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TransAkron Project Shares Stories of Akron's Transgender Community

AKRON, Ohio, April 19 -- Akron Community Foundation issued the following news release:

At its annual meeting on April 19, 2018, the Gay Community Endowment Fund of Akron Community Foundation unveiled a new photojournalism series aimed at fighting stereotypes and increasing inclusion for the transgender community in Greater Akron and beyond.

Created by award-winning photographer Shane Wynn and writer H.L. Comeriato, the TransAkron series shines a light on trans, nonbinary and gender-nonconforming people in the Akron area. The project captures the lived realities of these individuals and tells ... Show Full Article AKRON, Ohio, April 19 -- Akron Community Foundation issued the following news release: At its annual meeting on April 19, 2018, the Gay Community Endowment Fund of Akron Community Foundation unveiled a new photojournalism series aimed at fighting stereotypes and increasing inclusion for the transgender community in Greater Akron and beyond. Created by award-winning photographer Shane Wynn and writer H.L. Comeriato, the TransAkron series shines a light on trans, nonbinary and gender-nonconforming people in the Akron area. The project captures the lived realities of these individuals and tellsthe stories of their journeys while adding a data-driven narrative about the transgender community nationwide. The photos can be viewed online at transakron.com. The stories are available in a photo book at Akron Community Foundation and will be released on GCEF's Facebook page weekly, leading up to Pride Month in June.

"The idea of TransAkron originated in early 2017 when Shane Wynn - a local artist and advocate - and I had a conversation about her photography and how we could use images to humanize people and advocate for GCEF's important work in the community," said Phil Montgomery, advisory board chair of the Gay Community Endowment Fund. "The TransAkron project is part narrative and part resource, and at GCEF, we are proud to be on the front lines of advocacy and storytelling."

The TransAkron series features the stories of eight individuals, including Giovonni Santiago, a veteran who opened the country's first transgender-specific clinic in the Veterans Affairs system, and Rylee Jackson, who, after experiencing a dozen foster homes and four different high schools, found joy through her love of dance.

TransAkron was made possible thanks to funding and support from the Gay Community Endowment Fund and several community partners, including ArtsNow - an innovative nonprofit that connects arts and culture through collaboration - and the EXL Center at The University of Akron. The series' writer, H.L. Comeriato, is a graduate of The University of Akron who was identified by faculty member Dr. Heather Braun.

"People are often unaware that their friends, neighbors, civil servants, police officers, doctors, etc. identify as trans," said Nicole Mullet, executive director of ArtsNow. "Breaking down that sense of 'other' helps us come together as a community. We are Akron - all of us."

Established in 2001, the Gay Community Endowment Fund accepts grant applications for programs and services that positively impact the LGBTQ+ community and Greater Akron as a whole. It also raises awareness about equality issues and rallies the LGBTQ+ community around a common philanthropic purpose. Since its founding, GCEF has invested nearly $475,000 into local causes that change the lives of LGBTQ+ people in the Greater Akron community. Recent grants have advocated for countywide nondiscrimination protections, supported a mentoring program for LGBTQ+ college students, and raised awareness about domestic violence in the LGBTQ+ community, among other critical initiatives.

To learn more about the Gay Community Endowment Fund and the programs it supports, visit gaycommunityfund.org.

The J. Paul Getty Trust Announces the Appointment of Mary Miller as Director of The Getty Research Institute

LOS ANGELES, California, April 19 -- The J. Paul Getty Trust issued the following news release:

The J. Paul Getty Trust announced today the appointment of art historian Mary Miller as the new director of the Getty Research Institute. Dr. Miller is currently Sterling Professor of the History of Art at Yale University and Senior Director of Yale's Institute for the Preservation of Cultural Heritage.

* Miller became the first woman to be dean of Yale College in December 2008 and served until June 2014. Before assuming the deanship, she served as head of Saybrook College for 10 years.

