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Mich. State University Research Foundation: Mobility Summit Focuses on State's Competitive Edge in a Changing Mobility Economy
EAST LANSING, Michigan, Aug. 15 -- The Michigan State University Research Foundation issued the following news release:
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Mobility Summit Focuses on Michigan's Competitive Edge in a Changing Mobility Economy
Co-hosted by the MSU Research Foundation and MSU Mobility, the summit drew more than 200 attendees from across Michigan's mobility ecosystem to address the forces reshaping the industry and the state's ability to compete.
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Leaders from across Michigan's automotive and mobility ecosystem gathered at the Graduate by Hilton East Lansing on August 11 for the 2026 Mobility Summit: Michigan ... Show Full Article EAST LANSING, Michigan, Aug. 15 -- The Michigan State University Research Foundation issued the following news release: * * * Mobility Summit Focuses on Michigan's Competitive Edge in a Changing Mobility Economy Co-hosted by the MSU Research Foundation and MSU Mobility, the summit drew more than 200 attendees from across Michigan's mobility ecosystem to address the forces reshaping the industry and the state's ability to compete. - Leaders from across Michigan's automotive and mobility ecosystem gathered at the Graduate by Hilton East Lansing on August 11 for the 2026 Mobility Summit: MichiganMoves -- Building the Next Mobility Economy, co-hosted by the MSU Research Foundation and MSU Mobility.
Supported by Waymo, the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) and the Michigan Outdoor Recreation Industry Office, the daylong summit brought together researchers, entrepreneurs, automotive leaders, investors, policymakers, and government partners for conversations spanning autonomous mobility, emerging technologies, defense innovation, and Michigan's position in an increasingly competitive global industry.
The summit opened with remarks from Judd Herzer, Director of MSU Mobility, who welcomed attendees and introduced Britany Affolter-Caine, Executive Director of Research Universities for Michigan, to set the stage for the opening keynote.
Who Will Build the Future of Mobility?
The keynote fireside conversation featured Dr. Shashank Priya, Vice President for Research and Innovation at Michigan State University, and Jim Quesenberry, Innovation Outreach at Magna International, moderated by David Washburn, Chief Executive Officer of the MSU Research Foundation.
Speakers challenged participants to consider what stronger university-industry partnerships could unlock for Michigan's mobility sector.
From Prototype to Policy
Autonomous mobility took center stage during From Prototype to Policy: Michigan's Path to Autonomous Mobility, introduced by Jeff Smith, Executive Director of Research Parks at the MSU Research Foundation and moderated by Justine Johnson, Senior Vice President and Chief Mobility Officer at MEDC's Office of Future Mobility and Electrification.
Panelists Derek Caveney of Toyota Motor North America, Niall Berkery of Neumo, Michelle Mueller of Michigan Department of Transportation, Emily Frascaroli of Ford Motor Company, and Lara Dailey of Waymo explored the intersection of autonomous vehicles, roadway safety, human factors, infrastructure, public trust, and policy.
Rather than focusing solely on when autonomous vehicles will arrive, the discussion examined what it will take for the technology to be deployed safely and at scale, and how Michigan can leverage its automotive, research, infrastructure, and public-sector assets to help lead that transition.
Research and Emerging Technologies
Three Michigan State University researchers presented technologies ready for industry engagement through rapid research spotlights. Nizar Lajnef, MSU faculty and founder of Infratico presented infrastructure sensing technology; Chengcheng Fang, MSU faculty and founder of Current Collector, highlighted innovations in EV battery current collectors; and Josh Siegel, MSU faculty and founder of AI Mechanic, demonstrated technology that uses a smartphone microphone to diagnose vehicle problems from sound in real time. The session was introduced by Brice Nelson, the director of corporate partnerships at MSU.
The summit also looked beyond ground transportation during Skyward: Michigan in the Air. Moderated by Nicole Noll-Williams, President and CEO of the Capital Region Airport Authority, the conversation featured Surya Congress of Michigan State University, Dakoyta Greenman of Westwood AI, and Mike Bucci of Birdstop, exploring drones, autonomous systems, airport applications, and the barriers to real-world aerial mobility deployment. Brad Garmon of Michigan Outdoor Recreation Industry Office introduced this session.
Built Together: MSU's Cross-College Model examined how expertise across Michigan State University can support increasingly complex mobility research and commercialization. The session featured Satish Udpa, David Frayer, John Verboncoeur, Jenny Carter-Johnson, and Sri Kalyanaraman. This session was introduced by Sanjay Gupta, co-chair of the Green and White Council at Michigan State University.
Mobility, Defense, and Global Competition
Congressman Tom Barrett kicked off the afternoon sessions with remarks on mobility in national defense and Michigan's role in World War II, setting the stage for the panel, Arsenal of Democracy: Michigan's Next Mission. Moderated by John Manza of the MSU Office of Research and Innovation, the panel explored mobility as it relates to national security.
Panelists Talia Marie Sebastian of the U.S. Army DEVCOM Ground Vehicle Systems Center, Dr. Mahmoodul Haq, Chris Thomas of Assembly Ventures, and Parker Boundy, CEO of General Orbit, discussed Michigan's potential role in dual-use mobility technology, defense manufacturing, federal procurement, applied research, investment, and startup deployment.
Drawing on Michigan's historic role as the Arsenal of Democracy, the discussion considered what that legacy could mean in the 21st century and what it will take to move emerging technologies from development into defense applications.
The final panel, Michigan's Supply Chain: Built to Compete, turned toward global competition. Tu Le of Sino Auto Insights opened with an assessment of China's mobility supply chain and what it means for Michigan manufacturers, followed by a discussion with Chris Nolte of Bloom, Sriram Narayanan of Michigan State University, and Katie O'Brien, General Manager, Purchasing Supplier Development at Toyota Motor North America.
The conversation challenged participants to consider where Michigan can compete globally, what capabilities it must strengthen, and what decisions industry, government, universities, and investors need to make now.
The Summit closed with remarks from David Washburn, CEO of the MSU Research Foundation, who reflected on the day's conversations and called on attendees to act on the partnerships and commitments made throughout the day.
Designed for Connection
Beyond the stage, structured networking opportunities were incorporated throughout the day, including a lunch hosted by Clean Fuels Michigan. Facilitated lunch tables brought participants together around autonomy, advanced air mobility, clean fuels, workforce, policy, investment, startups, and defense.
An outdoor showcase featured a Waymo Jaguar I-P and a Ford Mustang Mach-E, as well as MSU Drift Drone, rockets from MSU Rocketry Team, Formula 1 race cars from MSU and University of Michigan, a SpartanXpress autonomous bus, and exhibiting companies including Ketchel Axle Systems, Neumo, Motion Sync, the MSU Industrial Training and Assessment Center, Next Energy, EMC Squared Vehicles, Infratico and a variety of small electric vehicles.
The summit also included the Satish Udpa Mobility Awards, named in honor of the founding leader of the MSU Mobility program. Pete Savolainen, Chair of Civil and Environmental Engineering at Michigan State University, was named Faculty Member of the Year, while Jim Quesenberry of Magna International was recognized as Council Member of the Year. The awards recognized their contributions to advancing mobility research, collaboration, and innovation.
Three Key Takeaways from the 2026 Mobility Summit
1. Michigan's Mobility Strengths Need Stronger Connections: Michigan has automotive expertise, university research, manufacturing capacity, startups, and public-sector support, but maintaining a competitive edge will depend on connecting those assets more effectively.
2. Deployment is Becoming as Important as Development: Across autonomous vehicles, drones, defense technologies, and university research, discussions repeatedly returned to the infrastructure, policy, partnerships, and capital required to move technologies into real-world use.
3. Global Competition is Raising the Stakes: From China's mobility supply chain to emerging defense needs, the summit underscored that Michigan is competing in a rapidly changing global environment that demands faster commercialization and closer collaboration between industry and research.
To learn more about upcoming summits and events hosted by the MSU Research Foundation, visit msufoundation.org/events.
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Original text here: https://msufoundation.org/mobility-summit-focuses-on-michigans-competitive-edge-in-a-changing-mobility-economy/
* * *
Mobility Summit Focuses on Michigan's Competitive Edge in a Changing Mobility Economy
Co-hosted by the MSU Research Foundation and MSU Mobility, the summit drew more than 200 attendees from across Michigan's mobility ecosystem to address the forces reshaping the industry and the state's ability to compete.
-
Leaders from across Michigan's automotive and mobility ecosystem gathered at the Graduate by Hilton East Lansing on August 11 for the 2026 Mobility Summit: Michigan ... Show Full Article EAST LANSING, Michigan, Aug. 15 -- The Michigan State University Research Foundation issued the following news release: * * * Mobility Summit Focuses on Michigan's Competitive Edge in a Changing Mobility Economy Co-hosted by the MSU Research Foundation and MSU Mobility, the summit drew more than 200 attendees from across Michigan's mobility ecosystem to address the forces reshaping the industry and the state's ability to compete. - Leaders from across Michigan's automotive and mobility ecosystem gathered at the Graduate by Hilton East Lansing on August 11 for the 2026 Mobility Summit: MichiganMoves -- Building the Next Mobility Economy, co-hosted by the MSU Research Foundation and MSU Mobility.
Supported by Waymo, the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) and the Michigan Outdoor Recreation Industry Office, the daylong summit brought together researchers, entrepreneurs, automotive leaders, investors, policymakers, and government partners for conversations spanning autonomous mobility, emerging technologies, defense innovation, and Michigan's position in an increasingly competitive global industry.
The summit opened with remarks from Judd Herzer, Director of MSU Mobility, who welcomed attendees and introduced Britany Affolter-Caine, Executive Director of Research Universities for Michigan, to set the stage for the opening keynote.
Who Will Build the Future of Mobility?
The keynote fireside conversation featured Dr. Shashank Priya, Vice President for Research and Innovation at Michigan State University, and Jim Quesenberry, Innovation Outreach at Magna International, moderated by David Washburn, Chief Executive Officer of the MSU Research Foundation.
Speakers challenged participants to consider what stronger university-industry partnerships could unlock for Michigan's mobility sector.
From Prototype to Policy
Autonomous mobility took center stage during From Prototype to Policy: Michigan's Path to Autonomous Mobility, introduced by Jeff Smith, Executive Director of Research Parks at the MSU Research Foundation and moderated by Justine Johnson, Senior Vice President and Chief Mobility Officer at MEDC's Office of Future Mobility and Electrification.
