Tag: 3BL

Lenovo teamed up with Nazarbayev Intellectual Schools (NIS) to launch a state-of-the-art EdTech classroom at NIS International Baccalaureate campus in Astana, Kazakhstan.

The initiative reflects Kazakhstan’s focus on accelerating the integration of AI and digital technologies into the education sector and is part of Lenovo’s long-standing commitment to local innovation and community empowerment.

A hub for future innovators

The new classroom is packed with the latest in Lenovo equipment: ThinkVision P24 monitors, ThinkPad L14 laptops, and ThinkCentre M70t workstations—recognized for both performance and great reliability. To boost collaboration and keep students engaged, the room also features an interactive panel with smart software tools designed to help teachers deliver dynamic, tech-driven lessons.

But this is more than a classroom: It’s a hub for tomorrow’s tech leaders, with students and teachers diving into cutting-edge subjects such as artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, data science, mobile app development, and both virtual and augmented reality. It’s a bold step toward building digital fluency and practical skills in the classroom and beyond.

At the opening ceremony, Anuar Zhangozin, Chairman of the NIS Board, highlighted the impact of this initiative.

“Our students’ achievements speak volumes. This year, they won two gold and one bronze medal at the International Olympiad in AI in Beijing, a silver medal at the Informatics Olympiad in Bolivia, and sixteen prize-winning places at national competitions in the same fields,” he said.

Zhangozin also shared how NIS is pushing boundaries with its own digital projects—from an online platform for fair exam grading to AR-powered textbooks and the AI-driven learning network Beyim.ai. These tools are helping reshape how students and teachers interact with technology every day.

When Lenovo’s global vision meets local impact

Lenovo has worked with schools and universities across Kazakhstan before, bringing its tech expertise into the classroom. By sharing its cutting-edge tools and devices with educators, the company is delivering on its mission to provide Smarter technology for all and create a more inclusive, trustworthy and sustainable digital society.

“Lenovo is proud to partner with Nazarbayev Intellectual Schools in their digital transformation,” said Gaziz Abdrassilov, Director of Corporate Sales for Lenovo in Kazakhstan, Georgia, Armenia, and Moldova. “Integrating advanced IT solutions into the educational process expands access to quality learning and creates new opportunities for students to develop both academic and practical skills. We value the trust placed in us to carry out such an important mission and continue to support innovation in education.”

About NIS

The Nazarbayev Intellectual Schools (NIS) are an autonomous educational organisation established in 2008. Today, it comprises 22 schools that serve as experimental platforms for the introduction of advanced educational practices. The learning process is based on proprietary standards designed to foster critical thinking, research, and leadership skills, while also promoting national values.

The NIS curricula are developed in alignment with University of Cambridge programmes, ensuring the integration of the best national and international educational practices.

Instruction is delivered in Kazakh, Russian, and English. NIS students and alumni consistently excel in international examinations, achieve success in academic competitions, and pursue studies at leading universities in Kazakhstan and abroad. The organisation’s activities have gained international recognition and exert a systemic influence through teacher training, the development of textbooks, and the cultivation of a professional talent pool within Kazakhstan’s education system.

November 12, 2025 /3BL/ – Governance & Accountability Institute, Inc. (G&A), a leading corporate sustainability consulting and research firm, today issued a new reference guide on “Strategic Approaches to Scope 3 Emissions.” Scope 3 emissions across the value chain are often the largest and most complex component of a company’s carbon footprint. The guide provides a concise overview of leading Scope 3 reduction strategies, including product design, supplier engagement, and emerging novel approaches.

“G&A recognizes that companies are facing increased pressure to reduce Scope 3 emissions to help address climate change,” said Louis Coppola, G&A’s Chief Executive Officer and Co-Founder. “Whether your organization is beginning to map Scope 3 emissions or refining an existing reduction strategy, our guide provides valuable information to inform your decision-making.”

Since Scope 3 emissions occur across a company’s upstream and downstream value chain and mostly fall outside direct control, efforts to measure and manage these indirect emissions can be quite difficult. G&A’s new reference guide covers key topics including:

• Data Collection and Disclosure
• Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) of Products/Services
• Contractual Requirements with Suppliers
• Third-Party Auditing
• Use of Energy Attribute Certificates (EACs) for Scope 3 Upstream Categories
• Modifications to Internal Operations

The full reference guide is available for download here, G&A is available to answer questions and help put these strategies into action by contacting us at info@ga-institute.com.

ABOUT G&A INSTITUTE, INC.

G&A Institute is a leading sustainability consulting and research firm headquartered in New York City. Founded in 2006, G&A helps corporate and investor clients recognize, understand, and develop winning strategies for sustainability and ESG issues to address stakeholder and shareholder concerns. G&A’s proprietary, comprehensive full-suite process for sustainability reporting is designed to help organizations achieve sustainability leadership in their industry and sector and maximize return on investment for sustainability initiatives.

Since 2011, G&A has been building and expanding a comprehensive database of corporate sustainability reporting data based on analysis of thousands of ESG and sustainability reports to help steer strategy for our clients and improve their disclosure and reporting. More information is available on our website at ga-institute.com.