* "Dr. Miller ... Show Full Article LOS ANGELES, California, April 19 -- The J. Paul Getty Trust issued the following news release: The J. Paul Getty Trust announced today the appointment of art historian Mary Miller as the new director of the Getty Research Institute. Dr. Miller is currently Sterling Professor of the History of Art at Yale University and Senior Director of Yale's Institute for the Preservation of Cultural Heritage. * Miller became the first woman to be dean of Yale College in December 2008 and served until June 2014. Before assuming the deanship, she served as head of Saybrook College for 10 years. * "Dr. Milleris a distinguished art historian, a renowned lecturer, and proven administrator. She is a leader in her field and someone I know to be deeply invested in the preservation of the world's artistic knowledge, at all levels, as is in keeping with our mission at the Getty," said James Cuno, President and CEO of the J. Paul Getty Trust. "As one of the world's preeminent centers for cultural research, the Getty Research Institute must have a leader whose vision can encompass new practices in the study and dissemination of cultural heritage and who can foster a truly global approach to art history. Dr. Miller is exactly that leader and I believe she will bring a fresh perspective to the GRI. I look forward to working with her to keep advancing our field."

* A specialist of the art of the ancient New World, Miller is currently focusing her work on the Maya city of Chichen Itza, Yucatan, Maya figurines, and the history of the market in prehispanic art, particularly in California. Recently, she has also lectured in depth on the role of art history in liberal education.

* "The GRI directorship is an incredible opportunity for me, and I am so excited about the resources the Getty Research Institute provides for research in the history of art, archaeology, and related humanistic disciplines, from the on-site library to massive archives that attest to the human imagination on the visual plane," said Miller. "Having worked on Pacific Standard Time: LA/LA, I'm particularly keen to participate in developing the next phase of the Getty's vision."

* Miller earned her A.B. from Princeton in 1975 and her Ph.D. from Yale in 1981, joining the faculty in that year. At Yale she has served as chair of the Department of History of Art, chair of the Council on Latin American Studies, director of Graduate Studies in Archeological Studies, and as a member of the Steering Committee of the Women Faculty Forum. She recently chaired a committee of faculty, administrators, and alumni in the search for a new director of the Yale University Art Gallery.

* For her work on the art of ancient Mexico and the Maya, Miller has won national recognition including a Guggenheim Fellowship. Miller was recently awarded the Howard Lamar Prize of the Association of Yale Alumni for outstanding service by a faculty member. She is a member of the American Academy of Arts and sciences (since 1994) and she is a National Phi Beta Kappa fellow for 2018. In April and May of 2010 she delivered the A W Mellon lectures at the National Gallery of Art and she delivered the Slade Lectures at Cambridge University during the academic year 2014-2015. She is the only Yale scholar to have earned both honors.

* Miller has written broadly in her field as author, co-author, editor, and co-editor of many publications. Her acclaimed work with Linda Schele, Blood of Kings, earned the Alfred Barr Award for Distinguished Museum Scholarship and set her on a path to write for both fellow scholars and the general public. Among her other books are The Murals of Bonampak, The Art of Mesoamerica, Maya Art and Architecture (now 2nd edition with Megan O'Neil), The Gods and Symbols of Ancient Mexico and the Maya (with Karl Taube), A Pre-Columbian World (co-edited with Jeffrey Quilter), Painting a Map of Mexico City (co-edited with Barbara Mundy) and The Spectacle of the Late Maya Court: Reflections on the Murals of Bonampak (with Claudia Brittenham, based on fieldwork supported by the Getty Grant). With Khristaan Villela, she edited a significant collection of historical documents for The Aztec Calendar Stone, a GRI publication of 2010. She has just completed the 6th edition of Art of Mesoamerica, the signature textbook for the study of Mesoamerican art history.

