Buck Institute Receives $21 Million Hevolution Foundation Grant

The Buck Institute for Research on Aging and the Hevolution Foundation have announced a novel multi-year partnership. This collaboration will pioneer new scientific initiatives and accelerate discoveries toward therapeutic interventions specifically targeting aging. The partnership centers on understanding and translating geroscience, a term coined at the Buck Institute, which is the interface between the biology of aging and age-related chronic diseases.

“We believe that human health is poised to be transformed through the translation of the last two decades of geroscience research,” says Eric Verdin, MD, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Buck Institute. “Targeting the aging process will set us on the path to tackle the chronic diseases of aging such as Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, cancer, atherosclerosis (heart attacks and stroke), and type 2 diabetes. This generous multi-year $21 million grant from Hevolution is critical to our efforts.”

The partnership will focus on three broad areas as the cornerstone for a future Healthspan Center for Translational Geroscience at the Buck Institute. Focused efforts will include discovering innovative therapeutic interventions for aging, identifying accurate biomarkers for measuring intervention effectiveness, and understanding environmental and lifestyle influences on healthspan and lifespan, known as the exposome.

“The Buck Institute is a world-renowned pioneer and global leader in aging research,” says Dr. Mehmood Khan, Chief Executive Officer of the Hevolution Foundation. “This grant reflects Hevolution’s unparalelled commitment to foster innovation in the field of healthspan science and shape a healthier aging future for all.”

The announcement was unveiled at Hevolution’s inaugural Global Healthspan Summit, alongside other announcements for additional funding for AFAR, the American Federation for Aging Research, and for postdoctoral fellowships in Saudi Arabia which will support scientific discoveries targeting unhealthy aging.

About the Hevolution Foundation:

Founded on the belief that every person has the right to live a longer, healthier life, Hevolution Foundation is a global catalyst, partner, and convener on a mission to drive efforts to extend healthy human lifespan and understand the processes of aging. With a focus on aging as a treatable process, Hevolution Foundation aims to increase the number of aging-related treatments on the market, compress the timeline of drug development, and increase accessibility to therapeutics that extend healthy lifespan, also known as healthspan. A global non-profit organization headquartered in Riyadh with a North American hub and an annual budget of up to $1 billion, Hevolution Foundation plans to open offices in other global locations to support a cutting-edge, global ecosystem of talent to propel aging and geroscience research forward and achieve medical breakthroughs to help humanity live healthier, longer. Connect with Hevolution Foundation on LinkedIn, X (formerly Twitter), and at hevolution.com

https://www.buckinstitute.org/news/buck-institute-receives-21-million-hevolution-foundation-grant/?utm_source=Newsletter&utm_campaign=44adbde7b9-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2024_02_02_09_09&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_-44adbde7b9-%5BLIST_EMAIL_ID%5D

New Drug-Like Molecule Extends Lifespan, Ameliorates Pathology in Worms and Boosts Function in Mammalian Muscle Cells

Having healthy mitochondria, the organelles that produce energy in all our cells, usually portends a long healthy life whether in humans or in C. elegans, a tiny, short-lived nematode worm often used to study the aging process.  Researchers at the Buck Institute have identified a new drug-like molecule that keeps mitochondria healthy via mitophagy, a process that removes and recycles damaged mitochondria in multicellular organisms. The compound, dubbed MIC, is a natural compound that extended lifespan in C. elegans, ameliorated pathology in neurodegenerative disease models of C. elegans, and improved mitochondrial function in mouse muscle cells. Results are published in the November 13, 2023, edition of Nature Aging.

The impact of mitochondrial dysfunction in age-related disease

Defective mitophagy is implicated in many age-related diseases. It’s tied to neurodegenerative disorders such as Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s; it plays a role in cardiovascular diseases including heart failure; it influences metabolic disorders including obesity and type 2 diabetes; it is implicated in muscle wasting and sarcopenia and has a complex relationship with cancer progression. Even though interventions that restore mitophagy and facilitate the elimination of damaged mitochondria hold great promise for addressing these conditions, not one treatment has been approved for human use despite advances in the field.

What’s MIC?

MIC (Mitophagy-Inducing Compound) is a coumarin, which are naturally bioactive compounds that have anticoagulant, antibacterial, antifungal, antiviral, anticancer, and antihyperglycemic properties (among others) as well as being an antioxidant with neuroprotective effects. Coumarin is found in many plants and is found in high concentrations in certain types of cinnamon, which is one of the most frequent sources for human exposure to the substance.

A new mechanism of action in mitophagy

The project started in a mouse model of Parkinson’s disease where researchers in the laboratory of Julie Andersen, PhD, a senior author of the paper, were looking at known enhancers of mitophagy, including rapamycin. “Co-author Shankar Chinta, PhD, started screening natural compounds in neuronal cells and MIC came up as a major hit,” she said.  “Rather than taking MIC immediately into a mouse model we wanted to understand its impact on overall aging and identify its mechanism of action, so we took the work into the worm where we found that MIC is in a different class of molecules that enhance the expression of a key protein, TFEB.”