CONTACT:
Louis D. Coppola, Chief Executive Officer & Co-Founder 
Governance & Accountability Institute, Inc. 
Tel 646.430.8230 ext. 14 
Email: lcoppola@ga-institute.com

Originally published on Guiding Stars Health & Nutrition News

by Kitty Broihier

Are you confused about all the “ultra-processed foods” discussions on the news and in your social media feed? You’re not alone. It’s hard to know what to think (and do) about these foods, partly because there is no uniform definition of what they are. Let’s take a look at some of the big questions about ultra-processed foods (UPFs), with two goals in mind. First, that you’ll be able to make an informed opinion about their role in your diet. And second, that you’ll learn how to easily identify them when grocery shopping.

Are You Eating Ultra-Processed Foods?

Chances are, you do eat ultra-processed foods. In fact, most of us consume plenty of them. Researchers at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health published a study in January 2025 which found that American adults get more than 50% of their calories from UPFs. For children and teens, that percentage rises to 67% of their calories. You might think this makes sense for meals eaten away from home, say at a fast-food restaurant or grabbed from a mini-mart while getting gas. But the figure holds for both meals consumed away from home and at home. So even our “home-cooked” meals include a substantial amount of UPFs.

What Makes a Food “Ultra-Processed”?

Food processing is not automatically bad or unhealthy. In fact, even home cooks “process” food before eating it—when they wash, peel, and chop carrots, for example. And food processing does have benefits, like helping to preserve food and keep it safe for eating. It may also enhance nutrient content, and even help reduce food waste. The Nova system is a method of classifying processed foods that’s often cited, but controversial. Developed by researchers in Brazil in 2009, Nova categorizes foods based on the extent and purpose of processing, as well as the addition of certain ingredients. It divides foods into four categories, ranging from unprocessed (category 1) to ultra-processed (category 4). A food is considered ultra-processed based on several factors, including whether it:

• contains multiple processed ingredients added for taste or convenience (such as flavor enhancers, stabilizers, non-caloric sweeteners, bulking agents, etc.)
• is made using industrial processing technologies

Unfortunately, the Nova system does not take into account nutritional quality. This means that the ultra-processed category contains some foods that are widely considered healthy, such as enriched, whole-grain breads and certain yogurts.

What’s the Link Between Consuming UPFs and Health?

With ultra-processed foods, the risk basically comes down to how much you’re eating and how often. A 2024 review published in the British Medical Journal evaluated 45 population-based studies of UPF exposure and adverse health outcomes. It concluded that the greater the exposure to UPFs, the higher the risk of cardiometabolic disease, especially type 2 diabetes. And lower-quality evidence suggests a link between UPFs and cardiovascular disease mortality, mental health disorders such as anxiety, and obesity. UPFs also connect to a variety of other health conditions, but the quality of the research varies widely—more needs to be done before making any conclusions. What’s more, finding an association isn’t the same as finding a cause.

Nevertheless, it’s not difficult to see how highly processed foods may be less healthy than less processed options. There’s the presence of lots of additives, for one. And the nutritional impacts of the processing itself (less fiber, more sugar, salt, and fat, for example). Chronic inflammation, a contributing factor to many of the top causes of disease and death in the US, also increases with these negative characteristics.

Which Foods Are UPFs?

It’s easy to think about UPFs as just “junk food,” but that’s not exactly a correct or thorough description. However, there is a fairly simple formula for maintaining an un-processed diet. Put an emphasis on whole foods, and select versions of foods that are as minimally processed as possible.

Typical UPFs include a wide range of processed foods, such as:

• soft drinks
• breakfast cereal
• ice cream
• frozen pizza
• commercial baked goods
• canned soup
• microwavable meals
• protein bars and drinks
• candy

It’s important to realize that some UPFs do contribute more to the diet than just sugar, fat, or calories: vitamins, minerals, fiber, and protein, for example. Still, a single, accurate definition of UPFs would be helpful. It would especially benefit federal rule-making and the development of consumer health guidance about consuming these foods.

Recently, some states have defined UPFs for themselves. And the state of California is actively taking steps to remove them in places like school lunches. Thankfully, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) do realize the need for a uniform UPF definition, and they have been collecting comments and information that will assist in creating it. The Guiding Stars team has contributed to this effort, and we’re hopeful that our experience in helping consumers easily select nutritious foods will help inform the new definition.

How Does Guiding Stars Handle UPFs?

It’s the mission of Guiding Stars to help consumers make nutritious food choices by providing an easy-to-understand, evidence-based program that rates products based on their nutritional value. In short, we assess information from the Nutrition Facts panel and ingredient list, then calculate a score that summarizes the nutritional value of the food. Foods that provide more health benefits than detriments are assigned 1, 2, or 3 stars for good, better, or best nutrition. Those stars are easy to find on shelf tags, packaging, in-store signage, and online to aid shoppers in quick decision-making.

Our five algorithms do not include a specific debit for extent of processing. However, the Guiding Stars program does shift consumers towards more nutritious, whole foods because it uses a combination of nutrient density and ingredient-based scoring. Products receive a debit for the presence of ingredients that closely align with ultra-processed food items, such as trans fats, sugar alcohols, added sodium, and added sugar.

We also utilize an “Additives to Limit” list. This list only includes additives that provide no benefit to nutrition and are associated with undesirable health effects. (And we base these decisions on scientific consensus or recommendations from an established authoritative scientific body.) It includes a variety of ingredients such as chemical preservatives, synthetic non-nutritive sweeteners, and artificial colors and flavors, among others. The next time you shop, be mindful of selecting foods and beverages that earn Guiding Stars. It’s an easy way to fill your cart with nutritious foods that include fewer ultra-processed ingredients and additives.