Miller has curated or served on planning committees for numerous major exhibitions and served as key advisor on strategic initiatives at important art institutions and universities throughout the U.S. She co-organized two landmark exhibitions of Maya Art: Blood of Kings, at the Kimbell Art Museum in 1986, and Courtly Art of the Ancient Maya organized by the National Gallery of Art and the de Young Museum in 2004. Most recently, she contributed to two exhibitions in the Getty's initiative Pacific Standard Time: LA/LA: Found in Translation: Design in California and Mexico, 1915-1985 at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art and Golden Kingdoms: Luxury Arts in the Ancient Americas at the J. Paul Getty Museum.

Miller succeeds Thomas Gaehtgens, who retires from the Getty Research Institute this month. She takes up her full-time role at the GRI in January 2019; from September through December 2018 she will make periodic visits to the GRI. Andrew Perchuk, deputy director at the Getty Research Institute, will serve as acting director until January.

NOF Announces Dr. Joan Lappe as the 2018 Recipient of the Lawrence G. Raisz Memorial Lecture Award

WASHINGTON, April 19 -- The National Osteoporosis Foundation issued the following news release:

The National Osteoporosis Foundation (NOF) announces Joan Lappe, Ph.D., RN, FAAN, Criss/Beirne Professor of Nursing and Associate Dean for Research and Professor of Medicine, Osteoporosis Research Center, Creighton University and NOF Trustee, as the recipient of its 2018 Lawrence G. Raisz, MD Memorial Lecture Award. Dr. Lappe will present highlights from her research on nutrition and bone health and insights on the latest calcium and vitamin D controversies at NOF's Interdisciplinary Symposium on Osteoporosis ... Show Full Article WASHINGTON, April 19 -- The National Osteoporosis Foundation issued the following news release: The National Osteoporosis Foundation (NOF) announces Joan Lappe, Ph.D., RN, FAAN, Criss/Beirne Professor of Nursing and Associate Dean for Research and Professor of Medicine, Osteoporosis Research Center, Creighton University and NOF Trustee, as the recipient of its 2018 Lawrence G. Raisz, MD Memorial Lecture Award. Dr. Lappe will present highlights from her research on nutrition and bone health and insights on the latest calcium and vitamin D controversies at NOF's Interdisciplinary Symposium on Osteoporosis(ISO18), the nation's leading clinical conference on osteoporosis and bone health, taking place in New Orleans, LA from May 17-19, 2018.

With two million fractures caused by osteoporosis each year and 75,000 people a year dying because of osteoporotic-related fractures, ISO18 aims to address the current crisis in osteoporosis by providing the most up-to-date, clinically relevant and evidence-based information on the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of osteoporosis. The meeting features in-depth courses led by nationally and internationally recognized bone health experts on all facets of skeletal health assessment, osteoporosis diagnosis and patient management, exercise, nutrition, and post fracture care.

"We are thrilled to confirm Dr. Lappe as the recipient of this year's Lawrence G. Raisz, MD Memorial Lecture Award," said Elizabeth Thompson, CEO, NOF. "As a leading researcher on nutrition and its impact on bone health, Dr. Lappe's insights will help healthcare professionals explain to their patients the critical role nutrition plays in an effective osteoporosis treatment and prevention plan."

Dr. Lappe is a seasoned researcher with a primary interest in determining the effects of nutrition and physical activity on the promotion of bone health and prevention of osteoporosis. She holds the Creighton University Criss/Beirne Endowed Chair in Nursing and has a secondary appointment as Professor of Medicine in the Creighton University Osteoporosis Research Center. Dr. Lappe is a Fellow of the American Academy of Nursing and has provided service to NOF in various capacities for nearly 20 years.

Dr. Lappe also serves as a reviewer for the National Institutes of Health and for numerous scientific journals. She served as a member of the U.S. Bone and Joint Initiative Pediatric Working Group and as a member of the Osteoporosis Technical Advisory Panel, Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations. In 2009, she was presented with Creighton University's Award for Outstanding Researcher and, in 2010, she was given the Hinshaw Award from the Friends of the National Institute of Nursing in recognition of research that directly improves human health.