In an effort spearheaded by Andersen and research scientist Manish Chamoli, PhD, lead author of the study, researchers found that MIC enhanced the activity of transcription factor TFEB, which is a master regulator of genes involved in autophagy and lysosomal functions. Autophagy is the intracellular recycling process whereby cells clean up damaged proteins; it derives its abilities from the lysosome.  Researchers found that MIC robustly increased the lifespan of C. elegans while also preventing mitochondrial dysfunction in mammalian cells.

“This paper helps support the overall notion of TFEB being a key autophagy regulator that extends lifespan, “said Buck professor and Chief Scientific Officer Malene Hansen, PhD, who collaborated on the paper. She added, “Mitophagy is a selective and very significant form of autophagy. The field has recognized TFEB as a player when it comes to quality control in mitochondria. This study provides a possible translational route to induce mitophagy in a TFEB-dependent fashion.”

A link to the brain/gut connection

Mechanistically MIC works upstream of TFEB by inhibiting ligand-induced activation of the nuclear hormone receptor DAF-12 (in worms)/FXR (in humans), which in turn induces mitophagy and extends lifespan.  FXR is best known for its ability to act in the liver and gut to maintain lipid homeostasis, where it acts to regulate levels of TFEB as part of a feed-fast cycle, but recently TFEB was shown to also be present in brain neurons. This provided Andersen with the clue needed to piece together MIC’s potential mechanism of action in the latter. “This study provides another piece of the puzzle when it comes to understanding the brain/gut connection in terms of health and disease,” said Andersen.

FXR is regulated by bile salts which are formed in the gut microbiome. “The gut microbiome impacts the body’s use of bile acids. Aging impacts our microbiome,” said Chamoli. “If levels of bile acids aren’t correct it hinders mitophagy. That’s how FXR can impact neuronal health. Neurons have a lot of mitochondria which makes mitophagy important in terms of neurodegeneration,” he said, noting that experiments are underway to explore neuronal FXR as a therapeutic target for Alzheimer’s disease as part of a jointly funded grant shared by the Andersen and Lithgow labs.

MIC as a general geroprotective therapeutic

“There’s a bottleneck in efforts to develop potential therapeutics in the field of geroscience, and the bottleneck is that we don’t have enough molecules in the pipeline,” said Gordon Lithgow, PhD, Buck Professor and Vice President of Academic Affairs and senior co-author. “MIC is a great candidate to bring forward given its therapeutic effect across multiple models and the fact that it is a naturally occurring molecule.”

Chamoli highlighted the direct links between mitophagy and aging, suggesting that drugs enhancing this process could offer treatment well beyond neurodegeneration or muscle wasting.  He added, “All these possibilities can be explored at the Buck where the research environment supports such endeavors”.

https://www.buckinstitute.org/news/new-drug-like-molecule-extends-lifespan-ameliorates-pathology-in-worms-and-boosts-function-in-mammalian-muscle-cells/?utm_source=Newsletter&utm_campaign=44adbde7b9-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2024_02_02_09_09&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_-44adbde7b9-%5BLIST_EMAIL_ID%5D

Buck Scientists Discover a Potential Way to Repair Synapses Damaged in Alzheimer’s Disease

While newly approved drugs for Alzheimer’s show some promise for slowing the memory-robbing disease, the current treatments fall far short of being effective at regaining memory. What is needed are more treatment options targeted to restore memory, said Buck Assistant Professor Tara Tracy, PhD, the senior author of a study that proposes an alternate strategy for reversing the memory problems that accompany Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias.

Since most current research on potential treatments for Alzheimer’s focuses on reducing the toxic proteins, such as tau and amyloid beta, that accumulate in the brain as the disease progresses, the team veered away from this route to explore an alternative. “Rather than trying to reduce toxic proteins in the brain, we are trying to reverse the damage caused by Alzheimer’s disease to restore memory,” said Tracy. The findings appear in the February 1 issue of The Journal of Clinical Investigation.

The work hinges on a protein called KIBRA, named because it is found in the kidney and the brain. In the brain, it is primarily localized at the synapses, which are the connections between neurons that allow memories to be formed and recalled. Research has shown that KIBRA is required for synapses to form memories, and Tracy’s team has found that brains with Alzheimer’s disease are deficient in KIBRA.

“We wondered how the lower levels of KIBRA affected signaling at the synapse, and whether understanding that mechanism better could yield some insight into how to repair the synapses damaged during the course of Alzheimer’s disease,” said Buck Staff Scientist ​​Grant Kauwe, PhD, co-first author of the study. “What we identified is a mechanism that could be targeted to repair synaptic function, and we are now trying to develop a therapy based on this work.”