About Guiding Stars

Guiding Stars is an objective, evidence-based, nutrition guidance program that evaluates foods and beverages to make nutritious choices simple. Products that meet transparent nutrition criteria earn a 1, 2, or 3 star rating for good, better, and best nutrition. Guiding Stars can be found in more than 2,000 grocery stores and through the Guiding Stars Food Finder app.

*Image by Freepik

St. PAUL, Minn., November 12, 2025 /3BL/ – Antea Group is excited to announce that it is opening access to its Global PFAS Regulatory Dashboard. This comprehensive digital resource provides real-time updates to worldwide per- and polyfluoroalkyl substance (PFAS) regulations, helping organizations proactively manage their obligations and stay compliant.

Developed in collaboration with regional experts across the Inogen Alliance, a global network of more than 6,000 environmental, health, safety, and sustainability professionals, the dashboard offers localized insights and regulatory intelligence for organizations operating across multiple jurisdictions.

PFAS oversight continues to evolve rapidly worldwide, with new reporting rules, use restrictions, water quality criteria, and cleanup liabilities emerging across the United States, the European Union, and global markets. For businesses with multi-state or international footprints, these variations create significant compliance, operational, and reputational risks.

“Regulatory expectations around PFAS are changing faster than many organizations can track,” said Jason Lagowski, Senior Consultant and PFAS Service Line Lead at Antea Group. “What we are hearing from clients is the need for clarity. Clarity on what has changed, where requirements differ, and how to prioritize action. The Global PFAS Regulatory Dashboard is designed to provide that clarity, reducing guesswork and allowing organizations to make informed, proactive decisions.”

The dashboard offers:

• Centralized, up-to-date PFAS regulatory data across the U.S., E.U., and global jurisdictions
• Real-time monitoring of new and pending regulatory actions
• Comparative insights for organizations navigating multi-region operations
• Context from in-region experts via the Inogen Alliance for how regulations are interpreted and enforced locally

The dashboard also complements Antea Group’s PFAS Screening Tool, which helps organizations identify potential PFAS use by industry and product type.

By pairing regulatory intelligence with Antea Group’s broader PFAS advisory services, which include auditing, remediation, legal strategy support, and training, organizations can build robust PFAS management strategies, including compliance planning, supply chain screening, site investigations, remediation planning, and employee training.

Learn more and access the Global PFAS Regulatory Dashboard here.

About Antea Group  

Antea®Group is an environment, health, safety, and sustainability consulting firm. By combining strategic thinking with technical expertise, we do more than effectively solve client challenges; we deliver sustainable results for a better future. We work in partnership with and advise many of the world’s most sustainable companies to address ESG business challenges in a way that fits their pace and unique objectives. Our consultants equip organizations to better understand threats, capture opportunities, and find their position of strength. Lastly, we maintain a global perspective on ESG issues through not only our work with multinational clients, but also through our sister organizations in Europe, Asia, and Latin America and as a founding member of the Inogen Alliance. Learn more at us.anteagroup.com.

About Inogen Alliance: 

Inogen Alliance is a global network made up of over 70 independent local businesses and over 6,000 consultants around the world who can help make your project a success. Our Associates collaborate closely to serve multinational corporations, government agencies, and nonprofit organizations, and we share knowledge and industry experience to provide the highest quality service to our clients. If you want to learn more about how you can work with Inogen Alliance, you can explore our Associates or Contact Us. Watch for more News & Blog updates, listen to our podcast and follow us on LinkedIn. 

• In addition, the company throughout November will provide another $500,000 to at least 60 feeding programs statewide amid funding uncertainties as colder weather and the holiday season approaches
• Since 2021, Duke Energy and the Foundation have dedicated more than $2.6 million to support the efforts of these agencies

GREENVILLE, S.C., November 12, 2025 /3BL/ – Duke Energy and Duke Energy Foundation are contributing $100,000 to the One SC Fund recently activated by Gov. Henry McMaster to support food banks across the state.

Why it matters: As colder weather and the holidays approach, many South Carolina families turn to assistance programs that help support those facing hunger. But those programs are facing challenges of their own to support this tremendous need. That is why it is important to support the organizations that do this great work.

What they are saying

• Gov. Henry McMaster: “Duke Energy’s contribution to the One SC Fund highlights the very best of South Carolina. At a time when many families are facing uncertainty, Team South Carolina is coming together to support our food banks and put food on the table. I’m grateful for their generosity and hope it will encourage others to join our effort to help families in need.”
   
• Tim Pearson, Duke Energy’s South Carolina president: “These organizations are fighting the good fight every day in communities across our state, but they cannot do it alone. Duke Energy is happy to stand with the governor, and we encourage other corporate entities, organizations and citizens across the state to help support the fight against hunger.”

Bottom line: Duke Energy’s support of these organizations and the issue of hunger in the Palmetto State is nothing new. Starting next week, Duke Energy, with support from Duke Energy Foundation, will kick off the company’s monthlong annual campaign to support organizations in South Carolina that address food insecurities and inequities. The fifth year of the initiative will provide over $500,000 to more than 60 feeding programs leading up to the Thanksgiving holiday and culminate in final surprise grant announcements on Giving Tuesday.