In addition to Dr. Lappe's lecture, ISO18 will feature sessions on a wide range of topics to provide attendees with multiple perspectives they can use to improve care for osteoporosis patients, help reduce the number of fractures caused by osteoporosis, and save lives. The meeting also offers pre-conference symposia on Fracture Liaison Service (FLS) training (introductory and advanced) and a Nutrition Workshop on the role nutrition plays in building and maintaining bone health, including a cooking demo from Chef Susan Spicer, of Bayona Restaurant, one of New Orleans' award-winning chefs.

Learn more about ISO18 and register to attend here: https://interdisciplinarysymposiumosteoporosis.org/.

Michelin-Starred Chef Jose Andres' ThinkFoodGroup Announces Partnership With Wolf Trap

VIENNA, Virginia, April 19 -- The Wolf Trap Foundation for the Performing Arts issued the following news release:

Jose Andres' ThinkFoodGroup is proud to announce a partnership with the popular Wolf Trap Foundation for the Performing Arts, to be the featured onsite restaurant at Wolf Trap National Park. At OVATIONS by America Eats, guests attending performances at the Filene Center will be able to enjoy Chef Jose Andres' take on American classics and dine al fresco pre-show, or have the option to choose from a selection of prepared picnics. OVATIONS by America Eats will be located in the Wolf ... Show Full Article VIENNA, Virginia, April 19 -- The Wolf Trap Foundation for the Performing Arts issued the following news release: Jose Andres' ThinkFoodGroup is proud to announce a partnership with the popular Wolf Trap Foundation for the Performing Arts, to be the featured onsite restaurant at Wolf Trap National Park. At OVATIONS by America Eats, guests attending performances at the Filene Center will be able to enjoy Chef Jose Andres' take on American classics and dine al fresco pre-show, or have the option to choose from a selection of prepared picnics. OVATIONS by America Eats will be located in the WolfTrap National Park located at 1551 Trap Road, Vienna, VA.

America Eats Tavern is known for serving up American Classics, celebrating local and regional flavors inspired by some of the country's most historic dishes and drinks. Andres and his culinary team have selected the best products available, highlighting local ingredients, beers, wine and products from the mid-Atlantic region.

"We are thrilled to be forging a relationship with Wolf Trap, one of the most amazing locations in our country to experience a concert or performance," commented Andres. "America Eats Tavern is all about celebrating the diverse culinary heritage in this country, and we are excited to complement the enriching experience of taking in a show at Wolf Trap!"

Originally launched in 2011 in collaboration with the Foundation for the National Archives, America Eats Tavern was first conceived as a pop-up in the former Cafe Atlantico space. From there, Andres and his team brought the concept to the Ritz-Carlton Tysons Corner, just outside Washington, DC in McLean, VA. America Eats Tavern will be reopening its doors in the Georgetown neighborhood in 2018.

Wolf Trap members can begin making reservations on May 1; Reservations open to the public on May 6. To make reservations and to order prepared picnics, guests can visit https://www.americaeatstavern.com/wolftrap.

About America Eats Tavern

At America Eats Tavern, celebrated Chef Jose Andres offers his take on American classics, celebrating local and regional flavors inspired by some of the country's most historic dishes and drinks. Jose and his culinary team conducted extensive research to select the best products available, highlighting local meats, oysters, wines, cheeses, blue crabs, beers and other products from the mid-Atlantic region. For more information, visit http://www.americaeatstavern.com.

Mechanism Behind Neuron Death in Motor Neurone Disease and Frontotemporal Dementia Discovered

LONDON, England, April 19 -- Wellcome Trust issued the following news release:

Wellcome-funded researchers have identified the molecular mechanism that leads to the death of neurons in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (also known as ALS or motor neurone disease) and a common form of frontotemporal dementia.

In a Cell paper published today (19th), the researchers from the University of Cambridge and University of Toronto also identify potential therapeutic targets for these currently incurable diseases.