The team first measured the levels of KIBRA in the cerebrospinal fluid of humans. They found that higher levels of KIBRA in the cerebrospinal fluid, but lower levels in the brain, corresponded to the severity of dementia.

“We also found this amazing correlation between increased tau levels and increased KIBRA levels in the cerebrospinal fluid,” said Tracy. “It was very surprising how strong the relationship was, which really points to the role of KIBRA being affected by tau in the brain.” The team is exploring this phenomenon further, in hopes that KIBRA could be used as a biomarker of synaptic dysfunction and cognitive decline that could be useful for diagnosis, treatment planning, and tracking disease progression and response to therapy.

To figure out how KIBRA affects synapses, the team created a shortened functional version of the KIBRA protein. In laboratory mice that have a condition mimicking human Alzheimer’s disease, they found that this protein can reverse the memory impairment associated with this type of dementia. They found that KIBRA rescues mechanisms that promote the resilience of synapses.

“Interestingly, KIBRA restored synaptic function and memory in mice, despite not fixing the problem of toxic tau protein accumulation,” said Kristeen Pareja-Navarro, co-first author of the study. “Our work supports the possibility that KIBRA could be used as a therapy to improve memory after the onset of memory loss, even though the toxic protein that caused the damage remains.”

Along with other treatments that already exist or will come in the future, a KIBRA therapy to repair synapses could be a valuable addition. “Reducing toxic proteins is of course important, but repairing synapses and improving their function is another critical factor that could help,” said Tracy. “That’s how I see this making the biggest impact in the future.”

https://www.buckinstitute.org/news/buck-scientists-discover-a-potential-way-to-repair-synapses-damaged-in-alzheimers-disease/?utm_source=Newsletter&utm_campaign=44adbde7b9-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2024_02_02_09_09&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_-44adbde7b9-%5BLIST_EMAIL_ID%5D

Sonoma County Winegrowers Announce a Collaboration With John Deere for ‘The Farm of the Future’

Each year, when many of Sonoma County’s 1,800 certified sustainable winegrape growers gather for the Sonoma County Winegrowers’ (SCW) annual meeting, they want to know what is next for one of the world’s most sustainable winegrowing regions.  Today, they learned the answer to their question: Sonoma County Winegrowers will embark on a major collaboration with one of the world’s most iconic brands, John Deere Company.

The collaboration with John Deere will be an addition to SCW’s innovative Farm of the Future, a living lab for the future of agriculture and an innovation accelerator.  Through this living lab, Sonoma County winegrowers and innovative companies can pilot concepts that may eventually result in game-changing solutions that can be shared with farmers across the country and around the world.  John Deere is the latest company to join SCW’s Farm of the Future, joining such renowned companies as Ford Pro and Wilbur Ellis, as well as emerging companies like Agrology and Pellenc.

“I am so excited to announce that we have begun working with John Deere given that our farmers love their tractors. This new collaboration will be one of the most significant developments for winegrapes and other high value crops,” said Karissa Kruse, president and CEO of the Sonoma County Winegrowers. She added, “Companies are drawn to Sonoma County because we are one of the world’s most sustainable winegrowing regions, and our living lab provides amazing real-world applications focused on achieving game-changing solutions.  We want to be the model for the future of agriculture everywhere.  With John Deere, we will be learning together how our farmers can do more with less resources while moving towards more mechanization to increase the longevity of their vineyards.”

The John Deere collaboration was announced as the local winegrapes growers celebrated ten years as the world’s most sustainable winegrowing region.  In 2014, at the Sonoma County Winegrowers annual meeting, Kruse addressed the group and made a bold declaration to the wine world that its more than 1,800 winegrowers were committed to becoming the nation’s first 100% certified sustainable wine region by 2019.  They met that 2019 target and today, Sonoma County has a record-breaking 99%  of its local vineyards certified sustainable.

It has since continued to build on its sustainability leadership as an exclusive participant in the California Land Stewardship Institute’s Climate Adaptation Certification Program which was the first program of its kind available in the world for agriculture.  SCW has also developed a one-hundred-year business plan, established a leadership academy for vineyard employees and more.

Through its efforts, Sonoma County continues to draw the attention from visionary scientists, engineers, financers, designers, manufacturers, and more who see great potential to work together and leverage SCW’s sustainability leadership and a network of climate stewards and forward-thinking change agents.

“Last summer, John Deere participated in Sonoma County Winegrowers’ inaugural Farm of the Future Strategic Summit, and it became immediately clear that we needed to be here in Sonoma County participating in SCW’s Farm of the Future initiative,” said Sean Sundberg, Business Integration Manager at John Deere.  He added, “Our focus is working with a real purpose on real technology to bring about a real impact.  We look forward to addressing some of the biggest  challenges facing winegrowers and farmers of other high value crops by developing solutions that address our customers’ needs. We are excited to work in Sonoma County with these innovative, forward-thinking winegrape growers.”