Zoom in: This campaign is in addition to the support of the One SC Fund and will highlight critical community partners that do this incredible work to fight hunger, including Harvest Hope Food Bank, Mill Village Farms, Second Harvest Food Bank of Metrolina, FoodShare South Carolina and AIM, among many others. Duke Energy employees will also provide their time and talents volunteering with organizations throughout the month.

Go deeper: Customers struggling to put food on the table are also likely making decisions about what bills to pay at home, including their electricity bill. That is why it is important to also offer information that can assist families to manage their energy bills when times are tough. To learn more about these programs, visit duke-energy.com/SeasonalSavings.

Duke Energy Foundation

Duke Energy Foundation provides more than $30 million annually in philanthropic support to meet the needs of communities where Duke Energy customers live and work. The Foundation is funded by Duke Energy shareholders.

Duke Energy

Duke Energy (NYSE: DUK), a Fortune 150 company headquartered in Charlotte, N.C., is one of America’s largest energy holding companies. The company’s electric utilities serve 8.6 million customers in North Carolina, South Carolina, Florida, Indiana, Ohio and Kentucky, and collectively own 55,100 megawatts of energy capacity. Its natural gas utilities serve 1.7 million customers in North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Ohio and Kentucky.

Duke Energy is executing an ambitious energy transition, keeping customer reliability and value at the forefront as it builds a smarter energy future. The company is investing in major electric grid upgrades and cleaner generation, including natural gas, nuclear, renewables and energy storage.

More information is available at duke-energy.com and the Duke Energy News Center. Follow Duke Energy on X, LinkedIn, Instagram and Facebook, and visit illumination for stories about the people and innovations powering our energy transition.

Contact: Ryan Mosier
24-Hour: 800.559.3853

View original content here.

SANTA BARBARA, Calif., November 12, 2025 /3BL/ – Direct Relief has been selected as an awardee of Action for Women’s Health, a $250 million global open call launched in 2024 to support organizations improving women’s mental and physical health around the world.

Although women account for half of the world’s population, persistent gaps in healthcare funding, research, and access leave many without essential care.

Direct Relief’s Maternal and Child Health Program equips midwives and frontline health workers with the tools, medicines, and supplies needed to ensure safer pregnancies and deliveries. Direct Relief provides Midwife Kits (each supporting 50 safe births) and Perinatal Health Kits stocked with medications and tools needed to treat life-threatening conditions affecting women and newborns. Together, these resources enable midwives and healthcare professionals to deliver high-quality, compassionate care in communities where 94% of maternal deaths occur.

In 2024 alone, Direct Relief delivered more than 1,000 Maternal and Child Health Kits to healthcare partners in 27 countries — resources that enabled more than 65,000 safe births, surgeries, and pregnancy interventions. With this award, the organization plans to expand access to these life-saving resources, aiming to distribute more than 6,000 Midwife Kits over the next three years, supporting approximately 300,000 safe deliveries.

“We are deeply honored to be selected as an awardee of Action for Women’s Health at such a pivotal moment,” said Amy Weaver, Chief Executive Officer at Direct Relief. “The need for high-quality care during pregnancy and childbirth is growing rapidly in underserved communities around the world. This recognition and support will enable Direct Relief to expand its work to reach more women, more midwives, and more health facilities with the tools needed to save lives. While this award provides a powerful boost, it also underscores just how much more must be done to ensure every woman and every newborn has the chance for a safe, healthy future.”

After a rigorous evaluation by experts and peers in global health — reviewing more than 4,000 applications from 119 countries — Direct Relief was selected as one of 80 awardees recognized for advancing maternal and child health.

Action for Women’s Health is funded by Pivotal, a group of impact organizations founded by Melinda French Gates, and managed by Lever for Change, an organization with a track record of identifying bold ideas to solve the world’s most pressing problems.

Building on this recognition, Direct Relief is accelerating the scale of its Maternal and Child Health Program to meet the rapidly growing demand for essential health services for women and newborns in the world’s most underserved communities. While this award marks a significant and meaningful step forward, it represents only a fraction of what is needed to address the vast and urgent gaps in maternal health access worldwide. By deepening local partnerships, reinforcing supply chains, and equipping midwives with the tools they need to deliver lifesaving care, Direct Relief remains committed to advancing health equity and ensuring that every woman—no matter where she lives—has the chance for a safe birth and a healthy start for her child.

Learn more about Direct Relief’s global maternal health initiatives and how to support them at https://www.directrelief.org/issue/maternal-health.

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About Direct Relief

Direct Relief is a humanitarian aid organization, active in all 50 states and more than 90 countries, with a mission to improve the health and lives of people affected by poverty or disasters– without regard to politics, religion, or ability to pay. Recipient of the 2025 Seoul Peace Prize, Direct Relief is ranked by Forbes as the fifth-largest U.S. charity and maintains a perfect 100% rating from Charity Navigator. For more information, please visit directrelief.org.

by Sarah Wentzel-Fisher, Thornburg Foundation

In New Mexico, the health of forests, headwaters, and aquifers determines whether farmers and ranchers can graze, plant, irrigate and harvest. Wildfire, flood and drought cascade from headwaters into broken acequias and lost crops, undermining the economies and traditions of rural communities. We can’t prevent every storm, but we can reduce their long-term impacts through better stewardship — and we must invest in that resilience through conservation finance.

