approximately 11 weeks. Students who are interested in this research opportunity will also undergo an application process. Selected students must be SBS undergraduate students during the fall after completing the research program.
Through the online application, faculty members should submit a project abstract, a detailed description of what the tasks for the undergraduate will be, and a clear and thorough mentoring plan. Each application section should be no more than 3,000 characters. Applications will be evaluated on the appropriateness of the project's expectations and responsibilities for an undergraduate, the match between the project and the fellowship goals, and the quality of the mentoring plan.
Applications are due by Jan. 15, and awards will be announced by Jan. 30.
For questions or more information, contact Jamie Rowen, director of the UMass Center for Justice, Law, and Societies, at jrowen@umass.edu, or Felicia Griffin-Fennell, director of SBS RISE, at fgriffinfenn@umass.edu.
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Original text here: https://www.umass.edu/news/article/faculty-mentorship-applications-invited-summer-undergraduate-research-fellowship
HPU's Model United Nations Team Has Successful Trip to Switzerland
BROWNWOOD, Texas, Dec. 6 -- Howard Payne University issued the following news:
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HPU's Model United Nations team has successful trip to Switzerland
Howard Payne University's Model United Nations (MUN) team recently competed at the St. Gallen Model United Nations 2025 Conference in Switzerland, where HPU had the most awarded delegation. HPU students received Best Delegate awards in three of the four committees where they had delegates represented. The competition included 148 students from 14 different countries.
Model United Nations takes current world issues and asks students, who represent
... Show Full Article
BROWNWOOD, Texas, Dec. 6 -- Howard Payne University issued the following news:
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HPU's Model United Nations team has successful trip to Switzerland
Howard Payne University's Model United Nations (MUN) team recently competed at the St. Gallen Model United Nations 2025 Conference in Switzerland, where HPU had the most awarded delegation. HPU students received Best Delegate awards in three of the four committees where they had delegates represented. The competition included 148 students from 14 different countries.
Model United Nations takes current world issues and asks students, who representvarious countries as delegates, to try to solve them through diplomatic means. Students learn the art of diplomacy through caucusing, writing position papers and presenting in formal settings, all while following the model of the United Nations.
Andrew Mathis, junior Guy D. Newman Honors Academy and history major from Brenham won best delegate of the UNESCO committee. Ana Faulk, sophomore Academy and history major from Alvarado, also earned a commendation in this committee. Kedren Penney, freshman business major from Tyler, won best delegate of IAEA, a committee focused on protecting the environment and vulnerable peoples from nuclear waste. Michael Jones, sophomore Academy and history major from Rockport, won best delegate of the Papal Conclave, a committee that simulated the selection of a new pope.
"I knew early on this semester we had a super strong delegation," said Dr. Dave Claborn, professor of government and MUN advisor. "This was Drew's first semester as Head Delegate, and half our team was brand new to Model UN. So, although I knew we were great, winning the whole conference for the third semester in a row was a wonderful surprise. There were two top 25 teams in the world in that conference. I am so proud of this team!"
Mathis served as head delegate of the team. Competing for HPU in addition to Mathis, Faulk, Penney and Jones were Maddie Duncan, senior from Abilene; Evan Eckert, junior from Temple; Kourtney Melton, junior from Katy; and Eliana Range, sophomore from Sherman.
Duncan is the most decorated delegate on the current HPU MUN team and served in an expert-level committee. This was Eckert's first time to compete and he skillfully represented North Korea in his delegation. Range was also a first-time delegate and worked on the IAEA committee as Ukraine where she ably represented a country in the midst of a tumultuous time. The Papal Conclave committee members affirmed Melton by voting for her for multiple informal awards.
For more information about HPU, visit www.hputx.edu.
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Original text here: https://www.hputx.edu/news/hpus-model-united-nations-team-has-successful-trip-to-switzerland/
Crisis-Ready: How Adelphi's Emergency Management Program Prepares Leaders for Any Challenge
GARDEN CITY, New York, Dec. 6 -- Adelphi University issued the following news:
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Crisis-Ready: How Adelphi's Emergency Management Program Prepares Leaders for Any Challenge
By Lauren Bedosky
Adelphi alumna credits online MS in Emergency Management with equipping her to lead through pandemics, security crises and daily operational challenges.
When the pandemic struck, Erin Donohue, MS '23, found herself sitting in the hospital command center at Cohen Children's Medical Center at Northwell Health making critical decisions about patient safety, media communications and operational procedures.