ALS is a progressive and terminal disease that damages the function of nerves and muscle, affecting ... Show Full Article LONDON, England, April 19 -- Wellcome Trust issued the following news release: Wellcome-funded researchers have identified the molecular mechanism that leads to the death of neurons in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (also known as ALS or motor neurone disease) and a common form of frontotemporal dementia. In a Cell paper published today (19th), the researchers from the University of Cambridge and University of Toronto also identify potential therapeutic targets for these currently incurable diseases. ALS is a progressive and terminal disease that damages the function of nerves and muscle, affectingup to 5,000 adults in the UK at any one time. Frontotemporal dementia is a form of dementia that causes changes in personality and behaviour, and language difficulties.

A common characteristic of ALS and frontotemporal dementia is the build-up of clumps of misfolded RNA-binding proteins, including a protein called FUS, in the brain and spinal cord. This leads to the death of neurons, which stops them from communicating with each other and from reaching the muscles.

FUS proteins can change back and forth from small liquid droplets (resembling oil droplets in water) to small gels (like jelly) inside nerve cells. As the FUS protein condenses (from droplets to gel) it captures RNA and transfers it to remote parts of the neuron that are involved in making connections (known as synapses) with other neurons. Here, the protein 'melts' and releases the RNA. The RNA are then used to create new proteins in the synapses, which are essential for keeping the synapses working properly, especially during memory formation and learning.

In frontotemporal dementia and ALS, the proteins become permanently stuck as abnormally dense gels, trapping the RNA and making it unavailable for use. This damages nerve cells by blocking their ability to make the proteins needed for synaptic function and leads to the death of neurons in the brain and spinal cord.

The scientists used human cells that resembled neurons and neurons from frogs to investigate how the change in FUS from liquid droplets to small gels process is regulated and what makes it go awry. They found that this reversible process was tightly controlled by enzymes which chemically alter FUS making it able or unable to form droplets and gels. In frontotemporal dementia, the abnormal gelling was found to be caused by defects in the chemical modification of FUS. In motor neuron disease, it was caused by mutations in the FUS protein itself which meant it was no longer able to change form.

This research provides new ideas and tools to find ways to prevent or reverse the abnormal gelling of FUS as a treatment for these devastating diseases. Potential therapeutic targets identified by the researchers are the enzymes that regulate the chemical modification of FUS and the molecular chaperones that facilitate FUS proteins to change its form. These treatments would need to allow FUS to continue moving between safe reversible states (liquid droplets and reversible gels) but prevent FUS from dropping into the dense, irreversible gel states that cause disease.

Professor Peter St George-Hyslop, University of Cambridge, said "This was a very exciting set of experiments where we were able to applying cutting edge tools from physics, chemistry and neurobiology to understand how the FUS protein normally works in nerve cells, and how it goes wrong in motor neurone disease and dementia. It now opens up a new avenue of work to use this knowledge to identify ways to prevent the abnormal gelling of FUS in motor neurone disease and dementia".

Dr Giovanna Lalli, from Wellcome's Neuroscience and Mental Health team, said: "Motor neurone disease and frontotemporal dementia are devastating diseases that affect thousands of people across the UK, resulting in severe damage to the brain and spinal cord. By bringing together an interdisciplinary team of researchers, this study provides important new insights into a fundamental process underlying neurodegeneration. Through their research, the team have uncovered promising new ways to tackle these diseases."

Landmark IMPACT Study Published in NEJM Shows Significant Benefits of Trelegy Ellipta for Patients With COPD

WASHINGTON, April 19 -- The Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Foundation issued the following news release:

GlaxoSmithKline and Innoviva, Inc. has announced the publication in the New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM) of the landmark IMPACT study, one of the biggest ever conducted in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) with a history of exacerbation.