Panelists Derek Caveney of Toyota Motor North America, Niall Berkery of Neumo, Michelle Mueller of Michigan Department of Transportation, Emily Frascaroli of Ford Motor Company, and Lara Dailey of Waymo explored the intersection of autonomous vehicles, roadway safety, human factors, infrastructure, public trust, and policy.
Rather than focusing solely on when autonomous vehicles will arrive, the discussion examined what it will take for the technology to be deployed safely and at scale, and how Michigan can leverage its automotive, research, infrastructure, and public-sector assets to help lead that transition.
Research and Emerging Technologies
Three Michigan State University researchers presented technologies ready for industry engagement through rapid research spotlights. Nizar Lajnef, MSU faculty and founder of Infratico presented infrastructure sensing technology; Chengcheng Fang, MSU faculty and founder of Current Collector, highlighted innovations in EV battery current collectors; and Josh Siegel, MSU faculty and founder of AI Mechanic, demonstrated technology that uses a smartphone microphone to diagnose vehicle problems from sound in real time. The session was introduced by Brice Nelson, the director of corporate partnerships at MSU.
The summit also looked beyond ground transportation during Skyward: Michigan in the Air. Moderated by Nicole Noll-Williams, President and CEO of the Capital Region Airport Authority, the conversation featured Surya Congress of Michigan State University, Dakoyta Greenman of Westwood AI, and Mike Bucci of Birdstop, exploring drones, autonomous systems, airport applications, and the barriers to real-world aerial mobility deployment. Brad Garmon of Michigan Outdoor Recreation Industry Office introduced this session.
Built Together: MSU's Cross-College Model examined how expertise across Michigan State University can support increasingly complex mobility research and commercialization. The session featured Satish Udpa, David Frayer, John Verboncoeur, Jenny Carter-Johnson, and Sri Kalyanaraman. This session was introduced by Sanjay Gupta, co-chair of the Green and White Council at Michigan State University.
Mobility, Defense, and Global Competition
Congressman Tom Barrett kicked off the afternoon sessions with remarks on mobility in national defense and Michigan's role in World War II, setting the stage for the panel, Arsenal of Democracy: Michigan's Next Mission. Moderated by John Manza of the MSU Office of Research and Innovation, the panel explored mobility as it relates to national security.
Panelists Talia Marie Sebastian of the U.S. Army DEVCOM Ground Vehicle Systems Center, Dr. Mahmoodul Haq, Chris Thomas of Assembly Ventures, and Parker Boundy, CEO of General Orbit, discussed Michigan's potential role in dual-use mobility technology, defense manufacturing, federal procurement, applied research, investment, and startup deployment.
Drawing on Michigan's historic role as the Arsenal of Democracy, the discussion considered what that legacy could mean in the 21st century and what it will take to move emerging technologies from development into defense applications.
The final panel, Michigan's Supply Chain: Built to Compete, turned toward global competition. Tu Le of Sino Auto Insights opened with an assessment of China's mobility supply chain and what it means for Michigan manufacturers, followed by a discussion with Chris Nolte of Bloom, Sriram Narayanan of Michigan State University, and Katie O'Brien, General Manager, Purchasing Supplier Development at Toyota Motor North America.
The conversation challenged participants to consider where Michigan can compete globally, what capabilities it must strengthen, and what decisions industry, government, universities, and investors need to make now.
The Summit closed with remarks from David Washburn, CEO of the MSU Research Foundation, who reflected on the day's conversations and called on attendees to act on the partnerships and commitments made throughout the day.
Designed for Connection
Beyond the stage, structured networking opportunities were incorporated throughout the day, including a lunch hosted by Clean Fuels Michigan. Facilitated lunch tables brought participants together around autonomy, advanced air mobility, clean fuels, workforce, policy, investment, startups, and defense.
An outdoor showcase featured a Waymo Jaguar I-P and a Ford Mustang Mach-E, as well as MSU Drift Drone, rockets from MSU Rocketry Team, Formula 1 race cars from MSU and University of Michigan, a SpartanXpress autonomous bus, and exhibiting companies including Ketchel Axle Systems, Neumo, Motion Sync, the MSU Industrial Training and Assessment Center, Next Energy, EMC Squared Vehicles, Infratico and a variety of small electric vehicles.
The summit also included the Satish Udpa Mobility Awards, named in honor of the founding leader of the MSU Mobility program. Pete Savolainen, Chair of Civil and Environmental Engineering at Michigan State University, was named Faculty Member of the Year, while Jim Quesenberry of Magna International was recognized as Council Member of the Year. The awards recognized their contributions to advancing mobility research, collaboration, and innovation.
Three Key Takeaways from the 2026 Mobility Summit
1. Michigan's Mobility Strengths Need Stronger Connections: Michigan has automotive expertise, university research, manufacturing capacity, startups, and public-sector support, but maintaining a competitive edge will depend on connecting those assets more effectively.
2. Deployment is Becoming as Important as Development: Across autonomous vehicles, drones, defense technologies, and university research, discussions repeatedly returned to the infrastructure, policy, partnerships, and capital required to move technologies into real-world use.
3. Global Competition is Raising the Stakes: From China's mobility supply chain to emerging defense needs, the summit underscored that Michigan is competing in a rapidly changing global environment that demands faster commercialization and closer collaboration between industry and research.
To learn more about upcoming summits and events hosted by the MSU Research Foundation, visit msufoundation.org/events.
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Original text here: https://msufoundation.org/mobility-summit-focuses-on-michigans-competitive-edge-in-a-changing-mobility-economy/
Hispanic Access Foundation: Toolkit Equips Latino Communities to Understand, Advocate For, and Lead on Public Lands
WASHINGTON, Aug. 15 -- The Hispanic Access Foundation issued the following news release:
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New Toolkit Equips Latino Communities to Understand, Advocate for, and Lead on Public Lands
Hispanic Access Foundation's newly released public lands toolkit gives Latino communities a clear, accessible guide to understanding the U.S. public lands system and participating more effectively in the decisions that shape these shared spaces. Navigating the system can be challenging, with multiple agencies, complex legislation, and regulatory processes that often create barriers to meaningful public participation.
The ... Show Full Article WASHINGTON, Aug. 15 -- The Hispanic Access Foundation issued the following news release: * * * New Toolkit Equips Latino Communities to Understand, Advocate for, and Lead on Public Lands Hispanic Access Foundation's newly released public lands toolkit gives Latino communities a clear, accessible guide to understanding the U.S. public lands system and participating more effectively in the decisions that shape these shared spaces. Navigating the system can be challenging, with multiple agencies, complex legislation, and regulatory processes that often create barriers to meaningful public participation. Thetoolkit breaks down how public lands are managed, the legislation and policy structures that shape them, and the paths communities can take to influence decisions, including funding tools like the Land and Water Conservation Fund, which has helped bring parks to underserved neighborhoods. It also walks through real examples of community-led campaigns and offers guidance for organizations and individuals pursuing new land designations.
"Latinos are uniquely positioned to create positive, lasting change for all," said Juan Rosas, Hispanic Access Foundation Public Lands Program Manager. "This toolkit gives them the knowledge and tools necessary to successfully engage in meaningful civic action, policy decisions, and ensure that these treasured landscapes are protected for future generations."
Structured around clear thematic sections, the toolkit traces the history of public lands, unpacks current threats and opportunities, and lays out concrete pathways for engagement--from shaping public policy and mobilizing Latino communities to strengthening cultural connections to these spaces. It also doubles as a planning resource, helping organizations map out campaigns, set policy priorities, and build more inclusive advocacy efforts.
"Public lands belong to all of us, and the decisions shaping their future should reflect the voices, experiences, and priorities of the communities who cherish them," said Maite Arce, President and CEO of Hispanic Access Foundation. "We have the power to advance significant, transcendental legislation that protects our public lands and ensures lasting access to them for generations to come."
The toolkit also unpacks the major environmental laws that govern how public lands are managed, giving readers a clear picture of which agencies hold decision-making power and how communities can plug into that process. By translating dense legal and regulatory frameworks into plain-language guidance, it lowers the barrier for Latino communities and organizations to engage in public lands stewardship.
Download the toolkit at https://bit.ly/PublicLandsToolkit.
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Original text here: https://www.hispanicaccess.org/news-releases/3132-new-toolkit-equips-latino-communities-to-understand-advocate-for-and-lead-on-public-lands
* * *
New Toolkit Equips Latino Communities to Understand, Advocate for, and Lead on Public Lands
Hispanic Access Foundation's newly released public lands toolkit gives Latino communities a clear, accessible guide to understanding the U.S. public lands system and participating more effectively in the decisions that shape these shared spaces. Navigating the system can be challenging, with multiple agencies, complex legislation, and regulatory processes that often create barriers to meaningful public participation.
The ... Show Full Article WASHINGTON, Aug. 15 -- The Hispanic Access Foundation issued the following news release: * * * New Toolkit Equips Latino Communities to Understand, Advocate for, and Lead on Public Lands Hispanic Access Foundation's newly released public lands toolkit gives Latino communities a clear, accessible guide to understanding the U.S. public lands system and participating more effectively in the decisions that shape these shared spaces. Navigating the system can be challenging, with multiple agencies, complex legislation, and regulatory processes that often create barriers to meaningful public participation. Thetoolkit breaks down how public lands are managed, the legislation and policy structures that shape them, and the paths communities can take to influence decisions, including funding tools like the Land and Water Conservation Fund, which has helped bring parks to underserved neighborhoods. It also walks through real examples of community-led campaigns and offers guidance for organizations and individuals pursuing new land designations.
"Latinos are uniquely positioned to create positive, lasting change for all," said Juan Rosas, Hispanic Access Foundation Public Lands Program Manager. "This toolkit gives them the knowledge and tools necessary to successfully engage in meaningful civic action, policy decisions, and ensure that these treasured landscapes are protected for future generations."
Structured around clear thematic sections, the toolkit traces the history of public lands, unpacks current threats and opportunities, and lays out concrete pathways for engagement--from shaping public policy and mobilizing Latino communities to strengthening cultural connections to these spaces. It also doubles as a planning resource, helping organizations map out campaigns, set policy priorities, and build more inclusive advocacy efforts.
"Public lands belong to all of us, and the decisions shaping their future should reflect the voices, experiences, and priorities of the communities who cherish them," said Maite Arce, President and CEO of Hispanic Access Foundation. "We have the power to advance significant, transcendental legislation that protects our public lands and ensures lasting access to them for generations to come."
The toolkit also unpacks the major environmental laws that govern how public lands are managed, giving readers a clear picture of which agencies hold decision-making power and how communities can plug into that process. By translating dense legal and regulatory frameworks into plain-language guidance, it lowers the barrier for Latino communities and organizations to engage in public lands stewardship.