According to the Conservation Finance Network, conservation finance encompasses the full range of tools that fund and sustain ecological outcomes — from grants and philanthropy to market-based mechanisms such as ecosystem payments, water or carbon credits, and blended-capital investments. In essence, it’s about matching the scale of ecological need with capital models that extend beyond grants and one-time appropriations. In New Mexico, conservation finance becomes especially powerful when it links forest restoration, acequia resilience and groundwater recharge into one hydrologic and financial framework. Water is life here, and we are at a moment of reckoning. Shifting how we value, and finance, water stewardship will determine whether agriculture remains viable in the future.

Conservation finance — with its mix of grants, performance contracts, loans, and private investment — is the bridge between today’s fragmented funding landscape and a more resilient future. When public infrastructure tools and private capital converge to fund the entire hydrologic system — from upland forests to aquifers to acequias — we finally have the architecture to sustain New Mexico’s food systems for the century ahead. In this light, conservation finance is not an environmental luxury or a philanthropic gesture. It is the most practical, immediate strategy for safeguarding the state’s agricultural future — and for ensuring that the rivers, wells, and watersheds that feed New Mexico continue to nourish its people and its economy for generations to come.

Read Sarah’s full article here – https://greenmoney.com/conservation-finance-as-food-system-infrastructure

 

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NEW YORK, November 12, 2025 /3BL/ – The Grizzly Bear is the eighth animal featured in Endangered Species Content Series produced by LG Electronics USA in partnership with the National Wildlife Federation (NWF). This awareness campaign, launched in 2024, celebrates the wonder of wildlife, underlines the importance of biodiversity and champions a better future for the planet, all which are at the heart of LG’s “Life’s Good” brand promise.

“Grizzly bears are the guardians of the wild, the living pulse of a healthy ecosystem. As a keystone species, they do not just inhabit the landscape—they create it, balancing wildlife populations and scattering the seeds that become future forests,” said Collin O’Mara, President, and CEO of the National Wildlife Federation. “It is essential for all of us, especially our students, to connect with the wonder of wildlife. We must understand a profound truth: their survival is not separate from ours. Their well-being is our well-being, because when we save wildlife, we save ourselves.”

To inspire a greater connection to the natural world, NWF is inviting students and educators to make a pledge to learn about vulnerable, threatened and endangered species such as grizzly bears. The National Wildlife Federation’s Eco-Schools U.S. program engages students, teachers, and parents in over 6,000 schools in all 50 states – encouraging students to form an action team, design solution-based action projects and measure impact.

Endangered species pledges received through Jan. 15, 2026 will be eligible for prize drawing (subject to the terms and conditions). The student grand prize is the LG 4K Ultra HS short-throw projector (model PU615U) and the educator grand prize is the LG 32-inch smart “Swing Monitor” (model 32U889SA).

The ongoing collaboration with NWF marks another step in LG’s commitment to create a “Better Life for All” and elevates awareness and support for youth lead initiatives, according to LG Electronics USA’s Director of Corporate Marketing Jeannie Lee. “Carrying forward the Life’s Good philosophy, we value our partnership with the National Wildlife Federation, which has a long history of conserving our wildlife and wild places,” she said.

Grizzly bears are featured on LG’s 3D anamorphic billboard in Times Square starting in November. To learn more about these threatened species and how to help safeguard them, read NWF’s blog spotlighting the grizzly bear’s unique behavioral insights and the species’ ecological role. Students and nature enthusiasts can also test their knowledge through an interactive quiz designed to foster a deeper understanding of the species.

Visit www.lg.com/us/sustainability to learn more about LG’s commitment to conservationism and environmental stewardship.

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Contacts:

LG Electronics North America 
John I. Taylor 
+1 202 719 3490 
john.taylor@lge.com

LG Electronics USA
Laura Barbieri 
laura.barbieri@lge.com
+1 631 848 9818

Originally published by The Robert A. Winn Excellence in Clinical Trials Award Program

The Robert A. Winn Excellence in Clinical Trials Award Program (Winn Awards) recently announced 79 new physician-researchers from across the United States have been selected to join the fifth annual cohort of the Winn Career Development Award (Winn CDA) program, a rigorous two-year curriculum designed to advance community-focused clinical research.

The Winn Awards – a national program out of VCU Massey Comprehensive Cancer Center established by the Bristol Myers Squibb Foundation (BMS Foundation), an independent charitable organization, and also funded by Gilead Sciences, Amgen, and Genentech – exists to address one of medicine’s most persistent challenges: ensuring that all patients, particularly those not typically enrolled in research, benefit from cutting-edge science. Its mission is to improve participation in clinical studies so that treatments developed are tested, safe, and effective for all who will use them, and that people in hard-to-reach communities have better access to the latest advances in medicine.

The Winn Awards accomplishes this by implementing programs to train and educate a national network of community-oriented clinical trialists. The two-year Winn CDA program is the only program of its kind that provides rigorous training in both clinical trial design and implementation as well as the science of community engagement. Each scholar receives a two-year, $240,000 award that secures protected time to pursue research, deepen community partnerships, and advance clinical trial access – all while continuing to care for patients in the communities they serve.