... Show Full Article
GARDEN CITY, New York, Dec. 6 -- Adelphi University issued the following news:
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Crisis-Ready: How Adelphi's Emergency Management Program Prepares Leaders for Any Challenge
By Lauren Bedosky
Adelphi alumna credits online MS in Emergency Management with equipping her to lead through pandemics, security crises and daily operational challenges.
When the pandemic struck, Erin Donohue, MS '23, found herself sitting in the hospital command center at Cohen Children's Medical Center at Northwell Health making critical decisions about patient safety, media communications and operational procedures.She had already spent years working in operations and communications--first at Adelphi University, then at Northwell--and had completed her graduate certificate in Adelphi's emergency management program years earlier. But the challenges of managing an unprecedented healthcare crisis made her realize she needed deeper expertise to advance her career and lead effectively.
"I was in the middle of this pandemic working a job that I absolutely love, and the need to learn how to be more responsive really pushed me into finishing my master's in emergency management," Donohue says.
Donohue had started the program back in 2013 while working in media relations at Adelphi, drawn to emergency management because of personal connections to the field. "I come from a family of police officers and my husband is a 9/11 first responder, so the program really tied into my upbringing," she says. She completed her graduate certificate before leaving in 2015. Five years later, with a global health crisis underway, she returned to Adelphi to finish her Master of Science in Emergency Management at the College of Professional and Continuing Studies.
The degree being online made it possible. "It was so flexible, and a lot of the classes were asynchronous," she says. That flexibility helped her balance coursework with managing a demanding hospital role and family responsibilities, while navigating the pandemic alongside everyone else.
Interdisciplinary Courses Offer Broad Emergency Management Experience
The emergency management program's interdisciplinary curriculum draws on multiple Adelphi University schools--including the College of Nursing and Public Health, College of Arts and Sciences and Robert B. Willumstad School of Business--to provide an all-hazards planning approach applicable across industries. She studied leadership and human resources, statistics and research methods, emergency planning and response strategies, and the legal and ethical considerations behind every crisis decision.
"Oh, I loved the leadership class," Donohue says. "It taught me all about different types of leadership and what kind of leader I am. It had a human resources angle to it, and I think that has parlayed into the work that I do now as a leader, as somebody who manages people."
One reason the curriculum addressed her on-the-job needs so effectively was the caliber of faculty. Many professors had frontline experience managing major planned and unplanned events, including the former deputy inspector of the Joint Terrorist Task Force during the September 11 attacks.
"We've got really good senior adjunct faculty who have been around for a long time and are very supportive of the students," says Terry Cooper, DHSc, clinical assistant professor and director of the emergency management program.
Online Courses With a Personal Connection
Though courses were 100 percent online, Donohue's connection to her professors was as strong as it would have been in person. "I had very engaged professors in the emergency management courses," she says. "They made themselves available for virtual meetings, and they were very responsive to emails and setting up group chats. They understood how to use technology to advance the student." Faculty used their real-world experience to guide discussions during online classes, often sharing how they would have handled situations students were analyzing.
The curriculum also provides hands-on experience through a capstone project. Students can complete a research project addressing a real-world emergency management problem or an internship in the field. Donohue chose to work alongside Northwell's emergency management team. "That really put me in real-world situations as part of my education," she says.
The education helped Donohue take the next step in her career. When she returned to finish her degree, Donohue was a project manager. Today, she's director of hospital operations, managing multiple departments and strategic initiatives. In addition to emergency management, she oversees front-desk operations, coordinates with security on patient protection protocols, manages media relations and creates communications for thousands of staff members.
That versatility makes emergency management valuable, according to Donohue. "Don't think of it just as homeland security or FEMA or the police department," she says. "It's a very versatile degree, and the things you learn really dovetail into a lot of different careers."
Cooper agrees. "Emergency management is an umbrella," he says. "It can really direct interested students to any career path." Graduates assume roles as emergency management directors and consultants, public safety directors, hazard mitigation officers, homeland security officers, risk managers and business continuity managers across industries--from healthcare and education to government and private sector organizations.
"The degree itself really taught me critical thinking," Donohue says. "It was because of how layered that curriculum was."
And when the next crisis comes, she'll be ready.
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About the MS in Emergency Management Program
Adelphi's online Master of Science in Emergency Management was recognized by OnlineU as one of the most affordable online emergency management programs in the United States. Learn more about the program (https://online.adelphi.edu/graduate-degrees/ms-emergency-management/).