Download the toolkit at https://bit.ly/PublicLandsToolkit.
* * *
Original text here: https://www.hispanicaccess.org/news-releases/3132-new-toolkit-equips-latino-communities-to-understand-advocate-for-and-lead-on-public-lands
Foundation for Economic Education Posts Commentary Entitled 'True Courage in Hong Kong'
DETROIT, Michigan, Aug. 15 -- The Foundation for Economic Education posted the following commentary by Yale law student Rachel Chiu:
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True Courage in Hong Kong
What Jimmy Lai teaches us about free markets and free speech.
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As Jimmy Lai's imprisonment shows, a country's economic prosperity means very little if it fails to preserve civil liberties.
In May, President Trump met with Xi Jinping in Beijing, marking the first US presidential visit to China since 2017. Trump returned with agreements to strengthen US-China relations and cooperate on major foreign policy issues. One of the most ... Show Full Article DETROIT, Michigan, Aug. 15 -- The Foundation for Economic Education posted the following commentary by Yale law student Rachel Chiu: * * * True Courage in Hong Kong What Jimmy Lai teaches us about free markets and free speech. - As Jimmy Lai's imprisonment shows, a country's economic prosperity means very little if it fails to preserve civil liberties. In May, President Trump met with Xi Jinping in Beijing, marking the first US presidential visit to China since 2017. Trump returned with agreements to strengthen US-China relations and cooperate on major foreign policy issues. One of the mostnotable post-meeting developments was the speedy release of Pastor Ezra Jin Mingri, who was detained in October 2025 for leading an underground Christian church. While Jin's homecoming is a significant victory for religious liberty, Trump was unable to secure the release of another prominent political prisoner: Jimmy Lai, the Hong Kong businessman (and British citizen) who has been in jail for over five years for running the pro-democracy Apple Daily newspaper.
Lai, a self-made entrepreneur and billionaire, had the opportunity to flee before his arrest, but chose to stay to encourage millions of Hong Kongers to keep fighting for the freedom and autonomy that the region has had for decades. His plight resonates strongly with me because of my family's experiences during the Chinese Communist Revolution, but it should be just as meaningful for every American who believes in the virtues of economic and social freedoms.
In recent years, China has complicated the long-held belief among classical liberals that free markets are key to economic prosperity. Although the country has embraced central planning, it has become the world's second-largest economy after the United States. Hong Kong is situated in a fragile position: the island has been under British influence and, at times, control since 1842. In 1997, Britain's lease on the territory ended, and Hong Kong was handed back to China. The "one country, two systems" policy promised that Hong Kong would become part of China while retaining its capitalist economy and partially democratic political system during the 50-year transition period. Activists argue that China has eroded freedoms and punished dissent, leading to major protests in 2014 and 2019.
Yet, as Jimmy Lai's imprisonment shows, economic prosperity cannot persist unless the country also respects civil liberties. Lai has been detained since August 2020. In February, he was sentenced to 20 years in prison for colluding with foreign forces under the region's national security law. At age 78, civil rights groups have rightfully called this a "death sentence." He has been held in solitary confinement, where he has experienced substantial weight loss and health deterioration.
Recently, the Hong Kong government has attempted to confiscate over HK$127 million ($16 million) from Lai, alleging that the funds are linked to his crimes. When a government does not respect civil liberties, economic prosperity reaches only as far as its leaders allow.
Lai represents the change occurring in Hong Kong, from a city that embraced freedoms consistent with British and American systems to one struggling to maintain what it once had. Hong Kong may be thousands of miles away, but the values that Lai and other activists are fighting for are the same ones that Americans believe in: freedom to participate in governance, critique politicians and their decisions, and publish views without fear of retribution. These values should not feel foreign to Americans.
President Trump is set to meet with Xi again next month. The Chinese government's willingness to free Pastor Jin gives reason to hold onto optimism for Lai, though Trump is correct that it will be "tough" to secure his release. But the United States cannot give up on him. Lai is a hero who has put his own life at stake so that others can continue to fight for our shared values of freedom and human dignity.
* * *
Rachel Chiu is a recent graduate of Yale Law School and a Young Voices contributor focused on online speech and technology policy.
* * *
Original text here: https://fee.org/articles/true-courage-in-hong-kong/
* * *
True Courage in Hong Kong
What Jimmy Lai teaches us about free markets and free speech.
-
As Jimmy Lai's imprisonment shows, a country's economic prosperity means very little if it fails to preserve civil liberties.
In May, President Trump met with Xi Jinping in Beijing, marking the first US presidential visit to China since 2017. Trump returned with agreements to strengthen US-China relations and cooperate on major foreign policy issues. One of the most ... Show Full Article DETROIT, Michigan, Aug. 15 -- The Foundation for Economic Education posted the following commentary by Yale law student Rachel Chiu: * * * True Courage in Hong Kong What Jimmy Lai teaches us about free markets and free speech. - As Jimmy Lai's imprisonment shows, a country's economic prosperity means very little if it fails to preserve civil liberties. In May, President Trump met with Xi Jinping in Beijing, marking the first US presidential visit to China since 2017. Trump returned with agreements to strengthen US-China relations and cooperate on major foreign policy issues. One of the mostnotable post-meeting developments was the speedy release of Pastor Ezra Jin Mingri, who was detained in October 2025 for leading an underground Christian church. While Jin's homecoming is a significant victory for religious liberty, Trump was unable to secure the release of another prominent political prisoner: Jimmy Lai, the Hong Kong businessman (and British citizen) who has been in jail for over five years for running the pro-democracy Apple Daily newspaper.
Lai, a self-made entrepreneur and billionaire, had the opportunity to flee before his arrest, but chose to stay to encourage millions of Hong Kongers to keep fighting for the freedom and autonomy that the region has had for decades. His plight resonates strongly with me because of my family's experiences during the Chinese Communist Revolution, but it should be just as meaningful for every American who believes in the virtues of economic and social freedoms.
In recent years, China has complicated the long-held belief among classical liberals that free markets are key to economic prosperity. Although the country has embraced central planning, it has become the world's second-largest economy after the United States. Hong Kong is situated in a fragile position: the island has been under British influence and, at times, control since 1842. In 1997, Britain's lease on the territory ended, and Hong Kong was handed back to China. The "one country, two systems" policy promised that Hong Kong would become part of China while retaining its capitalist economy and partially democratic political system during the 50-year transition period. Activists argue that China has eroded freedoms and punished dissent, leading to major protests in 2014 and 2019.
Yet, as Jimmy Lai's imprisonment shows, economic prosperity cannot persist unless the country also respects civil liberties. Lai has been detained since August 2020. In February, he was sentenced to 20 years in prison for colluding with foreign forces under the region's national security law. At age 78, civil rights groups have rightfully called this a "death sentence." He has been held in solitary confinement, where he has experienced substantial weight loss and health deterioration.
Recently, the Hong Kong government has attempted to confiscate over HK$127 million ($16 million) from Lai, alleging that the funds are linked to his crimes. When a government does not respect civil liberties, economic prosperity reaches only as far as its leaders allow.
Lai represents the change occurring in Hong Kong, from a city that embraced freedoms consistent with British and American systems to one struggling to maintain what it once had. Hong Kong may be thousands of miles away, but the values that Lai and other activists are fighting for are the same ones that Americans believe in: freedom to participate in governance, critique politicians and their decisions, and publish views without fear of retribution. These values should not feel foreign to Americans.
President Trump is set to meet with Xi again next month. The Chinese government's willingness to free Pastor Jin gives reason to hold onto optimism for Lai, though Trump is correct that it will be "tough" to secure his release. But the United States cannot give up on him. Lai is a hero who has put his own life at stake so that others can continue to fight for our shared values of freedom and human dignity.
* * *
Rachel Chiu is a recent graduate of Yale Law School and a Young Voices contributor focused on online speech and technology policy.
* * *
Original text here: https://fee.org/articles/true-courage-in-hong-kong/
Health Foundation: Historic Underinvestment in GP Funding Puts Government's Neighbourhood Health Agenda at Risk
LONDON, England, Aug. 14 (TNSrpt) -- The Health Foundation issued the following news release:
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Historic underinvestment in GP funding puts government's neighbourhood health agenda at risk
General practice funding failed to keep pace with hospital spending in the decade to 2024/25, despite repeated commitments to shift care closer to home, according to a new Health Foundation report.
The health charity calls for a clear multi-year commitment to increase the proportion of NHS spend on general practice, alongside a review of all GP funding streams.
The Health Foundation has warned that the ... Show Full Article LONDON, England, Aug. 14 (TNSrpt) -- The Health Foundation issued the following news release: * * * Historic underinvestment in GP funding puts government's neighbourhood health agenda at risk General practice funding failed to keep pace with hospital spending in the decade to 2024/25, despite repeated commitments to shift care closer to home, according to a new Health Foundation report. The health charity calls for a clear multi-year commitment to increase the proportion of NHS spend on general practice, alongside a review of all GP funding streams. The Health Foundation has warned that thegovernment's ambitions to move care into the community and realise its vision for a neighbourhood health service are at risk without a sustained focus to shift the proportion of NHS spending towards general practice.
Between 2015/16 and 2024/25, despite repeated government commitments to shift funding from secondary to primary care, the proportion of money spent by NHS England and Integrated Care Boards (ICBs) on primary medical care fell from 8.8% to 8.3%. Over the same period, the share spent on acute services, such as hospitals, increased from 38.4% to 42.6%.
Under the current Labour government, the 2025/26 and 2026/27 GP contracts have provided a boost in funding. The 10-Year Health Plan committed to shifting the share of NHS investment going into primary and community care. But current policies, proposing the introduction of Integrated Health Organisations - most likely to be led by large NHS trusts - risk shifting the focus back towards hospitals. The report warns that a clear policy commitment is needed to increase the share of investment going into general practice so it can deliver the central role expected of it in the government's neighbourhood health agenda.
Practices provide the vast majority of first contact and ongoing care to the public throughout the year, yet the amount allocated to general practice per patient per year is substantially below the average cost of a single ambulance or emergency care episode. In 2026/27, for pound sterling219 per patient on average, practices will typically provide 5 to 6 appointments per patient per year, carry out all non-patient facing work and meet the costs of running a practice, such as staffing and overheads.
The report also calls for a review of all general practice funding streams, not just the Carr-Hill formula (which accounts for three fifths of payments made to practices and is currently undergoing a review). It finds that the way funding is distributed between practices may contribute to inequities, with the overall mix of payments playing an important role. Although the current Carr-Hill formula directs more funding to practices in more deprived areas and rural communities, this may not be sufficient. And once all funding streams are combined, these favour practices serving less deprived populations, underlining the need for government to look at all payments collectively.