Currently, the program’s research areas include cancer, cardiovascular disease and immunologic disorders. Through an intensive experience that blends research, formal instruction, mentorship, hands-on experience, in-depth workshops, annual convenings, and a capstone project, Winn CDA scholars become experts in conducting community-oriented trials that achieve maximum generalizability through superior recruitment, enrollment, and retention – particularly in communities that historically have low participation in clinical studies.

The new Winn CDA cohort will convene in Albuquerque, New Mexico in November for a 4.5-day workshop on the design and implementation of clinical trials developed with the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR), an organization that has partnered with Winn Awards since the program was founded.

“The Winn Awards embody the spirit of collaboration and commitment that is essential to advancing cancer science for the benefit of all people,” said Margaret Foti, PhD, MD (hc), chief executive officer of the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR). “The AACR is honored to partner with this important program to help train and empower the next generation of physician-scientists who are designing and leading clinical trials that reach diverse patient populations. We are deeply committed toward seeing the goal of this vital work become a reality.”

Industry Collaborating for the Greater Good

The Winn Awards program was founded in 2020 with a $100 million commitment from the BMS Foundation. Since its inception, three more funding partners have joined this mission: Gilead Sciences, Amgen, and Genentech. They are united in their commitment to advancing the Winn Awards mission of Better Science for All: transforming the clinical research landscape to ensure that scientific breakthroughs benefit every community.

“It is remarkable to see so many partners across industry and academics come together to tackle this major problem in healthcare,” said Dr. Robert A. Winn, the program’s namesake and Director of VCU Massey Comprehensive Cancer Center. “So much progress has been made in medical research in the last few decades, but clinical trials must include people from all communities in order to ensure that the treatments are effective for everyone. That includes people in rural areas that health care facilities don’t quite reach. We want to make sure the science serves everyone, especially those who are often forgotten or left out of the conversation.” 

“When we launched the Winn Awards five years ago, our goal was to empower a new generation of clinical trialists to bridge the gaps between cutting-edge research and the communities too often left out of advances in medical innovation. With their deep commitment to community-oriented research and their determination to ensure everyone can access the best possible treatments, this year’s tremendous class of Winn CDA scholars reflects that vision in action,” said Catharine Grimes, president of the Bristol Myers Squibb Foundation. “The Bristol Myers Squibb Foundation is proud to support these talented physician-researchers, and we look forward to seeing the continued impact of their work in the communities they serve.”

“Advancing medical research and driving community engagement requires collaboration,” said Michael Levy, SVP, Medical Affairs and Regulatory Affairs, Patient Safety & Quality at Gilead Sciences. “The Winn Awards program has brought together partners from across the industry to tackle a shared mission, and Gilead is proud to be part of this effort. By supporting the next generation of physician-researchers, we are helping to break down barriers to participation and build a stronger future for healthcare that benefits all communities.”

“At Amgen, we believe the future of healthcare depends on ensuring that innovation reaches every patient,” said Ponda Motsepe-Ditshego, vice president, Inclusive Global Health and Impact, Amgen. “The Winn Awards program reflects this vision by investing in healthcare professionals who truly represent the communities we serve. By supporting this initiative, we are not only addressing long-standing barriers in clinical trials but also building a foundation for scientific discoveries that will deliver better outcomes for generations to come. This is how we shape a future where breakthrough medicines improve and extend lives across all communities.”

“Genentech is proud to support the Winn Awards, advancing our shared mission to transform clinical research and ensure it is inclusive for all patients,” said LaVanya Hardin-Wright, Head of Giving & Social Impact, Genentech. “This program is uniquely positioned to train physician-researchers to engage communities who experience barriers to participating in clinical trials. We look forward to championing these scholars as they develop innovative, patient-centered approaches that will improve the future of medicine for everyone.”

The Winn CDA program is more than a training initiative; it is a catalyst for change. By equipping scholars to become transformative leaders in both patient care and research, it is forging a future where communities historically left out of clinical trials are meaningfully engaged. These scholars are redefining how patients are recruited, enrolled, and retained, creating a model of research that is more impactful.

Meet Cohort 5 of the Winn Career Development Award Program

This year, the Winn CDA program received a record 243 applications, a testament to the quality of the program. The 79 physician awardees represent 43 different healthcare institutions in 23 states across the U.S., plus the District of Columbia. They were selected by an independent national review committee made up of prestigious healthcare leaders from organizations throughout the nation. 

The physician-researchers selected are committed to improving participation in research and represent varied perspectives and therapeutic areas, including cancer (hematologic or solid tumors), immunologic disorders, and cardiovascular diseases.

The scholars selected for cohort five of the Winn CDA program are listed below. You can also read their biographies in the 2025 Winn CDA Cohort 5 Bio Book.