In the study, Trelegy Ellipta (fluticasone furoate/umeclidinium/vilanterol, 'FF/UMEC/VI' 100/62.5/25mcg) achieved superiority to members of two different classes of dual combination therapy, Relvar/Breo (FF/VI) and Anoro ... Show Full Article WASHINGTON, April 19 -- The Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Foundation issued the following news release: GlaxoSmithKline and Innoviva, Inc. has announced the publication in the New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM) of the landmark IMPACT study, one of the biggest ever conducted in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) with a history of exacerbation. In the study, Trelegy Ellipta (fluticasone furoate/umeclidinium/vilanterol, 'FF/UMEC/VI' 100/62.5/25mcg) achieved superiority to members of two different classes of dual combination therapy, Relvar/Breo (FF/VI) and Anoro(UMEC/VI), on the primary endpoint of reduction in the annual rate of on-treatment moderate/severe exacerbations (p<0.001) and a range of other clinically important outcomes, including lung function and health-related quality of life.

Results from additional secondary and other endpoints published today, include:

* A statistically significant 34 percent reduction in COPD hospitalisations (severe exacerbations) for Trelegy compared to Anoro (0.13 vs. 0.19 per year; p<0.001) and a reduction of 13 percent compared to Relvar/Breo which was not statistically significant (0.13 vs. 0.15; p=0.064).

* A significant reduction in the risk of on-treatment all-cause mortality was observed for both inhaled corticosteroid containing arms compared to Anoro.

* A 42.1 percent reduction in the risk of on-treatment all-cause mortality was observed for Trelegy compared to Anoro (1.20 percent vs. 1.88 percent; p=0.011).

To fully understand the implications of the all-cause mortality observation, off-treatment data also need to be considered. Work is ongoing to investigate this further and will be presented at future scientific meetings.

Dave Allen, Head, Respiratory Therapy Area R&D, GSK, said, "Reducing exacerbations to keep patients out of hospital is a key goal of COPD management alongside improving lung function and quality of life. The IMPACT study shows how Trelegy Ellipta can help patients with a history of exacerbation achieve these goals. We believe its publication in NEJM is an important addition to the evidence base that informs the management of this progressive and debilitating disease."

Dr. Fernando Martinez, Chief, Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, New York-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical Center, said, "IMPACT significantly advances our understanding of COPD management by addressing a number of key evidence gaps. By comparing various combinations of effective medications in the same device the study clarifies which type of patient gains greatest benefit from each class of medicine. As many patients experience frequent exacerbations or 'flare ups', which can often result in hospitalisation, these data will be highly relevant to patients and clinicians as they consider the optimal treatment."

The safety profile of single inhaler triple therapy was consistent with the safety profile of the individual components. The most common adverse events across the treatment groups were viral upper respiratory tract infection, worsening of COPD, upper respiratory tract infection, pneumonia and headache. Consistent with previous studies, the incidence of pneumonia as a serious adverse event was 4%, 4%, and 3% for FF/UMEC/VI, FF/VI and UMEC/VI, respectively.

Dr Ted Witek, Senior Vice President and Chief Scientific Officer at Innoviva notes, "The role of inhaled corticosteroids ("ICS") in COPD have long been debated, and this landmark trial provides further evidence of their benefit in the population studied and compelling data towards clarifying the role of ICS containing regimens in the COPD treatment paradigm. We congratulate our partners at GSK for this vital contribution to the field of respiratory medicine."

Results from IMPACT were submitted to the regulatory authorities in the US and EU in November 2017 and February 2018, respectively. Further regulatory submissions in other countries are expected in 2018.

Hearing Monday in Groundbreaking Lawsuit Over Border Searches of Laptops and Smartphones

WASHINGTON, April 19 -- The Electronic Frontier Foundation issued the following news release:

The Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) and the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) will appear in federal court in Boston Monday, fighting the U.S. government's attempts to block their lawsuit over illegal laptop and smartphone searches at the country's borders.

The case, Alasaad v. Nielsen, was filed last fall on behalf of 10 U.S. citizens and one lawful permanent resident who had their digital devices searched without a warrant. The lawsuit challenges the government's fast-growing practice of searching ... Show Full Article

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