The report, the first to provide a comprehensive picture of GP funding in England, also finds marked variation in GP earnings over time and between GPs. GP contractors' - also known as partners - income per session was nearly double that of salaried GPs, and a gender pay gap, disadvantaging female GPs, exists among both contractor and salaried GPs even after accounting for reported working hours.
The Health Foundation urges policymakers to commit to a clear multi-year investment to increase the proportion of NHS spend on general practice, which could be achieved through a minimum investment standard. This should be accompanied by a review of all funding streams and of where unwarranted variation in GP pay exists. This will be necessary to ensure any additional investment supports access, improves continuity of care, addresses inequalities and strengthens workforce sustainability.
Dr Luisa Pettigrew, Senior Policy Fellow at the Health Foundation, said:
'General practice is the foundation of the NHS. Yet its funding has not kept pace with the role that recurrent governments have expected it to play. While the 2025/26 and 2026/27 GP contracts provided a boost in funding, this followed a decade in which the share of NHS spend going to general practice had fallen.
'The government consultation on proposed Neighbourhood Provider models states that there will be 'no new national funding'. But if the government are serious about delivering better neighbourhood health services and strengthening care outside of hospitals, more money will be needed in general practice. A clear, multi-year commitment to increasing investment is needed, alongside a review of all funding flows into general practice and of how they are used to ensure that funding is allocated fairly and efficiently.
'Without this, general practice and neighbourhood health ambitions are being set up to fail, and aspirations to shift care closer to home and reduce costly, avoidable pressure on hospitals will be left unrealised.'
* * *
REPORT: https://www.health.org.uk/sites/default/files/upload/publications/2026/Health_Foundation_General%20practice%20funding%20in%20England.pdf
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Original text here: https://www.health.org.uk/media-office/press-releases/historic-underinvestment-in-gp-funding-puts-government-s-neighbourhood-health-agenda-at-risk
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Historic underinvestment in GP funding puts government's neighbourhood health agenda at risk
General practice funding failed to keep pace with hospital spending in the decade to 2024/25, despite repeated commitments to shift care closer to home, according to a new Health Foundation report.
The health charity calls for a clear multi-year commitment to increase the proportion of NHS spend on general practice, alongside a review of all GP funding streams.
The Health Foundation has warned that the ... Show Full Article LONDON, England, Aug. 14 (TNSrpt) -- The Health Foundation issued the following news release: * * * Historic underinvestment in GP funding puts government's neighbourhood health agenda at risk General practice funding failed to keep pace with hospital spending in the decade to 2024/25, despite repeated commitments to shift care closer to home, according to a new Health Foundation report. The health charity calls for a clear multi-year commitment to increase the proportion of NHS spend on general practice, alongside a review of all GP funding streams. The Health Foundation has warned that thegovernment's ambitions to move care into the community and realise its vision for a neighbourhood health service are at risk without a sustained focus to shift the proportion of NHS spending towards general practice.
Between 2015/16 and 2024/25, despite repeated government commitments to shift funding from secondary to primary care, the proportion of money spent by NHS England and Integrated Care Boards (ICBs) on primary medical care fell from 8.8% to 8.3%. Over the same period, the share spent on acute services, such as hospitals, increased from 38.4% to 42.6%.
Under the current Labour government, the 2025/26 and 2026/27 GP contracts have provided a boost in funding. The 10-Year Health Plan committed to shifting the share of NHS investment going into primary and community care. But current policies, proposing the introduction of Integrated Health Organisations - most likely to be led by large NHS trusts - risk shifting the focus back towards hospitals. The report warns that a clear policy commitment is needed to increase the share of investment going into general practice so it can deliver the central role expected of it in the government's neighbourhood health agenda.
Practices provide the vast majority of first contact and ongoing care to the public throughout the year, yet the amount allocated to general practice per patient per year is substantially below the average cost of a single ambulance or emergency care episode. In 2026/27, for pound sterling219 per patient on average, practices will typically provide 5 to 6 appointments per patient per year, carry out all non-patient facing work and meet the costs of running a practice, such as staffing and overheads.
The report also calls for a review of all general practice funding streams, not just the Carr-Hill formula (which accounts for three fifths of payments made to practices and is currently undergoing a review). It finds that the way funding is distributed between practices may contribute to inequities, with the overall mix of payments playing an important role. Although the current Carr-Hill formula directs more funding to practices in more deprived areas and rural communities, this may not be sufficient. And once all funding streams are combined, these favour practices serving less deprived populations, underlining the need for government to look at all payments collectively.
The report, the first to provide a comprehensive picture of GP funding in England, also finds marked variation in GP earnings over time and between GPs. GP contractors' - also known as partners - income per session was nearly double that of salaried GPs, and a gender pay gap, disadvantaging female GPs, exists among both contractor and salaried GPs even after accounting for reported working hours.
The Health Foundation urges policymakers to commit to a clear multi-year investment to increase the proportion of NHS spend on general practice, which could be achieved through a minimum investment standard. This should be accompanied by a review of all funding streams and of where unwarranted variation in GP pay exists. This will be necessary to ensure any additional investment supports access, improves continuity of care, addresses inequalities and strengthens workforce sustainability.
Dr Luisa Pettigrew, Senior Policy Fellow at the Health Foundation, said:
'General practice is the foundation of the NHS. Yet its funding has not kept pace with the role that recurrent governments have expected it to play. While the 2025/26 and 2026/27 GP contracts provided a boost in funding, this followed a decade in which the share of NHS spend going to general practice had fallen.
'The government consultation on proposed Neighbourhood Provider models states that there will be 'no new national funding'. But if the government are serious about delivering better neighbourhood health services and strengthening care outside of hospitals, more money will be needed in general practice. A clear, multi-year commitment to increasing investment is needed, alongside a review of all funding flows into general practice and of how they are used to ensure that funding is allocated fairly and efficiently.
'Without this, general practice and neighbourhood health ambitions are being set up to fail, and aspirations to shift care closer to home and reduce costly, avoidable pressure on hospitals will be left unrealised.'
* * *
REPORT: https://www.health.org.uk/sites/default/files/upload/publications/2026/Health_Foundation_General%20practice%20funding%20in%20England.pdf
* * *
Original text here: https://www.health.org.uk/media-office/press-releases/historic-underinvestment-in-gp-funding-puts-government-s-neighbourhood-health-agenda-at-risk
Foundation for Economic Education Posts Commentary Entitled 'Can't Afford a House?'
DETROIT, Michigan, Aug. 14 -- The Foundation for Economic Education posted the following commentary by David Youngberg, professor of economics at Montgomery College in Rockville, Maryland:
* * *
Can't Afford a House?
Big investors aren't the reason for high housing costs. The government is.
-
The 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act became law last month the way bad ideas often do: quietly, and with a name that sounds like the opposite of what it does. At best, it is largely innocuous, and at worst, it will make America's frustrating housing market even worse.
One provision stands out as particularly ... Show Full Article DETROIT, Michigan, Aug. 14 -- The Foundation for Economic Education posted the following commentary by David Youngberg, professor of economics at Montgomery College in Rockville, Maryland: * * * Can't Afford a House? Big investors aren't the reason for high housing costs. The government is. - The 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act became law last month the way bad ideas often do: quietly, and with a name that sounds like the opposite of what it does. At best, it is largely innocuous, and at worst, it will make America's frustrating housing market even worse. One provision stands out as particularlydamaging: Section 1001, haughtily titled "Homes Are for People, Not Corporations." Big companies, the argument goes, are buying up houses, and that's why rent and home prices are so high. The section recycles President Trump's executive order from earlier this year banning institutional investors from owning single-family homes, a tactic Democratic Senators Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren have called for even earlier. While the ROAD Act's exceptions and definitions of "institutional investor" and "single-family home" allow for some workarounds, its nice-sounding solution actually exacerbates America's dysfunctional housing market.
The ban on institutional investors is as misguided as it is bipartisan. Such investors own a tiny percentage of the total single-family home inventory. Even in the metro areas where they are most concentrated, their share of total ownership doesn't even crack the double digits. To blame them for high housing costs is, to put it kindly, a stretch.
But even if big companies owned a large portion of single-family homes, they still wouldn't be the culprit behind the high cost of housing because homes are for people and corporations. Institutional investors don't buy homes to have them sit empty. They buy them so they can rent them out--that's the point of the whole enterprise--resulting in no net loss of housing. One might as well try to ban grocery stores because "food is for people, not corporations." As I've previously argued, institutional investors are middlemen and, like all middlemen, they improve efficiency and drive prices down, not up. Two recent studies confirm exactly that.
Examining the Atlanta metro area, where institutional investors have the biggest presence, economists Felipe Barbieri and Gregory Dobbels found that these investors bring rents down by 2.3%. It's not a huge amount, but it's directionally opposite to what critics claim.
Why does this happen? The authors note that because many of these rental homes are similar to each other and located close together, large investors rent homes more efficiently than small-time landlords. Maintenance costs are much lower when repairs involve comparable equipment in the same area.
At the same time, the market for single-family home rentals is still competitive. Even a sizable presence of Wall Street investors must compete with one another, as well as mid-sized investors and mom-and-pop landlords, not to mention duplexes, townhomes, and apartments. All that competition means that much of the savings gets passed on to renters.
But that's not the only reason big investors bring rental prices down. A study by economist Joshua Coven, which found a similar decrease in rent, pointed out another explanation that's both often ignored and painfully obvious: investment boosts construction.
When investors start buying single-family homes, these homes get a tiny bit more expensive. (Coven makes it clear that this is nowhere near enough to explain rising housing prices.) Developers respond to these higher prices and build more homes, resulting in a much smaller increase in prices than there would be otherwise. And the supply effect is huge: for every four homes institutional investors buy, builders add another house.
It's worth noting that Coven's study also covers the Atlanta metro area, which has one of the nation's least restrictive zoning laws, and is thus most responsive to changes in housing demand. Even a small increase in price generates a lot of construction. It's why despite Atlanta's surge in population, and with incomes similar to those of the average American, housing costs are about half those of the rest of the country.
Atlanta allows markets to work. The resulting affordability is a big reason people want to move there, and the resulting growth is why the area has enjoyed so much Wall Street investment.
High housing prices stem from government barriers to construction, not from investors buying homes. Zoning laws, environmental restrictions, parking requirements, historic preservation barriers, and NIMBY petitioners all make it so difficult to build that even big increases in prices fail to spur much construction. The end result is a doubling of housing costs.