This year’s annual meeting marked the tenth anniversary of SCW’s commitment to become the first 100% sustainable wine region by 2019.  They not only achieved their goal but today, SCW has become one of the most recognized global leaders in sustainability and regenerative agriculture.  Their environmental leadership has continued over the years and includes the development of the industry’s first 100-year business plan; the establishment of the Center for Ag Sustainability; and a sustainable wine label that appears on more than 3 million cases and 600 different wine SKUs of Sonoma County wine.  Another major milestone of SCW’s sustainable approach — today more than 70% of Sonoma County’s vineyard acres are now glyphosate free.

In 2024, SCW will continue its sports marketing efforts including its partnership with the San Francisco Giants and the Houston Rockets where Sonoma County wines will be featured at more than 120 events at the Toyota Arena including the Rockets’ basketball games, concerts, and more.

“Our sports marketing efforts are proving to be the best intersection to raise awareness and increase accessibility for Sonoma County wines among a critically important younger and more diverse demographic.  It is no surprise that we are talking with more and more sports franchises about taking the Sonoma County wine experience to their arenas and stadiums,” said Kruse.

Kruse also highlighted the efforts of the Sonoma County Winegrowers’ foundation, the Fundación de la Voz de los Viñedos, whose mission is to support local vineyard employees and their families. This year, the Fundación will continue its employee recognition program which has celebrated the efforts and success of 274 employees of the month and 5 employees of the year.  Earlier this month, the Leadership Academy has begun its third year of teaching a variety of skills and trainings to help participating vineyard employees become better leaders in their community and workplace.

Sonoma County vineyard employees have seen their wages increase by 43% since 2017.  Also, Sonoma County winegrowers provide the largest supply of workforce housing in the region.  And there has been a significant shift to full-time employment for 90% of vineyard employees.  Just 10% of today’s vineyard workforce are seasonal employees.

Sonoma County Winegrowers 

Sonoma County Winegrowers (SCW), was established in 2006, evolving from the Sonoma County Grape Growers Association, which was first launched in 1983 by local grape growers inspired to work together to elevate the region. SCW is a marketing and educational organization dedicated to the promotion and preservation of Sonoma County as one of the world’s premier grape growing regions. With more than 1,800 growers, SCW’s goal is to increase awareness and recognition of the quality, sustainability and diversity of Sonoma County’s grapes and wines through dynamic marketing and educational programs targeted to wine consumers and influencers around the world. In 2014, Sonoma County’s winegrowing community embarked on a major initiative to have all Sonoma County vineyards certified sustainable. Today, 99% of the vineyard acreage in Sonoma County has completed certification by a third-party auditor making Sonoma County the most sustainable winegrowing region in the world.  In addition, in 2020, SCW became the exclusive pilot partner for the California Land Stewardship’s Climate Adaptation Certification. In 2022, SCW began envisioning a Farm of the Future which it officially introduced in 2023.  SCW’s sustainability efforts have been recognized with California’s highest environmental honor, the 2016 Governor’s Environmental and Economic Leadership Award (GEELA).  Learn more at www.sonomawinegrape.org. 

Sonoma State University and Others Say California Sea Otters’ Return Shows Conservation Payoff

In a groundbreaking study published today in Nature, scientists reveal that the return of sea otters to their former habitat in a Central California estuary has slowed erosion of the area’s creekbanks and marsh edges by up to 90%.

The resurgence of these charismatic marine mammals — also some of the habitat’s top predators — to the saltmarsh-dominated Elkhorn Slough in Monterey County sparks hope in those dedicated to improving the health of our coastal ecosystems and marks a significant ecological success story.

“This is a solutions-oriented paper that tells us there are manageable actions we can take to produce positive results,” said Christine Angelini, Ph.D., one of the study’s authors and director of the Center for Coastal Solutions at the University of Florida. “In this instance, restoring the otter population was achievable without significant effort, and as a result, we are now unlocking several decades of benefits from that one act of conservation.”

Findings show that the erosion of creekbanks and marsh edges in areas with large otter populations has slowed, mainly because of the sea otters’ insatiable appetite for plant-eating marsh crabs and at a time when rising sea levels, elevated nutrients, and stronger tidal currents should be causing the opposite effect.

“It would cost tens of millions of dollars for humans to rebuild these creekbanks and restore these marshes. The sea otters are stabilizing them for free in exchange for an all-you-can-eat crab feast,” said senior author Brian Silliman, Ph.D., Rachel Carson Distinguished Professor of Marine Conservation Biology at Duke University’s Nicholas School of the Environment.

By documenting for the first time that reintroducing top predators to their former habitat can bring stability to a collapsing ecosystem, researchers raise the question: Could similar results be achieved in ecosystems worldwide?

“Reintroducing the sea otters didn’t reverse the losses, but it did slow them to a point that these systems could restabilize despite all the other pressures they are subject to,” said the study’s lead author Brent Hughes, Ph.D., associate professor of biology at Sonoma State University. “That suggests this could be a very effective and affordable new tool for our conservation toolkit.”

