Annie C.

What an honor to be interviewed by Deborah Borfitz for the Cambridge Innovation Institute's SCOPE podcast! Deb is a terrific interviewer, and in this episode (linked below), we discussed "Overcoming the Deadlock in Patient Recruitment." It's very rarely talked about, but both better processes related to trial advertising and ads that use best advertising principles could very realistically increase patient interest in clinical trials. There are ideas in this episode for Sponsors, CROs, Sites, and ethics review committees alike. #SCOPEsummit #patientrecruitment #clinicaltrials

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AI or HI (Human Intelligence): who decides best? The truth is—it’s not a competition. It’s a partnership. AI brings speed, scale, and precision. But human judgment brings context, empathy, and values. Together, they unlock better decisions than either could alone. Take process development: AI can predict optimum conditions, scalability and sustainability of the process by certain %. Yet when executed on shopfloor, it’s human intuition that adapts in real time. Take ethics: AI can screen thousands of CVs in minutes. But only a human leader can ensure fairness and guard against bias that may be hidden in the data. So how can leaders strike the balance? 1️⃣ Treat AI as a “first draft,” not the final word 2️⃣ Build explainability into models - make decisions traceable 3️⃣ Train teams to question outputs, not just accept them 70% of leaders say AI will reshape decision-making in the next 3 years. The question is: will you design it to elevate, not replace, human wisdom? because, AI thinks fast. Humans think deep. The future needs both. Still the question remains: When should we trust the algorithm—and when ourselves? 👉 What’s one decision you’d trust AI with—and one you wouldn’t? *Comment below*. #ArtificialIntelligence #Leadership #DecisionMaking #AIethics #FutureOfWork #BusinessStrategy

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UCLA scientists develop one-product-fits-all immunotherapy for pancreatic cancer Pancreatic cancer is among the deadliest forms of cancer, with most patients diagnosed after the disease has already spread throughout the body. The five-year survival rate for metastatic cases hovers around 2–3%, and median survival is often measured in months rather than years. Now, UCLA researchers have engineered a novel immunotherapy that could offer new hope for a disease that has remained stubbornly resistant to treatment advances for decades. In a study published in PNAS, the team details how the therapy, called CAR-NKT cell therapy, can track down and destroy pancreatic tumors even after they’ve metastasized to other organs. Targeting orthotopic and metastatic pancreatic cancer with allogeneic stem cell–engineered mesothelin-redirected CAR-NKT cells Pancreatic cancer (PC) is one of the deadliest cancers, often diagnosed at advanced, hard-to-treat stages. Current cell-based therapies like CAR-T cells face major hurdles, including tumor variability, immune escape, and limited scalability. In this study, we developed an off-the-shelf immunotherapy using gene-engineered natural killer T cells derived from stem cells—called Allo15MCAR-NKT cells. These cells target pancreatic tumors through multiple killing mechanisms, resist immune exhaustion, and avoid rejection by the patient’s immune system. In preclinical models, they effectively controlled tumor growth and spread. This work offers a promising step toward scalable, next-generation immunotherapy for PC, with the potential to address current treatment limitations and improve outcomes for patients with advanced disease. https://lnkd.in/gEQqgQWZ

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Global momentum is building for the AI & Digital Maturity Index (AI-DMI) – Times Higher Education and Inside Higher Ed's initiative to benchmark how universities are adopting AI, digital tools, and data-driven practices. We’ve already received 2,122 responses from 789 universities across 73 countries, with the highest number of responses from the US, Saudi Arabia, Nigeria, South Africa, and Pakistan. Universities with 50+ completed surveys will: * Receive a complimentary AI & digital maturity report * Be invited to an exclusive AI strategy webinar on using the Index to guide institutional planning around AI The AI-DMI helps universities: * Assess readiness for AI and digital transformation * Benchmark against peers globally * Identify opportunities for innovation and collaboration Join the global conversation, ensure your institution is represented – and encourage your colleagues to participate! #Digitaltransformation #DigitalMaturity #AI #Digitalclassroom #AIeducation #AIlearning https://lnkd.in/eM-um9XH