That's why there are virtually no institutional investors in the expensive metro areas of San Francisco, New York, and Los Angeles. People are fleeing the high housing prices of these regulation-choked cities. Investors, always a forward-looking bunch, see those dwindling populations and steer clear.
Los Angeles's sluggish recovery after the Eaton Fire last year illustrates how burdensome these barriers can be: 18 months after the disaster, just 1% of the 13,000 homes destroyed have been rebuilt. Delay is unavoidable to a certain extent--the fire left some soil toxic--but time-consuming and expensive regulations needlessly keep thousands of lots vacant and their owners without a home. The "accelerated" approval process the city created to encourage recovery only applies to homeowners who want to rebuild exactly what was there. Any new build that alters the footprint, size, or use must endure fees and approval delays. These problems get many times worse if the owner dares to add more units to the lot, which is exactly the kind of denser construction that the undersupplied city needs most.
The City of Angels could've treated the disaster as an opportunity to reinvent its housing policy and cut out the myriad regulations that block construction. Deregulation would've attracted much-needed investment and sparked a boom that would've transformed its devastated neighborhoods into affordable housing examples for the rest of the country. It could've allowed markets to work. But the city instead chose the familiar snail's pace of overregulation, and thousands remain displaced a year and a half after they lost their homes.
Government, not investors, is the root problem of housing prices. Rather than take on barriers to construction, politicians find it easier to blame Wall Street. America is short millions of housing units, and scapegoating won't build a single one. We need more housing investment, not less.
* * *
David Youngberg is professor of economics at Montgomery College in Rockville, MD.
* * *
Original text here: https://fee.org/articles/cant-afford-a-house/
* * *
Can't Afford a House?
Big investors aren't the reason for high housing costs. The government is.
-
The 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act became law last month the way bad ideas often do: quietly, and with a name that sounds like the opposite of what it does. At best, it is largely innocuous, and at worst, it will make America's frustrating housing market even worse.
One provision stands out as particularly ... Show Full Article DETROIT, Michigan, Aug. 14 -- The Foundation for Economic Education posted the following commentary by David Youngberg, professor of economics at Montgomery College in Rockville, Maryland: * * * Can't Afford a House? Big investors aren't the reason for high housing costs. The government is. - The 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act became law last month the way bad ideas often do: quietly, and with a name that sounds like the opposite of what it does. At best, it is largely innocuous, and at worst, it will make America's frustrating housing market even worse. One provision stands out as particularlydamaging: Section 1001, haughtily titled "Homes Are for People, Not Corporations." Big companies, the argument goes, are buying up houses, and that's why rent and home prices are so high. The section recycles President Trump's executive order from earlier this year banning institutional investors from owning single-family homes, a tactic Democratic Senators Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren have called for even earlier. While the ROAD Act's exceptions and definitions of "institutional investor" and "single-family home" allow for some workarounds, its nice-sounding solution actually exacerbates America's dysfunctional housing market.
The ban on institutional investors is as misguided as it is bipartisan. Such investors own a tiny percentage of the total single-family home inventory. Even in the metro areas where they are most concentrated, their share of total ownership doesn't even crack the double digits. To blame them for high housing costs is, to put it kindly, a stretch.
But even if big companies owned a large portion of single-family homes, they still wouldn't be the culprit behind the high cost of housing because homes are for people and corporations. Institutional investors don't buy homes to have them sit empty. They buy them so they can rent them out--that's the point of the whole enterprise--resulting in no net loss of housing. One might as well try to ban grocery stores because "food is for people, not corporations." As I've previously argued, institutional investors are middlemen and, like all middlemen, they improve efficiency and drive prices down, not up. Two recent studies confirm exactly that.
Examining the Atlanta metro area, where institutional investors have the biggest presence, economists Felipe Barbieri and Gregory Dobbels found that these investors bring rents down by 2.3%. It's not a huge amount, but it's directionally opposite to what critics claim.
Why does this happen? The authors note that because many of these rental homes are similar to each other and located close together, large investors rent homes more efficiently than small-time landlords. Maintenance costs are much lower when repairs involve comparable equipment in the same area.
At the same time, the market for single-family home rentals is still competitive. Even a sizable presence of Wall Street investors must compete with one another, as well as mid-sized investors and mom-and-pop landlords, not to mention duplexes, townhomes, and apartments. All that competition means that much of the savings gets passed on to renters.
But that's not the only reason big investors bring rental prices down. A study by economist Joshua Coven, which found a similar decrease in rent, pointed out another explanation that's both often ignored and painfully obvious: investment boosts construction.
When investors start buying single-family homes, these homes get a tiny bit more expensive. (Coven makes it clear that this is nowhere near enough to explain rising housing prices.) Developers respond to these higher prices and build more homes, resulting in a much smaller increase in prices than there would be otherwise. And the supply effect is huge: for every four homes institutional investors buy, builders add another house.
It's worth noting that Coven's study also covers the Atlanta metro area, which has one of the nation's least restrictive zoning laws, and is thus most responsive to changes in housing demand. Even a small increase in price generates a lot of construction. It's why despite Atlanta's surge in population, and with incomes similar to those of the average American, housing costs are about half those of the rest of the country.
Atlanta allows markets to work. The resulting affordability is a big reason people want to move there, and the resulting growth is why the area has enjoyed so much Wall Street investment.
High housing prices stem from government barriers to construction, not from investors buying homes. Zoning laws, environmental restrictions, parking requirements, historic preservation barriers, and NIMBY petitioners all make it so difficult to build that even big increases in prices fail to spur much construction. The end result is a doubling of housing costs.
That's why there are virtually no institutional investors in the expensive metro areas of San Francisco, New York, and Los Angeles. People are fleeing the high housing prices of these regulation-choked cities. Investors, always a forward-looking bunch, see those dwindling populations and steer clear.
Los Angeles's sluggish recovery after the Eaton Fire last year illustrates how burdensome these barriers can be: 18 months after the disaster, just 1% of the 13,000 homes destroyed have been rebuilt. Delay is unavoidable to a certain extent--the fire left some soil toxic--but time-consuming and expensive regulations needlessly keep thousands of lots vacant and their owners without a home. The "accelerated" approval process the city created to encourage recovery only applies to homeowners who want to rebuild exactly what was there. Any new build that alters the footprint, size, or use must endure fees and approval delays. These problems get many times worse if the owner dares to add more units to the lot, which is exactly the kind of denser construction that the undersupplied city needs most.
The City of Angels could've treated the disaster as an opportunity to reinvent its housing policy and cut out the myriad regulations that block construction. Deregulation would've attracted much-needed investment and sparked a boom that would've transformed its devastated neighborhoods into affordable housing examples for the rest of the country. It could've allowed markets to work. But the city instead chose the familiar snail's pace of overregulation, and thousands remain displaced a year and a half after they lost their homes.
Government, not investors, is the root problem of housing prices. Rather than take on barriers to construction, politicians find it easier to blame Wall Street. America is short millions of housing units, and scapegoating won't build a single one. We need more housing investment, not less.
* * *
David Youngberg is professor of economics at Montgomery College in Rockville, MD.
* * *
Original text here: https://fee.org/articles/cant-afford-a-house/
FFRF: Michigan Police Department Must Remove Prominent Bible Passage
MADISON, Wisconsin, Aug. 14 -- The Freedom From Religion Foundation issued the following news release:
* * *
FFRF: Michigan police department must remove prominent bible passage
The Freedom From Religion Foundation is demanding that the Battle Creek Police Department in Michigan take down a Christian bible verse in large lettering from its public waiting room.
"Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God. -- Matthew 5:9," the display reads.
A concerned Battle Creek resident recently alerted the state/church watchdog to the display, explaining that encountering ... Show Full Article MADISON, Wisconsin, Aug. 14 -- The Freedom From Religion Foundation issued the following news release: * * * FFRF: Michigan police department must remove prominent bible passage The Freedom From Religion Foundation is demanding that the Battle Creek Police Department in Michigan take down a Christian bible verse in large lettering from its public waiting room. "Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God. -- Matthew 5:9," the display reads. A concerned Battle Creek resident recently alerted the state/church watchdog to the display, explaining that encounteringan explicitly Christian message inside a government law enforcement facility made them feel like an outsider.
"As an atheist . . . I was offended by witnessing a violation of the separation of church and state in the city of Battle Creek Michigan Police Department waiting room," the resident reported to FFRF. "I personally felt discriminated against when observing the bible verse on display in a government building, concerned for the bias towards atheists and those of non-Judeo-Christian faith."
FFRF has sent a missive to the Police Department pointing out the constitutional transgression.
"Posting a bible quote on government property fails to respect this constitutional mandate of neutrality," FFRF Patrick O'Reiley Legal Fellow Charlotte R. Gude writes to Police Chief Shannon Bagley. "This posting promotes religion over nonreligion and Christianity over all other faiths."
People interact with and rely on law enforcement officers during some of the most urgent and vulnerable times of their lives, FFRF reminds the police chief. Battle Creek residents belonging to minority religions or with no religion at all, such as FFRF's complainant, should not be made to feel excluded because the local Police Department promotes a particular religious group's beliefs, implying official support for Christianity. Sectarian Christian displays marginalize community members among the 38 percent of Americans who are non-Christians, including the 31 percent of Michigan residents who are religiously unaffiliated.
"Imagine the outcry were a Quranic verse about peace posted at this Police Department. When a police department prominently displays New Testament Scripture, it sends a troubling message about whose beliefs are favored by those entrusted to safeguard citizens and enforce the law," says FFRF Co-President Annie Laurie Gaylor. "Every Battle Creek resident, Christian or non-Christian, religious or nonreligious, should be able to walk into their police department confident that they will be treated equally and will not be confronted with bible verses."
* * *
The Freedom From Religion Foundation is a U.S.-based nonprofit dedicated to defending the constitutional principle of separation between state and church and educating the public on matters relating to nontheism. With more than 41,000 members across the country, including over 1,000 members in Michigan, FFRF is the largest association of freethinkers (atheists, agnostics and humanists) in North America. For more information, visit ffrf.org.
* * *
Original text here: https://ffrf.org/news/releases/ffrf-michigan-police-department-must-remove-prominent-bible-passage/
[Category: Religion]
* * *
FFRF: Michigan police department must remove prominent bible passage
The Freedom From Religion Foundation is demanding that the Battle Creek Police Department in Michigan take down a Christian bible verse in large lettering from its public waiting room.
"Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God. -- Matthew 5:9," the display reads.