Angelini said that tool is an encouraging sign for her and colleagues as they confront similar threats to Florida’s coastlines from sea level rise, intense storms, and excess nutrients spilling into coastal waters.

“All these challenges can feel unsurmountable,” Angelini said. “This study indicates to us that, if we truly understand the ecosystem and know what levers to pull, we can see significant benefits to the health and stability of these systems.”

To understand the impact the sea otters were having on the landscape, researchers conducted large-scale surveys across 13 tidal creeks, as well as small-scale field experiments at five locations around the estuary over a six-year period. Otters were excluded from some test sites but allowed to recolonize others, using a caging system designed by Angelini.

“As a graduate student in biology at UF, I had been setting up these types of cages and manipulating access to predators and their prey in salt marshes all over the Southeastern U.S., so I had the skill set,” Angelini said. “I’ll never forget building all the cages in the parking lot of the estuary out in California. And all these years later, we now see these amazing results.

“It’s an uplifting story about the benefits of conservation and persistent, long-term research.”

https://www.miragenews.com/california-sea-otters-return-shows-conservation-1164962/#//

Redwood Credit Union Named One of “America’s Best Credit Unions” By Newsweek

Redwood Credit Union has been recognized by Newsweek as one of “America’s Best Credit Unions 2024.” Newsweek’s inaugural study analyzed the financial health, operational performance, and customer evaluations of nearly 4,800 regional credit unions across the U.S. to identify the best 250. RCU ranked in the top 10 of California-based credit unions.

“We’re honored to be recognized by Newsweek as one of the country’s most stable, secure, and trusted credit unions,” said Brett Martinez, President and CEO of Redwood Credit Union. “Their comprehensive analysis confirms that by passionately serving the best interests of our members and helping them achieve their goals and dreams, we can inspire hope and elevate the financial well-being of our communities.”

Newsweek’s Global Editor-in-Chief Nancy Cooper said, “Regional banks and credit unions play a pivotal role in the financial fabric of communities nationwide. Unlike their larger counterparts, these institutions are deeply rooted in local economies, understanding the unique needs of the people they serve. These institutions prove that a community-centered approach can redefine the banking experience.”

For the first time, Newsweek conducted an extensive study, in partnership with market data research firm Plant-A Insights Group, to determine America’s Best Regional Banks and Credit Unions 2024. They used a rigorous scoring model to analyze the overall health and stability of 9,440 regional financial institutions nationwide to identify the best 250 regional banks and the best 250 credit unions.

In addition to this accolade from Newsweek, RCU has been voted “Best Credit Union” in readers’ polls by several publications throughout Northern California, and has been recognized by Forbes as one of “America’s Best Small Employers 2023” and highly recommended as a top place to work.

About Redwood Credit Union
Founded in 1950, Redwood Credit Union is a full-service financial institution providing personal and business banking to consumers and businesses in the North Bay and San Francisco. With a mission to passionately serve the best interests of its Members, team members, and communities, RCU delivers many ways for its Members to save and build money through checking and savings accounts, auto and home loans, credit cards, digital banking, business services, commercial and SBA lending, and more. Wealth management and investment services are available through CUSO Financial Services L.P., and insurance and auto-purchasing services are also offered through RCU Services Group (RCU’s wholly owned subsidiary). RCU has more than $8 billion in assets and serves more than 450,000 members with full-service branches from San Francisco to Ukiah. For more information, call 1 (800) 479-7928, visit redwoodcu.org, or follow RCU on Facebook, Instagram, X, and LinkedIn for news and updates.

Midstate Construction Completes St. Clare at Capitol Park (formerly Capitol Park Hotel)

General Contractor Midstate Construction Corporation and Developer Mercy Housing recently completed the St. Clare at Capitol Park (formerly Capitol Park Hotel), renovating a historic 112-year-old hotel into 134 units of permanent supportive housing for people experiencing homelessness in Sacramento, CA.

Designed by Page & Turnbull, the St. Clare at Capitol Park scope of work included substantial seismic upgrades; extensive structural repairs; two elevator replacements; complete mechanical, electrical, plumbing and fire sprinkler system replacement; historical preservation; site and accessibility improvements, and conversion of existing hotel rooms to 134 studio apartments with full bathrooms, kitchenettes, and new interior finishes. Sixty-five units are reserved for people experiencing homelessness and living with a serious mental illness. All residents will receive case management and behavioral health services from service partners Telecare (via Sacramento County) or WellSpace Health.

Structural improvements were designed by Miyamoto International and performed by The Conco Companies. The structural scope of work included 1,038 cubic yards of shotcrete shear walls, 157 cubic yards of footings, and 540 cubic yards of ConFoam. The shotcrete shear walls were installed from the basement to the roof on perimeter un-reinforced masonry walls. In addition to the shotcrete walls, Spira-Lok Helical Wall Ties and Prosoco Stitch Ties were installed into the un-reinforced masonry walls to seismically affix the historic brick to the structure.