• Ash Alpert, MD, MFA, ScM | Funded by The Bristol Myers Squibb Foundation | Yale Cancer Center
• Chidinma Anakwenze, MD, MPH | Funded by Gilead Sciences | The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center
• Anna Arroyo, MD | Funded by The Bristol Myers Squibb Foundation | Stanford University School of Medicine
• Adanma Ayanambakkam, MBBS, MS | Funded by The Bristol Myers Squibb Foundation | University of Oklahoma Health Stephenson Cancer Center
• Priscila Barreto Coelho, MD | Funded by Gilead Sciences | Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center – University of Miami
• Felipe Batalini, MD | Funded by Gilead Sciences | Mayo Clinic
• Adam Berman, MD, MPH | Funded by The Bristol Myers Squibb Foundation | NYU Langone Health / NYU Grossman School of Medicine
• Teresa Boitano, MD | Funded by Gilead Sciences | University of Alabama at Birmingham
• Christopher Cann, MD | Funded by The Bristol Myers Squibb Foundation | The Research Institute of Fox Chase Cancer Center
• Ayushi Chauhan, MD | Funded by The Bristol Myers Squibb Foundation | The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center
• Kelly Chien, MD | Funded by The Bristol Myers Squibb Foundation | The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center
• Dai Chihara, MD, PhD | Funded by The Bristol Myers Squibb Foundation | The MD Anderson Cancer Center
• Nirmal Choradia, MD | Funded by The Bristol Myers Squibb Foundation | Oklahoma University Health Sciences Center
• Janice Chyou, MD, FACC, FAHA, FHRS | Funded by The Bristol Myers Squibb Foundation | Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai
• Jordan Ciuro, MD | Funded by The Bristol Myers Squibb Foundation | Emory University
• Virginia Corbett, MD | Funded by The Bristol Myers Squibb Foundation | Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai
• Malamo Countouris, MD | Funded by The Bristol Myers Squibb Foundation | University of Pittsburgh Medical Center
• Glenda Delgado Ramos, MD | Funded by The Bristol Myers Squibb Foundation | University of Texas Southwestern
• Mary Carter Denny, MD, MPH | Funded by The Bristol Myers Squibb Foundation | Georgetown University School of Medicine
• Edward Duran, MD, MSc | Funded by Amgen | University of California, San Diego
• Caitlin Elgarten, MD | Funded by The Bristol Myers Squibb Foundation | University of Pennsylvania, Perelman School of Medicine; Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia
• Ahmed Elkhanany, MD | Funded by Gilead Sciences | Baylor College of Medicine
• Oluwadunni Emiloju, MD, MSc | Funded by Genentech | Emory University
• Fatima Ezzeddine, MD | Funded by Amgen | Mayo Clinic (RST)
• Dan Feng, MD, PhD | Funded by The Bristol Myers Squibb Foundation | Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai
• Cristina Fernandez, MD, MPH | Funded by The Bristol Myers Squibb Foundation | Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons
• Nicole Fleege, MD | Funded by The Bristol Myers Squibb Foundation | University of Iowa Health Care
• Luis Gonzalez Castro, MD, PhD | Funded by Genentech | Brigham and Women’s Hospital / Mass General Brigham
• Jesus Gonzalez Lugo, MD | Funded by The Bristol Myers Squibb Foundation | University of Kansas Cancer Center
• Parneet Grewal, MBBS | Funded by The Bristol Myers Squibb Foundation | Medical University of South Carolina
• Nitya Gulati, MBBS, FAAP | Funded by The Bristol Myers Squibb Foundation | Weill Cornell Medicine
• Andrew Hantel, MD, MPH | Funded by The Bristol Myers Squibb Foundation | Dana-Farber Cancer Institute
• Omar Harfouch, MD, MPH | Funded by The Bristol Myers Squibb Foundation | University of Maryland Baltimore – School of Medicine
• Shariska Harrington, MD | Funded by Gilead Sciences | Mayo Clinic
• Sara Hassani, MD, MHS, MSCR | Funded by The Bristol Myers Squibb Foundation | Northwestern University
• Ryan T. Hughes, MD | Funded by Genentech | Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist Comprehensive Cancer Center
• Chigozirim Izeogu, MD | Funded by Amgen | University of Texas Health Sciences Center at Houston
• Nusrat Jahan, MBBS | Funded by The Bristol Myers Squibb Foundation | University of Alabama at Birmingham
• So Yeon Kim, MD | Funded by Gilead Sciences | Yale University
• Stephen Kimani, MD, MSc | Funded by Gilead Sciences | University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
• Kelsey Lau-Min, MD, MSCE | Funded by Genentech | Massachusetts General Hospital
• Linda-Marie Lavenburg, DO | Funded by The Bristol Myers Squibb Foundation | University of Pittsburgh
• Jesus Luevano Jr., MD | Funded by The Bristol Myers Squibb Foundation | Morehouse School of Medicine
• Shalini Makawita, MD | Funded by The Bristol Myers Squibb Foundation | Baylor College of Medicine
• Adel Mandl, MD, PhD | Funded by Genentech | Johns Hopkins University
• Anastasia Martynova, MD | Funded by Gilead Sciences | University of Southern California
• Lisa McElroy, MD, MS | Funded by The Bristol Myers Squibb Foundation | Duke University
• Sayeef Mirza, MD, MPH, FACP | Funded by The Bristol Myers Squibb Foundation | Moffitt Cancer Center
• Chemtai Mungo, MD, MPH | Funded by Genentech | University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
• Charles (Nate) Nessle, DO | Funded by The Bristol Myers Squibb Foundation | University of Michigan
• Evangelos Oikonomou, MD, PhD | Funded by Amgen | Yale School of Medicine
• Zulfa Omer, MBBS | Funded by The Bristol Myers Squibb Foundation | University of Cincinnati
• Charity Oyedeji, MD | Funded by The Bristol Myers Squibb Foundation | Duke University
• Aliyah Pabani, MD, MPH | Funded by The Bristol Myers Squibb Foundation | Johns Hopkins University
• Debanjan Pain, MD, MSCE | Funded by The Bristol Myers Squibb Foundation | The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center
• Krupal Patel, MD, MSc | Funded by The Bristol Myers Squibb Foundation | City of Hope
• Hyma V. Polimera, MD | Funded by The Bristol Myers Squibb Foundation | The Pennsylvania State University, College of Medicine
• Odayme Quesada, MD, MHS, FACC, FAHA, FESC | Funded by The Bristol Myers Squibb Foundation | The Christ Hospital
• Nicolette Juliana Rodriguez, MD, MPH | Funded by The Bristol Myers Squibb Foundation | Brigham and Women’s Hospital
• Jose Rubio, MD | Funded by The Bristol Myers Squibb Foundation | University of Alabama at Birmingham
• Elizabeth Sakach, MD | Funded by The Bristol Myers Squibb Foundation | Emory University
• Stephanie Samuels, MD | Funded by The Bristol Myers Squibb Foundation | Yale University
• Caner Saygin, MD | Funded by The Bristol Myers Squibb Foundation | The University of Chicago
• Michelle Schoettler, MD | Funded by The Bristol Myers Squibb Foundation | Emory University/Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta
• Senthil Selvaraj, MD, MS, MA | Funded by The Bristol Myers Squibb Foundation | Duke University
• Tarsheen Sethi, MD, MSc | Funded by The Bristol Myers Squibb Foundation | Yale School of Medicine
• Arthi Sridhar, MD | Funded by Gilead Sciences | UT Southwestern Medical Center
• Sara Stockman, MD, PhD | Funded by The Bristol Myers Squibb Foundation | Massachusetts General Hospital
• Shivani Sud, MD | Funded by The Bristol Myers Squibb Foundation | University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine
• LaKesha Tables, MD, MPH | Funded by Amgen | Morehouse School of Medicine
• Lisa May Ling Tachiki, MD | Funded by The Bristol Myers Squibb Foundation | University of Washington/Fred Hutch Cancer Center
• Kekoa Taparra, MD, PhD, MPH | Funded by Genentech | University of California, Los Angeles
• Yun Kyoung (Claire) Tiger, MD, PhD | Funded by The Bristol Myers Squibb Foundation | Mayo Clinic Rochester
• Mazie Tsang, MD, MAS, MS | Funded by The Bristol Myers Squibb Foundation | Mayo Clinic Arizona
• Samuel Urrutia Argueta, MD | Funded by The Bristol Myers Squibb Foundation | Washington University School of Medicine
• Manu Varma, DO | Funded by Amgen | NYU Grossman School of Medicine
• Maria Velez Velez, MD | Funded by Genentech | UCLA Health
• Moneeza Walji, MD, MPH | Funded by The Bristol Myers Squibb Foundation | Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center
• Austin Williams, MD, MSEd, FACS | Funded by Gilead Sciences | The Research Institute of Fox Chase Cancer Center
   