A concerned Battle Creek resident recently alerted the state/church watchdog to the display, explaining that encountering ... Show Full Article MADISON, Wisconsin, Aug. 14 -- The Freedom From Religion Foundation issued the following news release: * * * FFRF: Michigan police department must remove prominent bible passage The Freedom From Religion Foundation is demanding that the Battle Creek Police Department in Michigan take down a Christian bible verse in large lettering from its public waiting room. "Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God. -- Matthew 5:9," the display reads. A concerned Battle Creek resident recently alerted the state/church watchdog to the display, explaining that encounteringan explicitly Christian message inside a government law enforcement facility made them feel like an outsider.
"As an atheist . . . I was offended by witnessing a violation of the separation of church and state in the city of Battle Creek Michigan Police Department waiting room," the resident reported to FFRF. "I personally felt discriminated against when observing the bible verse on display in a government building, concerned for the bias towards atheists and those of non-Judeo-Christian faith."
FFRF has sent a missive to the Police Department pointing out the constitutional transgression.
"Posting a bible quote on government property fails to respect this constitutional mandate of neutrality," FFRF Patrick O'Reiley Legal Fellow Charlotte R. Gude writes to Police Chief Shannon Bagley. "This posting promotes religion over nonreligion and Christianity over all other faiths."
People interact with and rely on law enforcement officers during some of the most urgent and vulnerable times of their lives, FFRF reminds the police chief. Battle Creek residents belonging to minority religions or with no religion at all, such as FFRF's complainant, should not be made to feel excluded because the local Police Department promotes a particular religious group's beliefs, implying official support for Christianity. Sectarian Christian displays marginalize community members among the 38 percent of Americans who are non-Christians, including the 31 percent of Michigan residents who are religiously unaffiliated.
"Imagine the outcry were a Quranic verse about peace posted at this Police Department. When a police department prominently displays New Testament Scripture, it sends a troubling message about whose beliefs are favored by those entrusted to safeguard citizens and enforce the law," says FFRF Co-President Annie Laurie Gaylor. "Every Battle Creek resident, Christian or non-Christian, religious or nonreligious, should be able to walk into their police department confident that they will be treated equally and will not be confronted with bible verses."
* * *
The Freedom From Religion Foundation is a U.S.-based nonprofit dedicated to defending the constitutional principle of separation between state and church and educating the public on matters relating to nontheism. With more than 41,000 members across the country, including over 1,000 members in Michigan, FFRF is the largest association of freethinkers (atheists, agnostics and humanists) in North America. For more information, visit ffrf.org.
* * *
Original text here: https://ffrf.org/news/releases/ffrf-michigan-police-department-must-remove-prominent-bible-passage/
[Category: Religion]
Damon Runyon Cancer Research Foundation Awards $4.2 Million to Exceptional Early-Career Scientists
NEW YORK, Aug. 14 -- The Damon Runyon Cancer Research Foundation issued the following news release:
* * *
Damon Runyon Cancer Research Foundation awards $4.2 million to exceptional early-career scientists
The Damon Runyon Cancer Research Foundation has named 14 new Damon Runyon Fellows, brilliant postdoctoral scientists conducting basic and translational cancer research in the laboratories of leading senior investigators. This prestigious Fellowship encourages the nation's most promising young scientists to pursue careers in cancer research by providing them with independent funding ($300,000 ... Show Full Article NEW YORK, Aug. 14 -- The Damon Runyon Cancer Research Foundation issued the following news release: * * * Damon Runyon Cancer Research Foundation awards $4.2 million to exceptional early-career scientists The Damon Runyon Cancer Research Foundation has named 14 new Damon Runyon Fellows, brilliant postdoctoral scientists conducting basic and translational cancer research in the laboratories of leading senior investigators. This prestigious Fellowship encourages the nation's most promising young scientists to pursue careers in cancer research by providing them with independent funding ($300,000total over four years) to investigate cancer causes, mechanisms, therapies, and prevention.
"There's so much talent and excitement and passion and energy at this stage of a scientist's career," said current Damon Runyon-Timmerman Traverse Fellow Antonio J. LaPorte, PhD. "To take advantage of that human spirit, we really need foundations like Damon Runyon to help out with funding."
"We are committed to continuing to provide financial support for these exceptional researchers, whose much-needed breakthroughs in cancer prevention, diagnostics, and therapeutics might otherwise go unfunded," said Yung S. Lie, PhD, President and CEO of Damon Runyon. "Damon Runyon Fellows are the future leaders of their fields."
May 2026 Fellows
Nicholas Aboreden, PhD [Robertson Foundation Fellow], with his sponsor Kimberly Stegmaier, MD, at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston
Only two percent of the human genome contains instructions for making proteins. Much of the remaining 98 percent, once referred to as "genomic dark matter," consists of regulatory elements that act as molecular switches to turn genes on or off. These molecular switches are broadly categorized into two groups: enhancers (on-switches) and silencers (off-switches). While it is well-known that cancers exploit enhancer elements to amplify the expression of growth-promoting genes, silencers remain poorly understood. Dr. Aboreden's research focuses on the repressive mechanisms that cancer cells use to sustain uncontrolled growth. He is mapping the regulatory genome of an aggressive type of pediatric leukemia characterized by widespread gene repression. By identifying silencer elements that these cancer cells use to maintain a malignant state, his work aims to identify new therapeutic vulnerabilities to selectively target cancer. The insights gleaned from this work will have broad relevance across diverse tumor types. Dr. Aboreden received his PhD from the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, his MS from Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, and his BS from Liberty University, Lynchburg.
Shihui Chen, PhD [Timmerman Traverse Fellow], with her sponsor Magdalena Zernicka-Goetz, PhD, at the California Institute of Technology, Pasadena
During the first days of embryogenesis, genetically identical cells begin the process of differentiation, switching genes "on" or "off" to establish distinct cell lineages that will ultimately form the embryo and supporting tissues. Aberrant reactivation of these embryonic gene regulatory programs later in life is a hallmark of many cancers. Dr. Chen's research investigates how genetically identical cells acquire distinct fates during early mammalian development and explores the shared gene regulatory mechanisms that govern both development and cancer. Using mouse embryos as a model system, she will determine how CARM1, a regulator that is frequently overexpressed in human cancers, controls gene expression programs that drive early cell fate decisions. This work will reveal fundamental mechanisms that establish and maintain cellular identity and provide insight into how developmental pathways are hijacked during cancer initiation and progression. Dr. Chen received her PhD from the University of Southern California, Los Angeles, and her BS from Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan.
Stephanie A. Gaglione, PhD [Timmerman Traverse Fellow], with her sponsor Alexander Marson, MD, PhD, at The J. David Gladstone Institutes, San Francisco
Cancer immunotherapies can be engineered to direct T cells against specific tumor antigens, but many challenging cancers lack viable targets. Recent advances suggest that an understudied source of antigens can generate strong immune responses. These cryptic antigens originate from unusual and noncoding parts of viruses and tumor genomes and may be shared between patients. Dr. Gaglione will apply cutting-edge tools to comprehensively profile the antigen landscape of virally-driven cancers, mapping which antigens are presented to the immune system and which trigger tumor-specific immune responses. This work will reveal new, potentially shared targets for T cell-based therapies, including engineered T cells and cancer vaccines. Beyond virally-driven cancers, these approaches may help identify therapeutic targets and mechanisms in other diseases with T cell involvement. Dr. Gaglione received her PhD from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, her MSc from the University of Oxford, Oxford, and her BASc from the University of Toronto, Toronto.
Yi Hua, PhD [Connie and Bob Lurie Fellow], with his sponsor Alice Y. Ting, PhD, at Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford
Cell surface proteins play prominent roles in regulating immune responses and govern intercellular communications within the tumor microenvironment. To study the roles of cell surface proteins during cancer progression at exceptional molecular resolution, Dr. Hua aims to develop SortID, a novel labeling technology based on an engineered bacterial enzyme. SortID will be able to rapidly label any exposed protein residues on the cell surface, enabling precise mapping of the cell surface without pre-installed tags. To demonstrate its transformative utility, Dr. Hua will deploy SortID to map the surface of SLAMF7, a critical therapeutic target in multiple myeloma. Ultimately, SortID will provide a highly precise and comprehensive map of cell surface interactions, deepening our understanding of cancer progression and unlocking novel targets for targeted immunotherapies. Dr. Hua received his PhD from Princeton University, Princeton, and his BS from Tsinghua University, Beijing.
Devon Jeltema, PhD, with her sponsor Britt A. Glaunsinger, PhD, at the University of California, Berkeley
A family of enzymes called PARPs help cells defend against viruses and other stressors by chemically modifying other molecules. While research on PARPs has historically focused on their modification of proteins, Dr. Jeltema's research explores the modification of RNA by PARPs. Her project aims to investigate how RNA modification affects immune responses to threats like viral infection and cancer. Using biochemical and sequencing tools to map which RNA molecules are modified, Dr. Jeltema hopes to identify a new facet of immune defense that can be harnessed to treat cancer. Dr. Jeltema received her PhD from the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, and her BS from Wheaton College, Norton.
Jaejin Kim, PhD [Hope Funds for Cancer Research Fellow], with his sponsor Elaine Fuchs, PhD, at The Rockefeller University, New York
Inflammatory diseases such as eczema, psoriasis, and inflammatory bowel disease often recur years later in the same places, suggesting that tissues can "remember" past insults. Such memories can be beneficial, accelerating wound healing and pathogen defense, but they can also be maladaptive, predisposing tissues to chronic inflammation and cancer. It remains unclear how this memory is preserved in stem cells that otherwise appear normal, and which features promote regeneration versus cancer. Dr. Kim aims to identify the genes and molecular mechanisms underlying tissue memory and to define their consequences for wound repair and tumorigenesis. Identifying the "bad memories" that drive tumorigenesis could open opportunities to selectively erase them--reducing cancer risk without compromising normal regeneration--and may one day help prevent inflammation-linked cancers before they arise. Dr. Kim received his PhD and BSc from Seoul National University, Seoul.
Zhuoran Li, PhD [Connie and Bob Lurie Fellow], with her sponsor Katrin J. Svensson, PhD, at Stanford University, Stanford
Changes in appetite and metabolism can affect how tumors develop, how they progress, and overall patient prognosis. Peptide hormones are small signaling molecules that help organs communicate and coordinate whole-body metabolism. Recent computational studies suggest that the brain may produce many more peptides than previously recognized--yet for most of these, we still do not know what they do, where they act, or how they work together. Dr. Li aims to identify new peptide signals produced by the brain and determine how they affect appetite and regulate metabolism. This work may reveal new brain-body signaling pathways that could ultimately help support cancer treatment and improve patient well-being. Dr. Li received her PhD from Stanford University, Stanford, and her BS from Peking University, Beijing.