Additional features include four ground floor retail spaces, meeting spaces, community gathering rooms, offices for caseworkers to meet with clients, basement bicycle storage, and laundry facilities.

Midstate’s additional projects for people experiencing homelessness include:

  • Valley Lodge, a 54-unit motel conversion in Napa, CA
  • Studios at Montero, a 60-unit motel conversion in Petaluma, CA
  • Shasta Hotel, a 79-unit hotel conversion in Sacramento, CA
  • Mary Isaak Center, an emergency shelter for adults experiencing homelessness in Petaluma, CA

Coming soon:

  • The Sequoia Hotel, an 89-unit historic hotel conversion in Sacramento, CA

Santa Rosa Cannery, a 129-unit project with 33 units set-aside for formerly homeless families in Santa Rosa, CA

Recology’s New $35 million Santa Rosa Recycling Facility Claims 166% Increase in Trash Sorting Rate

Recology, which picks up garbage, recyclables and yard waste in parts of Sonoma, Marin, Napa and Solano counties, on Thursday gave its first look at $35 million in upgrades to its sorting facility in southwest Santa Rosa.

The new automated equipment now allows virtually the same team at the 80,000-square-foot materials recovery facility at 3417 Standish Ave. to move through 166% more waste picked up from blue curbside carts and bins and increase the discovery of waste that’s more valuable to sell than bury in a landfill, according to the San Francisco-based company.

The maker of the equipment, Machinex, called it one of the highest capacity recovery systems on the West Coast.

From being able to pick through 150 tons of mixed materials a day for the salable plastics, paper and metals, the 35 full-time sorters, mechanics and lift-equipment operators now can handle 400 tons daily.

And the amount of plastics, metals, paper and cardboard that have been recovered from the trash increased to 85%, from 75% before the new system first went into use in November after a 10-month installation.

“The value of the MeRF is in not having the material shipped to another MeRF,” said Logan Harvey, senior general manager of Recology Sonoma Marin, referring to the common moniker for these facilities.

Other sorting facilities in the North Bay include C&S Waste Solutions in Ukiah and Recology’s Vallejo plant. The company has its largest sorting facility, at 200,000 square feet, on Pier 96 in San Francsico and a smaller facility in the South Bay.

What’s made the increases in sorting capacity and diversion from landfills possible at the Santa Rosa plant are a system of large machines that detect the type of material and sort it.

The trash first goes through a process that allows human sorters to pull out items that would damage the machines, namely “tanglers” such as hoses and plastic film, and large metal items such as brake pads.

But among the dangers lurking in the incoming recyclables are hypodermic needles, and each worker can stop the line to carefully remove and store these items.

“One thing people don’t realize is that recycling goes through human hands,” Harvey said.

The materials travel from machine to machine through the facility via 109 conveyor belts that total 1.58 miles in length. One device separates out two-dimensional products such as cardboard and paper. Seven optical sorting units employ infrared cameras to detect types of material, somewhat similar to optical sorters used to distinguish grapes from “material other than grape” during harvest at wineries.

The plant’s optical sorters even distinguish different kinds of plastic, and use specifically timed blasts of air to blow away contaminants such as plastic food films. A last pass by human sorters checks for valuable plastics that made it past the sorters.

Then the stream goes into units that use strong magnets and other electro-magnetic fields to pull out tin cans and aluminum items, the latter of which bring the highest value for sale to buyers of materials in bulk.

“Our goal is to get it as clean as possible,” Harvey said.

That’s because the fewer contaminants in the 200-plus large bales of materials the plant turns out daily, the more highly Recology is regarded by buyers of such materials, Harvey said.

“We’re selling the building blocks of the economy,” Harvey said.

Recology acquired the Santa Rosa facility when it purchased Ratto Group’s garbage operations in 2017. Ratto had undertaken $8 million in upgrades to the Standish facility and claimed it could achieve sorting of 500 tons a day.

Harvey said that goal wasn’t possible with the system before the latest upgrades.

https://www.northbaybusinessjournal.com/article/article/new-35-million-santa-rosa-recycling-facility-claims-166-increase-in-trash/?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=nbbj_breaking&pupeml=218036

Ultragenyx Announces Completion of Dosing Across Stage 1 Cohorts in Pivotal Phase 1/2/3 Cyprus2+ Study Evaluating UX701 Gene Therapy for the Treatment of Wilson Disease

Ultragenyx Pharmaceutical Inc. (NASDAQ: RARE) today announced that all patients have been dosed with UX701 across the three dose-escalation cohorts in Stage 1 of its pivotal Phase 1/2/3 Cyprus2+ study. The company’s investigational AAV9 gene therapy is designed to deliver stable expression of the ATP7B copper transporter following a single intravenous infusion, with the goal of normalizing copper metabolism in patients with Wilson disease.