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Original text here: https://www.adelphi.edu/news/crisis-ready-how-adelphis-emergency-management-program-prepares-leaders-for-any-challenge/
Cornell University - Weill Cornell Graduate School of Medical Sciences: Improving Lives Through Academic Innovation, Commercialization and Entrepreneurship
NEW YORK, Dec. 6 -- Cornell University - Weill Cornell Graduate School of Medical Sciences issued the following news:
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Improving Lives Through Academic Innovation, Commercialization and Entrepreneurship
Why are innovation and entrepreneurship important in academic research? Since the Bayh-Dole Act was passed in 1980, permitting institutions to retain ownership of their inventions arising from federal funding, more than 200 drug treatments and vaccines have been brought to market through academic-commercial partnerships.
Weill Cornell Medicine's Ninth Annual Dean's Symposium on Innovation
... Show Full Article
NEW YORK, Dec. 6 -- Cornell University - Weill Cornell Graduate School of Medical Sciences issued the following news:
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Improving Lives Through Academic Innovation, Commercialization and Entrepreneurship
Why are innovation and entrepreneurship important in academic research? Since the Bayh-Dole Act was passed in 1980, permitting institutions to retain ownership of their inventions arising from federal funding, more than 200 drug treatments and vaccines have been brought to market through academic-commercial partnerships.
Weill Cornell Medicine's Ninth Annual Dean's Symposium on Innovationand Entrepreneurship celebrated and fostered this entrepreneurial spirit on Nov. 17 at Weill Cornell's Griffis Faculty Club.
"You have a flywheel effect where research begets innovation, which begets patient impact and revenue," said Dr. Lisa Placanica, senior managing director of the Center for Technology Licensing at Weill Cornell Medicine, in her welcome remarks. "That puts forth further research and innovation. The impact is transformative for health care and the economy."
In fiscal year 2025, Weill Cornell transferred 21 of its intellectual properties to commercial partners for further development, had 72 products on the market and grossed over $11 million in total licensing income and revenue. Then in September, the first drug discovered by a Weill Cornell researcher received U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval. Dr. Hazel Szeto (M.D., Ph.D. '77), retired professor of pharmacology at Weill Cornell Medicine and entrepreneur, discovered a small peptide that ultimately became the first therapy for an ultra-rare genetic disease called Barth Syndrome.
"By commercializing our intellectual property, we can transform care delivery on a broad scale. Let's keep celebrating and supporting the extraordinary innovations emerging from Weill Cornell Medicine--solutions aimed at helping big populations," said Dr. Robert A. Harrington, the Stephen and Suzanne Weiss Dean of Weill Cornell Medicine and provost for medical affairs of Cornell University. "Together, as a community, we'll have far greater impact by approaching scientific challenges with an entrepreneurial mindset--unlocking new paths forward that change lives."
This year's symposium featured Weill Cornell researchers, past and present, who are tackling cancer, brain injuries and the science of aging gracefully.
Removing the "Un" from "Undruggable"
Weill Cornell Graduate School of Medical Sciences alumnus Dr. Barry Kappel (Ph.D. '06) was determined to study medical science and focus on translational research as a student. "My goal in life is to change the lives of patients--that's never wavered," said Dr. Kappel, who is founder, president, CEO and director of Sapience Therapeutics.
In a fireside chat with Dr. Harrington, he shared the ups and downs of his career path from laboratory scientist to biotech CEO.
After receiving his doctoral degree, Dr. Kappel decided to pursue an MBA at Cornell University's SC Johnson College of Business. He transitioned into the business world, adding new skills to his scientific repertoire--fundraising, management and building investor relationships. Being on the business side of drug development allowed him to build a science-driven biotech company and collaborate with universities to develop multiple technologies.
Dr. Kappel credited his persistence in the face of challenges to his time at Weill Cornell, where he witnessed pioneering scientists working on new treatments for cancer that were not well accepted at the time. "They displayed the fortitude to get through the problems and reinvent the way they assessed patients, which eventually led to successful therapies," he said. Twenty years later, immunotherapy and radiotherapy are saving thousands of lives.
He founded Sapience Therapeutics, a clinical stage biotechnology company developing peptide-based therapeutics aimed at previously "undruggable" targets for high-mortality cancers. "The word 'un' will never sit well with me and shouldn't sit well with any scientist," says Dr. Kappel. "I see it as a challenge."
In fact, Sapience Therapeutics has taken on one of the toughest diseases -- glioblastoma, the deadliest form of brain cancer -- using a modality many investors and drug developers have traditionally avoided. They acquired a peptide from a university and then reinvented it into a drug (Lucicebtide) that has the potential to address glioblastoma. Lucicebtide has shown promising results in early clinical trials, demonstrating that a peptide-based "undruggable target" therapy can produce clinical responses in very aggressive tumors.