Rachael A. McMinimy, PhD [Connie and Bob Lurie Fellow], with her sponsor Isha Himani Jain, PhD, at The J. David Gladstone Institutes, San Francisco
Normal cells convert glucose into energy via cellular respiration in the mitochondria, but cancer cells often rely on alternative metabolic pathways that support rapid growth. Central to this strategy is the pyruvate dehydrogenase complex, an enzymatic switch that controls how cells use glucose. Dr. McMinimy studies a newly discovered pathway that regulates this switch through selective protein degradation. By understanding and manipulating this pathway, she hopes to redirect cancer cell metabolism back toward the mitochondria, potentially slowing tumor growth. Dr. McMinimy received her PhD from the University of California, Berkeley, and her BA from Oberlin College, Oberlin.
Gayathri Muthukumar, PhD [Robertson Foundation Fellow], with her sponsor Carolyn Bertozzi, PhD, at Stanford University, Stanford
More than half of all FDA-approved biotherapeutics target proteins on the cell surface involved in intercellular communication. The vast majority of these proteins are decorated with post-translational modifications (PTMs), such as the addition of a sugar molecule, but our understanding of how individual PTMs affect communication in a disease context is poor. As aggressive tumors often have surface proteins thickly coated in sugar molecules, they are suspected to play a role in in driving oncogenic growth and tumor immune evasion. Dr. Muthukumar will map cell surface and intracellular membrane PTMs in cancer cells, and then interrogate the role each of these PTMs play in oncogenesis with precise mutational genomic screens. This will highlight the PTMs that drive tumor pathology, allowing for the development of new precision therapeutics and cancer diagnostic markers. Dr. Muthukumar received her PhD from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, and her BA from Columbia University, New York.
Angelos Pistofidis, PhD [Timmerman Traverse Fellow], with his sponsor Seychelle M. Vos, PhD, at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge
During mitosis, two copies of the genome condense and segregate, a process catalyzed by a protein known as transcription termination factor 2 (TTF2). Mutations in TTF2 have been associated with incomplete genome segregation, DNA damage, and cell death. Research has shown that TTF2 is necessary for many cancers, making it a prime target for future cancer therapeutics. Dr. Pistofidis aims to use a combination of structural biology, biochemistry, and single-molecule biophysics to outline the molecular mechanism of TTF2. Ultimately, this work will reveal vulnerabilities in the mechanism of TTF2 that can be exploited for the development of cancer therapeutics. Dr. Pistofidis received his PhD from McGill University, Montreal, and his MSc from the University College London, London.
Bailey Schultz, PhD [Timmerman Traverse Fellow], with his sponsor Jeremy Rock, PhD, at The Rockefeller University, New York
Estimates suggest that a quarter of the world's population has been infected with Mycobacterium tuberculosis, which causes tuberculosis (TB) and kills more people than any other pathogen. The relationship between TB and cancer is bidirectional: a history of TB is associated with a higher risk of developing cancer (especially respiratory cancers), while many cancers and chemotherapies increase the risk of contracting TB by weakening the immune system, and some immunotherapies can even reactivate dormant TB infections. Better anti-TB drugs are urgently needed, but drug development efforts have been hampered by an incomplete molecular-level understanding of how M. tuberculosis grows and divides. Dr. Schultz is using genome-wide CRISPR-based approaches to identify and study genes that regulate mycobacterial cell growth and division. His work will point to new drug targets and help anticipate possible routes of antibiotic resistance, hopefully leading to new treatments for TB that will ease its burden on cancer patients. Dr. Schultz received his PhD from Harvard University, Cambridge, and his BS from Stanford University, Stanford.
Christina A. Stephens, PhD [National Mah Jongg League Fellow], with her sponsor Naomi R. Latorraca, PhD, and Ruben L. Gonzalez, Jr., PhD, at Columbia University, New York
Solid tumors, like those commonly found in breast and lung cancers, are challenging to treat using state-of-the-art cell engineering techniques due to their heterogeneous surface proteins. There is thus a need to identify unique markers on tumor cells that can be used as molecular targets. Recently, a subclass of surface proteins known as aGPCRs has been recognized as potential markers and propagators of several cancers, but little is known about their molecular mechanism. Dr. Stephen's research uses single-molecule microscopy coupled with molecular dynamics simulations to provide a detailed picture of the factors that control aGPCR activation. Dr. Stephens will ultimately use these assays to screen and optimize therapeutic targeting of aGPCRs implicated in cancer. Dr. Stephens received her PhD from the University of California, San Francisco, and her BS from the College of William and Mary, Williamsburg.
Yang Su, PhD [Robertson Foundation Fellow], with his sponsor Samie R. Jaffrey, MD, PhD, at the Weill Medical College of Cornell University, New York
The oncogene c-MYC is a "master regulator" that drives aggressive cancer growth but is widely considered "undruggable" due to its lack of an accessible drug-binding pocket. Inside a cell, the levels of c-MYC protein are tightly controlled at both the RNA and protein levels by various chemical modifications. For example, c-MYC messenger RNA (mRNA) is frequently modified with the addition of a methyl group, which typically triggers rapid mRNA decay. Dr. Su and his colleagues recently discovered that c-MYC mRNA can also be decorated with two methyl groups, a completely new class of modification. Crucial questions remain unanswered: What is the biological impact of this modification on c-MYC? Which enzyme installs it? How does it alter c-MYC function? Dr. Su will address these questions using multidisciplinary approaches, revealing a fundamentally new mechanism of c-MYC regulation and paving the way for novel therapeutics designed to interfere with c-MYC modifications in cancer cells. Dr. Su received his PhD from the University of Georgia, Athens, and his BS from Zhejiang University, Hangzhou.
Shuya Wang, PhD [Robertson Foundation Fellow], with her sponsor David S. Pellman, MD, at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston
Even within the same tumor, cancer cells can differ in which genes they turn on or off, allowing some cells to adapt, survive treatment, or become more aggressive. These differences are often driven by changes in the epigenome, a layer of regulation that controls gene activity. Dr. Wang's project explores the origin of epigenetic heterogeneity in cancer, focusing on the role of genome instability in driving epigenetic changes. By identifying the genes and pathways that connect these processes, she aims to better understand how cancer cells generate and maintain epigenetic heterogeneity, revealing new ways to limit tumor evolution, adaptation, and treatment resistance across all cancer types. Dr. Wang received her PhD from the University of California, Los Angeles, and her BS from Emory University, Decatur.
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Original text here: https://www.damonrunyon.org/discovery/damon-runyon-cancer-research-foundation-awards-42-million-exceptional-early-career
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Damon Runyon Cancer Research Foundation awards $4.2 million to exceptional early-career scientists
The Damon Runyon Cancer Research Foundation has named 14 new Damon Runyon Fellows, brilliant postdoctoral scientists conducting basic and translational cancer research in the laboratories of leading senior investigators. This prestigious Fellowship encourages the nation's most promising young scientists to pursue careers in cancer research by providing them with independent funding ($300,000 ... Show Full Article NEW YORK, Aug. 14 -- The Damon Runyon Cancer Research Foundation issued the following news release: * * * Damon Runyon Cancer Research Foundation awards $4.2 million to exceptional early-career scientists The Damon Runyon Cancer Research Foundation has named 14 new Damon Runyon Fellows, brilliant postdoctoral scientists conducting basic and translational cancer research in the laboratories of leading senior investigators. This prestigious Fellowship encourages the nation's most promising young scientists to pursue careers in cancer research by providing them with independent funding ($300,000total over four years) to investigate cancer causes, mechanisms, therapies, and prevention.
"There's so much talent and excitement and passion and energy at this stage of a scientist's career," said current Damon Runyon-Timmerman Traverse Fellow Antonio J. LaPorte, PhD. "To take advantage of that human spirit, we really need foundations like Damon Runyon to help out with funding."
"We are committed to continuing to provide financial support for these exceptional researchers, whose much-needed breakthroughs in cancer prevention, diagnostics, and therapeutics might otherwise go unfunded," said Yung S. Lie, PhD, President and CEO of Damon Runyon. "Damon Runyon Fellows are the future leaders of their fields."
May 2026 Fellows
Nicholas Aboreden, PhD [Robertson Foundation Fellow], with his sponsor Kimberly Stegmaier, MD, at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston
Only two percent of the human genome contains instructions for making proteins. Much of the remaining 98 percent, once referred to as "genomic dark matter," consists of regulatory elements that act as molecular switches to turn genes on or off. These molecular switches are broadly categorized into two groups: enhancers (on-switches) and silencers (off-switches). While it is well-known that cancers exploit enhancer elements to amplify the expression of growth-promoting genes, silencers remain poorly understood. Dr. Aboreden's research focuses on the repressive mechanisms that cancer cells use to sustain uncontrolled growth. He is mapping the regulatory genome of an aggressive type of pediatric leukemia characterized by widespread gene repression. By identifying silencer elements that these cancer cells use to maintain a malignant state, his work aims to identify new therapeutic vulnerabilities to selectively target cancer. The insights gleaned from this work will have broad relevance across diverse tumor types. Dr. Aboreden received his PhD from the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, his MS from Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, and his BS from Liberty University, Lynchburg.
Shihui Chen, PhD [Timmerman Traverse Fellow], with her sponsor Magdalena Zernicka-Goetz, PhD, at the California Institute of Technology, Pasadena
During the first days of embryogenesis, genetically identical cells begin the process of differentiation, switching genes "on" or "off" to establish distinct cell lineages that will ultimately form the embryo and supporting tissues. Aberrant reactivation of these embryonic gene regulatory programs later in life is a hallmark of many cancers. Dr. Chen's research investigates how genetically identical cells acquire distinct fates during early mammalian development and explores the shared gene regulatory mechanisms that govern both development and cancer. Using mouse embryos as a model system, she will determine how CARM1, a regulator that is frequently overexpressed in human cancers, controls gene expression programs that drive early cell fate decisions. This work will reveal fundamental mechanisms that establish and maintain cellular identity and provide insight into how developmental pathways are hijacked during cancer initiation and progression. Dr. Chen received her PhD from the University of Southern California, Los Angeles, and her BS from Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan.