“With the support of patients, physicians and the Wilson disease community, we’ve completed Stage 1 enrollment in the Cyprus2+ program, which moves us one step closer to beginning Stage 2, the pivotal, randomized placebo-controlled stage of the study,” said Eric Crombez, M.D., chief medical officer at Ultragenyx. “Beyond the seamless nature of this study, another important differentiator of this program is that it leverages our Pinnacle PCL™ platform, which enabled a single run to support Stage 1, demonstrating that the productivity improvements generated by our platform are able to support larger-scale clinical programs.”

Data presented in October 2023 at a Company Analyst Day demonstrated that UX701 has been well tolerated in the first dose cohort, with no unexpected related treatment emergent adverse events observed as of the data cut-off date. Four of five patients enrolled in Cohort 1 had started tapering standard-of-care treatment, including two that came completely off of chelators and/or zinc therapy. Additional interim data from all three Stage 1 dose cohorts are expected in the first half of 2024, which will be followed by dose selection and initiation of Stage 2 in the second half of 2024.

U.S. residents can learn more by visiting www.ultraclinicaltrials.com.

Phase 1/2/3 Cyprus2+ study design
This study evaluating UX701 for the potential treatment of Wilson disease is designed with three stages. During the first stage, the safety and efficacy of up to three dose levels of UX701 will be evaluated over the course of 52 weeks and a dose will be selected for further evaluation in Stage 2. In this first stage, 15 patients were enrolled into three sequential dosing cohorts to evaluate doses of 5.0 x 10^12 GC/kg, 1.0 x 10^13 GC/kg, and 2.0 x 10^13 GC/kg.

In Stage 2, a new cohort of patients will be randomized 2:1 to receive the selected dose of UX701 or placebo. The primary safety and efficacy analyses will be conducted at Week 52 of Stage 2. The primary efficacy endpoints are change in 24-hour urinary copper concentration and percent reduction in standard-of-care medication by Week 52. After the initial 52-week study period, all patients will have long-term follow up in Stage 3.

About Wilson Disease
Wilson disease is a rare inherited disorder caused by mutations in the ATP7B gene, which results in deficient production of ATP7B, a protein that transports copper. Loss of function of this copper-binding protein results in the accumulation of copper in the liver and other tissues, most notably the central nervous system, and failure to properly distribute copper by ceruloplasmin. Patients with Wilson disease experience hepatic, neurologic and/or psychiatric problems. Those with liver disease can experience such symptoms as fatigue, lack of appetite, abdominal pain and jaundice, and can progress to fibrosis, cirrhosis, life-threatening liver failure and death. Wilson disease can be treated by reducing copper absorption or removing excess copper from the body using life-long chelation therapy, but unmet needs exist because some treated patients experience clinical deterioration and severe side effects. Wilson disease affects more than 50,000 individuals in the developed world.

About UX701
UX701 is an investigational AAV9 gene therapy designed to deliver stable expression of the ATP7B copper transporter following a single intravenous infusion. It has been shown in preclinical studies to normalize copper trafficking and excretion from the body. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) granted Orphan Drug Designation to UX701.

About Ultragenyx Pharmaceutical Inc.
Ultragenyx is a biopharmaceutical company committed to bringing novel products to patients for the treatment of serious rare and ultrarare genetic diseases. The company has built a diverse portfolio of approved therapies and product candidates aimed at addressing diseases with high unmet medical need and clear biology for treatment, for which there are typically no approved therapies treating the underlying disease.

The company is led by a management team experienced in the development and commercialization of rare disease therapeutics. Ultragenyx’s strategy is predicated upon time- and cost-efficient drug development, with the goal of delivering safe and effective therapies to patients with the utmost urgency.

For more information on Ultragenyx, please visit the company’s website at: www.ultragenyx.com.

Ultragenyx Forward-Looking Statements and Use of Digital Media
Except for the historical information contained herein, the matters set forth in this press release, including statements related to Ultragenyx’s expectations and projections regarding its future operating results and financial performance, business plans and objectives for UX701, expectations regarding the tolerability and safety of UX701, and future clinical and regulatory developments for UX701, are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the “safe harbor” provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such forward-looking statements involve substantial risks and uncertainties that could cause our clinical development programs, collaboration with third parties, future results, performance or achievements to differ significantly from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. Such risks and uncertainties include, among others, the uncertainty of clinical drug development and unpredictability and lengthy process for obtaining regulatory approvals, the ability of the company to successfully develop UX701, the company’s ability to achieve its projected development goals in its expected timeframes, risks related to adverse side effects, risks related to reliance on third party partners to conduct certain activities on the company’s behalf, smaller than anticipated market opportunities for the company’s products and product candidates, manufacturing risks, competition from other therapies or products, and other matters that could affect sufficiency of existing cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments to fund operations, the company’s future operating results and financial performance, the timing of clinical trial activities and reporting results from same, and the availability or commercial potential of Ultragenyx’s products and drug candidates. Ultragenyx undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements.