Visit www.winnawards.org for more information.
 

Meet Hannah Greenway, a sustainability consultant at Antea Group UK!

• Office: London
• Practice Area: Sustainability
• Area(s) of Expertise: Carbon and ESG
• About Me in 140 Characters: I am a sustainability consultant helping organisations measure, report & improve performance. I’m passionate about impact and progress.

 

Favourite thing about being a sustainability consultant:

The variety of projects is great. We can work for clients in completely different industries, of different sizes and who have a variety of drivers for wanting to improve their sustainability credentials. Taking your knowledge and confidently applying it in new situations feels very rewarding.

 

What is a key ingredient for success as a sustainability consultant?

Adaptability! Although we work for a variety of clients, we also have to contend with ever-evolving regulations, best practices and scientific knowledge. Research is an important skill to stay up to date.

 

What are some of your favourite tools/resources for professional development in this practice area?

I think learning on the job for a variety of companies is the best way you’ll become a confident sustainability consultant: it helps you apply your knowledge to different contexts, which you’ll never learn on a course. Absorb all the knowledge you can from your colleagues too! ESG-specific news websites can also be useful for keeping track of regulatory changes at a high level, whilst traditional media often have informative climate or sustainability sections that cover science news or interesting exposés on greenwashing!

 

Just for Fun… 

What was your first job?

I worked as banqueting staff for functions, mainly weddings, at a hotel in Sussex when I was 16. It showed me all the behind the scenes stress that comes with getting married!

 

When you were a kid, what did you want to be when you grew up?

Absolutely anything that would’ve worked with animals, although I think my cats’ terrible behaviour at the vets over the years has put me off!

 

What is on the top of your bucket list?

I’d love to see more of the world. I studied geography for my undergraduate degree and I’d love to visit all the volcanoes, mountains and rivers we used as case studies – I think a trip to Iceland is overdue…

 

Bonus – any advice for people looking to go into sustainability consulting?

Start with understanding what drives you. There are so many branches of sustainability – climate adaptation, built environment, circular economy, social value, ESG regulations, carbon reporting, etc – that you need to identify your working style and what you’re passionate about. Are you more of a numbers person? Maybe carbon reporting would suit you, if not, maybe you’d enjoy working with regulations. If you’d like to see a tangible impact you’ve made or you like to get out of the office, then perhaps you’d enjoy the site visits involved in built environment roles.

 

Have any questions?

Contact us to discuss your environment, health, safety, and sustainability needs today.