Stephanie A. Gaglione, PhD [Timmerman Traverse Fellow], with her sponsor Alexander Marson, MD, PhD, at The J. David Gladstone Institutes, San Francisco
Cancer immunotherapies can be engineered to direct T cells against specific tumor antigens, but many challenging cancers lack viable targets. Recent advances suggest that an understudied source of antigens can generate strong immune responses. These cryptic antigens originate from unusual and noncoding parts of viruses and tumor genomes and may be shared between patients. Dr. Gaglione will apply cutting-edge tools to comprehensively profile the antigen landscape of virally-driven cancers, mapping which antigens are presented to the immune system and which trigger tumor-specific immune responses. This work will reveal new, potentially shared targets for T cell-based therapies, including engineered T cells and cancer vaccines. Beyond virally-driven cancers, these approaches may help identify therapeutic targets and mechanisms in other diseases with T cell involvement. Dr. Gaglione received her PhD from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, her MSc from the University of Oxford, Oxford, and her BASc from the University of Toronto, Toronto.
Yi Hua, PhD [Connie and Bob Lurie Fellow], with his sponsor Alice Y. Ting, PhD, at Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford
Cell surface proteins play prominent roles in regulating immune responses and govern intercellular communications within the tumor microenvironment. To study the roles of cell surface proteins during cancer progression at exceptional molecular resolution, Dr. Hua aims to develop SortID, a novel labeling technology based on an engineered bacterial enzyme. SortID will be able to rapidly label any exposed protein residues on the cell surface, enabling precise mapping of the cell surface without pre-installed tags. To demonstrate its transformative utility, Dr. Hua will deploy SortID to map the surface of SLAMF7, a critical therapeutic target in multiple myeloma. Ultimately, SortID will provide a highly precise and comprehensive map of cell surface interactions, deepening our understanding of cancer progression and unlocking novel targets for targeted immunotherapies. Dr. Hua received his PhD from Princeton University, Princeton, and his BS from Tsinghua University, Beijing.
Devon Jeltema, PhD, with her sponsor Britt A. Glaunsinger, PhD, at the University of California, Berkeley
A family of enzymes called PARPs help cells defend against viruses and other stressors by chemically modifying other molecules. While research on PARPs has historically focused on their modification of proteins, Dr. Jeltema's research explores the modification of RNA by PARPs. Her project aims to investigate how RNA modification affects immune responses to threats like viral infection and cancer. Using biochemical and sequencing tools to map which RNA molecules are modified, Dr. Jeltema hopes to identify a new facet of immune defense that can be harnessed to treat cancer. Dr. Jeltema received her PhD from the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, and her BS from Wheaton College, Norton.
Jaejin Kim, PhD [Hope Funds for Cancer Research Fellow], with his sponsor Elaine Fuchs, PhD, at The Rockefeller University, New York
Inflammatory diseases such as eczema, psoriasis, and inflammatory bowel disease often recur years later in the same places, suggesting that tissues can "remember" past insults. Such memories can be beneficial, accelerating wound healing and pathogen defense, but they can also be maladaptive, predisposing tissues to chronic inflammation and cancer. It remains unclear how this memory is preserved in stem cells that otherwise appear normal, and which features promote regeneration versus cancer. Dr. Kim aims to identify the genes and molecular mechanisms underlying tissue memory and to define their consequences for wound repair and tumorigenesis. Identifying the "bad memories" that drive tumorigenesis could open opportunities to selectively erase them--reducing cancer risk without compromising normal regeneration--and may one day help prevent inflammation-linked cancers before they arise. Dr. Kim received his PhD and BSc from Seoul National University, Seoul.
Zhuoran Li, PhD [Connie and Bob Lurie Fellow], with her sponsor Katrin J. Svensson, PhD, at Stanford University, Stanford
Changes in appetite and metabolism can affect how tumors develop, how they progress, and overall patient prognosis. Peptide hormones are small signaling molecules that help organs communicate and coordinate whole-body metabolism. Recent computational studies suggest that the brain may produce many more peptides than previously recognized--yet for most of these, we still do not know what they do, where they act, or how they work together. Dr. Li aims to identify new peptide signals produced by the brain and determine how they affect appetite and regulate metabolism. This work may reveal new brain-body signaling pathways that could ultimately help support cancer treatment and improve patient well-being. Dr. Li received her PhD from Stanford University, Stanford, and her BS from Peking University, Beijing.
Rachael A. McMinimy, PhD [Connie and Bob Lurie Fellow], with her sponsor Isha Himani Jain, PhD, at The J. David Gladstone Institutes, San Francisco
Normal cells convert glucose into energy via cellular respiration in the mitochondria, but cancer cells often rely on alternative metabolic pathways that support rapid growth. Central to this strategy is the pyruvate dehydrogenase complex, an enzymatic switch that controls how cells use glucose. Dr. McMinimy studies a newly discovered pathway that regulates this switch through selective protein degradation. By understanding and manipulating this pathway, she hopes to redirect cancer cell metabolism back toward the mitochondria, potentially slowing tumor growth. Dr. McMinimy received her PhD from the University of California, Berkeley, and her BA from Oberlin College, Oberlin.
Gayathri Muthukumar, PhD [Robertson Foundation Fellow], with her sponsor Carolyn Bertozzi, PhD, at Stanford University, Stanford
More than half of all FDA-approved biotherapeutics target proteins on the cell surface involved in intercellular communication. The vast majority of these proteins are decorated with post-translational modifications (PTMs), such as the addition of a sugar molecule, but our understanding of how individual PTMs affect communication in a disease context is poor. As aggressive tumors often have surface proteins thickly coated in sugar molecules, they are suspected to play a role in in driving oncogenic growth and tumor immune evasion. Dr. Muthukumar will map cell surface and intracellular membrane PTMs in cancer cells, and then interrogate the role each of these PTMs play in oncogenesis with precise mutational genomic screens. This will highlight the PTMs that drive tumor pathology, allowing for the development of new precision therapeutics and cancer diagnostic markers. Dr. Muthukumar received her PhD from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, and her BA from Columbia University, New York.
Angelos Pistofidis, PhD [Timmerman Traverse Fellow], with his sponsor Seychelle M. Vos, PhD, at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge
During mitosis, two copies of the genome condense and segregate, a process catalyzed by a protein known as transcription termination factor 2 (TTF2). Mutations in TTF2 have been associated with incomplete genome segregation, DNA damage, and cell death. Research has shown that TTF2 is necessary for many cancers, making it a prime target for future cancer therapeutics. Dr. Pistofidis aims to use a combination of structural biology, biochemistry, and single-molecule biophysics to outline the molecular mechanism of TTF2. Ultimately, this work will reveal vulnerabilities in the mechanism of TTF2 that can be exploited for the development of cancer therapeutics. Dr. Pistofidis received his PhD from McGill University, Montreal, and his MSc from the University College London, London.
Bailey Schultz, PhD [Timmerman Traverse Fellow], with his sponsor Jeremy Rock, PhD, at The Rockefeller University, New York
Estimates suggest that a quarter of the world's population has been infected with Mycobacterium tuberculosis, which causes tuberculosis (TB) and kills more people than any other pathogen. The relationship between TB and cancer is bidirectional: a history of TB is associated with a higher risk of developing cancer (especially respiratory cancers), while many cancers and chemotherapies increase the risk of contracting TB by weakening the immune system, and some immunotherapies can even reactivate dormant TB infections. Better anti-TB drugs are urgently needed, but drug development efforts have been hampered by an incomplete molecular-level understanding of how M. tuberculosis grows and divides. Dr. Schultz is using genome-wide CRISPR-based approaches to identify and study genes that regulate mycobacterial cell growth and division. His work will point to new drug targets and help anticipate possible routes of antibiotic resistance, hopefully leading to new treatments for TB that will ease its burden on cancer patients. Dr. Schultz received his PhD from Harvard University, Cambridge, and his BS from Stanford University, Stanford.
Christina A. Stephens, PhD [National Mah Jongg League Fellow], with her sponsor Naomi R. Latorraca, PhD, and Ruben L. Gonzalez, Jr., PhD, at Columbia University, New York
Solid tumors, like those commonly found in breast and lung cancers, are challenging to treat using state-of-the-art cell engineering techniques due to their heterogeneous surface proteins. There is thus a need to identify unique markers on tumor cells that can be used as molecular targets. Recently, a subclass of surface proteins known as aGPCRs has been recognized as potential markers and propagators of several cancers, but little is known about their molecular mechanism. Dr. Stephen's research uses single-molecule microscopy coupled with molecular dynamics simulations to provide a detailed picture of the factors that control aGPCR activation. Dr. Stephens will ultimately use these assays to screen and optimize therapeutic targeting of aGPCRs implicated in cancer. Dr. Stephens received her PhD from the University of California, San Francisco, and her BS from the College of William and Mary, Williamsburg.
Yang Su, PhD [Robertson Foundation Fellow], with his sponsor Samie R. Jaffrey, MD, PhD, at the Weill Medical College of Cornell University, New York
The oncogene c-MYC is a "master regulator" that drives aggressive cancer growth but is widely considered "undruggable" due to its lack of an accessible drug-binding pocket. Inside a cell, the levels of c-MYC protein are tightly controlled at both the RNA and protein levels by various chemical modifications. For example, c-MYC messenger RNA (mRNA) is frequently modified with the addition of a methyl group, which typically triggers rapid mRNA decay. Dr. Su and his colleagues recently discovered that c-MYC mRNA can also be decorated with two methyl groups, a completely new class of modification. Crucial questions remain unanswered: What is the biological impact of this modification on c-MYC? Which enzyme installs it? How does it alter c-MYC function? Dr. Su will address these questions using multidisciplinary approaches, revealing a fundamentally new mechanism of c-MYC regulation and paving the way for novel therapeutics designed to interfere with c-MYC modifications in cancer cells. Dr. Su received his PhD from the University of Georgia, Athens, and his BS from Zhejiang University, Hangzhou.
Shuya Wang, PhD [Robertson Foundation Fellow], with her sponsor David S. Pellman, MD, at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston
Even within the same tumor, cancer cells can differ in which genes they turn on or off, allowing some cells to adapt, survive treatment, or become more aggressive. These differences are often driven by changes in the epigenome, a layer of regulation that controls gene activity. Dr. Wang's project explores the origin of epigenetic heterogeneity in cancer, focusing on the role of genome instability in driving epigenetic changes. By identifying the genes and pathways that connect these processes, she aims to better understand how cancer cells generate and maintain epigenetic heterogeneity, revealing new ways to limit tumor evolution, adaptation, and treatment resistance across all cancer types. Dr. Wang received her PhD from the University of California, Los Angeles, and her BS from Emory University, Decatur.
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Original text here: https://www.damonrunyon.org/discovery/damon-runyon-cancer-research-foundation-awards-42-million-exceptional-early-career