The company also built its own platform to develop peptides for other cancer targets. By using stabilized peptides capable of disrupting protein-protein interactions inside cells, Sapience may expand the set of therapeutic targets in cancer.
Bringing Back Consciousness After Traumatic Brain Injury
Another prolific innovator, Dr. Nicholas Schiff (M.D. '92), the Jerold B. Katz Professor of Neurology and Neuroscience in the Feil Family Brain and Mind Research Institute at Weill Cornell, was inducted into the world of commercialization and entrepreneurship decades ago. He has translated his lab's discoveries into real-world therapeutic ventures through two commercial efforts.
He and his colleagues were among the first to show that electrical stimulation in the brain's central thalmus could restore communication and some motor/cognitive functions in a patient who was in a minimally conscious state for years.
Dr. Schiff continued to develop this technology after Boston Scientific acquired his first startup, supported in part by de-risking funding from Enterprise Innovation. When tested in a randomized clinical trial, the researchers showed that central thalamic deep brain stimulation (DBS) could be an effective therapy for moderate to severe traumatic brain injury, even eight or more years after the incident.
He is inspired to help these patients restore some of the abilities they have lost and live fuller lives. One of his first patients started reading again after treatment and became an avid reader 18 years after a car crash damaged her brain. "I got my daughter back. It's beyond my hopes and anticipations," her mother said.
Dr. Schiff and his colleagues founded Re-EmergeDBS to further validate the technology in phase 2 and 3 trials and improve existing equipment. They have raised $30 million to take the technology to the next level.
"The end game of all of this is to develop and commercialize a DBS system to help more patients regain cognitive abilities after traumatic brain injury," he said.
Empowering Older Adults to Be Active and Independent
Beyond treating diseases, improving the quality of life is equally important to health care professionals and innovators. A dynamic AgeTech panel highlighted many cutting-edge efforts and technologies that aim to increase longevity and improve the aging experience for all.
Chaired by Dr. Mark Steven Lachs, the Irene F. and I. Roy Psaty Distinguished Professor of Clinical Medicine and co-chief of geriatrics and palliative medicine for NewYork-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Center, the panel included a key opinion leader and entrepreneur in the aging sector, a doctor and two industry investors.
Dr. Lachs's initial experience with commercialization was licensing a training program to government agencies and vendors that helped assess an elderly individual's decision-making ability.
Most technologies today weren't developed with older users in mind, but with a growing heterogeneous aging population, there is potentially a huge longevity market. As Michael Clinton, founder and CEO of ROAR Forward, pointed out, businesses, non-profit organizations and academics are all trying to figure out how to better serve this unique group.
Passionate about providing quality care and improving lives for older adults, Dr. Lachs proactively seeks out collaborations to advance innovative ideas from his research team to reach a greater number of people. Along with Cornell engineers in Ithaca, his team has designed age specific headsets and a virtual reality pilot program that allows home-bound elders to engage in fitness and social activities with others online. This technology has the potential to combat loneliness and reduce anxiety.
Next month, Geisinger Health Care System, a health care provider and insurer in Northeastern Pennsylvania, which has a large Medicare Advantage and rural population, will launch a randomized controlled trial with Weill Cornell Medicine. The trial aims to increase the accessibility of telehealth and local senior resources with the hope of reducing medical costs and hospitalization.
Industries are sharing data and partnering with academia to develop AgeTech for older customers also. Two of Dr. Lachs's colleagues ran workshops on aging-friendly and user-centered design at Comcast NBC Universal. Michelle Chang, partner at Comcast Ventures, said that six million of their customers are 65 plus and most of them prefer to age in place. Comcast is exploring the possibility of adding easier health care access at home with a remote button or voice activation and health monitoring. Similarly, the AARP created the AgeTech Collaborative four years ago to support innovations that empower people to age the way they want, bringing together universities, investors, startups and senior home communities.
The symposium exemplifies Weill Cornell's dedication to nurturing and strengthening a culture of innovation and entrepreneurship. As Dr. Krystyn J. Van Vliet, vice president for innovation and external engagement strategy at Cornell University, noted, the motivation for taking an idea to market is grounded in patient needs. "This momentum from research to innovation to societal impact requires teamwork and collaboration to turn new pathways, methods and devices into novel products and services," she said. "This 'innovation to impact' mindset, and partnerships forged with experts within and beyond Cornell, are what powers that flywheel across Weill Cornell Medicine and throughout Cornell."
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Original text here: https://gradschool.weill.cornell.edu/news/improving-lives-through-academic-innovation-commercialization-and-entrepreneurship