For a further description of the risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ from those expressed in these forward-looking statements, as well as risks relating to the business of Ultragenyx in general, see Ultragenyx’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) on November 3, 2023, and its subsequent periodic reports filed with the SEC.

In addition to its SEC filings, press releases and public conference calls, Ultragenyx uses its investor relations website and social media outlets to publish important information about the company, including information that may be deemed material to investors, and to comply with its disclosure obligations under Regulation FD. Financial and other information about Ultragenyx is routinely posted and is accessible on Ultragenyx’s Investor Relations website (https://ir.ultragenyx.com/) and LinkedIn website (https://www.linkedin.com/company/ultragenyx-pharmaceutical-inc-/).

https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2024/01/25/2817385/0/en/Ultragenyx-Announces-Completion-of-Dosing-Across-Stage-1-Cohorts-in-Pivotal-Phase-1-2-3-Cyprus2-Study-Evaluating-UX701-Gene-Therapy-for-the-Treatment-of-Wilson-Disease.html

Sonoma State receives $7.9 Million Grant for STEMACES Program to Expand Scope

A $7.9-million grant from the US Department of Education (ED) to Sonoma State University’s STEM and Computing Education Support (STEMACES) program is the result of a decade of success building technology to enable innovative science education and make it accessible to underrepresented students.

STEMACES, which aims to improve middle school student achievement in science and increase the competency of STEM teachers in rural communities, was built on a tech teaching platform funded by two early-phase ED grants.

“Scientists are reliant on technology, and we realized that students needed to know technology to pursue science themselves,” said Dr. Lynn Cominsky, director and founder of SSU’s EdEon STEM Learning, who has been leading the curriculum development and helped procure the funding from the outset.

“The problem was there was no technology made for the classroom that could support our experiments. So for the first five years, the small SSU team built the software themselves,” Cominsky said.

The resulting year-long integrated ninth-grade curriculum, branded as Learning by Making (LbyM), has evidence of success improving grades in science and math. This success allowed the LbyM team to apply for – and secure – next-level ED funding to expand its scope, said Laura Peticolas, SSU EdEon’s Associate Director and Principal Investigator for the $7.9-million grant application.

“With the new funds, we will be able to implement elements of LbyM in eighth-grade classes at 40 schools in California and Texas, potentially reaching thousands more rural and underrepresented students,” Peticolas said.

In 2020, the Web Platform Incubator Community Group released an early version of a way to use browsers to communicate with hardware connected to computers’ USB ports.

“We are now able to support  the curriculum at one-tenth the cost using common laptops. That is key in rural and other underserved areas, where they don’t have tech in their classrooms,” Cominsky said. “Equity is a focus of any program in EdEon.”

STEMACES will use elements from LbyM to test a model for improved student learning in science, specifically in computational thinking. The model includes teacher professional development, ongoing teacher and student support, and an innovative eighth-grade curriculum that meets science standards in California and Texas while teaching coding, electronics, and methods for using sensors.

“We have learned so much by engaging in an iterative process with the ninth-grade curriculum, and plan to create our own testing tools for this phase, involving both teachers and students in the process,” Peticolas said.

“One of the most satisfying results over time has been seeing how many of our LbyM students are pursuing studies in engineering, physics and astronomy, biology and computer science,” Cominsky said.

The successful new proposal represents sustained efforts with key collaborators and advocates including congressional representatives Jared Huffman and Mike Thompson.

Instrumental players in STEMACES proposal planning:

  • Dr. Kenneth Carrell from Angelo State University (plan for scaling the program to rural middle schools in Texas).
  • WestEd’s Dr. Linlin Li and Dr. Jennifer Folsom (plans for research, evaluation, and scaling professional development for a much larger number of rural teachers and schools).

STEMACES recruitment and implementation:

  • Susan Wandling, principal investigator of the first ED grant for LbyM, led the proposal efforts to recruit current and new school districts to join this middle-school initiative;
  • The Redwood Coast K-16 Educational Collaborative (whose aim is to increase pathways to healthcare and education careers) intends to partner in implementing STEMACES. Co-Director Jen Degladillo Bevington (SSU) and Executive Director Angela Shull, (Cal Poly Humboldt) will collaborate with high-need schools and districts in Northern California counties to support recruitment and sustainability goals. They hope to expand efforts to earlier grades and into high schools.

Original Learning by Making team members:

  • The late Dr. Garrett Jernigan invented the original technology platform to initiate inexpensive tools for teaching technical elements of science practices, including coding, electronics, and sensors.
  • Brian Silverman created several initial prototypes of the computer science language used in the Learning by Making program, known as Logo, and continues to support LbyM going forward into the STEMACES program.

https://news.sonoma.edu/article/sonoma-state-receives-79-million-grant-stemaces-program-expand-scope