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Orange Book Listings Under Scrutiny: The Fight Over Entresto®’s Patent Scope and Exclusivity My colleagues Tom Irving, Michelle O'Brien, and I have spent a lot of time discussing improper Orange Book listings, including in several webinars on the topic. Lately, the focus has been on whether REMS patents and certain device-related patents belong in the Orange Book. But this case is different. This case is about scope—specifically, whether the ’659 patent actually claims the marketed form of Entresto® (sacubitril/valsartan) and, therefore, whether it belongs in the Orange Book at all. Novartis has been fighting to keep U.S. Patent No. 8,101,659 listed, blocking MSN Pharmaceuticals from launching its FDA-approved generic until July 15, 2025, under pediatric exclusivity. But MSN is pushing back hard, and thanks to a recent Federal Circuit ruling, they may have the upper hand. Here is why this ruling is a big deal: the Federal Circuit has explicitly held that the ’659 patent does NOT cover valsartan-sacubitril complexes—the exact form in which Entresto® is marketed. Under Hatch-Waxman rules, a patent can only stay in the Orange Book if it both claims the drug and could reasonably be asserted against an ANDA product. Now that the court has said that the ’659 patent does not claim the active ingredient in its marketed form, MSN argues it must be delisted, immediately paving the way for generic competition. 🚨 No patent in the Orange Book = No pediatric exclusivity = Earlier generic entry. 🚨 Novartis is not backing down without a fight. They argue the ’659 patent still covers the combination of valsartan and sacubitril, even if it does not claim the complex. But courts have consistently rejected attempts to list patents that do not clearly cover an approved drug (see Jazz Pharms. v. Avadel CNS Pharms., Teva v. Amneal). If MSN prevails, this case could signal tougher judicial scrutiny of how brand companies list patents in the Orange Book.

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Stacey Adam, vice president of scientific partnerships for the Foundation for the National Institutes of Health, discusses the public-private partnership she is leading to advance alternatives to animal testing, the range of technologies they are exploring, and how they have the potential to accelerate drug development and transform biomedical research. https://lnkd.in/gY8y858u

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Super interesting court case for anyone interested in how AI and copyrights will co-exist. A U.S. judge ruled that Anthropic’s use of books to train Claude qualifies as fair use, but found the company infringed copyrights by storing over 7 million pirated books. A December trial will determine damages, potentially up to $150,000 per work. This marks the first major fair use ruling for AI training, with the judge calling Anthropic’s use “transformative” like human learning, though criticizing their reliance on pirated sources instead of legal channels.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​ https://lnkd.in/ehHAFg2D

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​I’m excited to share a new white paper I co-authored with colleagues Val Panier, Margot Bleys, and Vladimir Lukic, in partnership with the Massachusetts High Technology Council, Inc. It explores how #GenAI is beginning to reshape the workforce across Massachusetts. ​ ​This paper builds on our 2024 report on AI in Healthcare and Life Sciences and is part of the broader #MassVision2050 initiative to better understand the long-term implications of AI for the state’s economy and talent base. ​ ​A few highlights from our analysis: 🔹 Nearly 55% of job skills in Massachusetts could be disrupted by #AI 🔹 Massachusetts ranks #1 nationally in per capita AI-trained graduates and has the highest share of Master’s/PhDs among top states 🔹 AI-related job postings in Life Sciences and Education have grown 50 - 85% since 2021 ​ ​The report outlines both the challenges and the concrete opportunities ahead - and how we can act now to stay ahead of the curve. ​ ​Read the full report here: https://lnkd.in/ebwYUF_g #MassachusettsAI #AIWorkforce #InnovationEconomy #FutureOfWork

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In U.S. Higher Ed, Business Is Booming — But International Enrollment May Bust -- BBA remains the most popular degree in America; MBA is still the top master's — yet a sharp drop in global student inflow threatens billions in revenue https://lnkd.in/eWc9JDQn #businesseducation #businessschool #highereducation #MBA

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The White House just released its AI Action Plan (July 2025)—and healthcare is front and center. From drug discovery to diagnostics to biosecurity, AI has the potential to transform every layer of health and life sciences in the U.S. Here’s a healthcare-focused breakdown of the plan: 🧬 AI & Healthcare – At the Heart of America’s Strategy “AI will enable Americans to discover new materials, synthesize new chemicals, manufacture new drugs… an industrial revolution.” 🧪 AI-Enabled Science & Labs • AI to design experiments in biology, chemistry, and neuroscience • Automated cloud-enabled labs • New Focused Research Organizations to lead breakthroughs 🧫 World-Class Biomedical Datasets • Genome sequencing of life on federal lands • Public access to AI-ready scientific data • Required dataset disclosure from federally funded research 🏥 Accelerating AI Adoption in Healthcare • AI Centers of Excellence + FDA regulatory sandboxes • National benchmarks to measure productivity • Culture shift from “wait-and-see” to “try-and-verify” 👩‍⚕️ Empowering the AI Health Workforce • Rapid retraining for clinicians and technicians • CTE, apprenticeships, and tax-free employer support for AI education “AI will improve the lives of Americans by complementing their work—not replacing it.” 🧬 Biosecurity & Responsible Innovation • DNA synthesis screening mandates • Shared threat intelligence systems • Global coordination to prevent AI-enabled misuse 🔬 The U.S. is betting big on AI in healthcare. The goal: lead the world in safe, secure, and scalable health innovation. 📄 Full plan: https://lnkd.in/guzgzFX2 #AIinHealthcare #DigitalHealth #AIPolicy #LifeSciences #Biosecurity #PrecisionMedicine #WorkforceDevelopment #InnovationLeadership #WhiteHouseAIPlan Shashi Shekhar Vempati Gaurav Aggarwal

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