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Doctors and nurses worldwide point to roadmap to future-proof healthcare

Elsevier

Thousands of doctors and nurses from across the globe reveal what is needed to fill gaps and future-proof today’s healthcare system in a new report from Elsevier Health. Published two years after the COVID-19 pandemic began, the comprehensive “Clinician of the Future” report, conducted in partnership with Ipsos uncovers just how undervalued doctors and nurses feel, and their call for urgent support such as more skills training — especially in the effective use of health data and technology; preserving the patient-doctor relationship in a changing digital world; and recruiting more healthcare professionals into the field. Their voices have been elevated in this first global, multiphase research report to not only understand where the healthcare system is following the COVID-19 pandemic, but where it needs to be in 10 years to ensure a future that both providers and patients deserve. “Doctors and nurses play a vital role in the health and well-being of our society. Ensuring they are being heard will enable them to get the support they need to deliver better patient care in these difficult times,” said Jan Herzhoff, President of Elsevier Health. “We must start to shift the conversation away from discussing today’s healthcare problems to delivering solutions that will help improve patient outcomes. In our research, they have been clear about the areas they need support; we must act now to protect, equip and inspire the clinician of the future.” There has never been a greater need for lifting the voices of healthcare professionals. The global study found 71% of doctors and 68% of nurses believe their jobs have changed considerably in the past 10 years, with many saying their jobs have gotten worse. One in three clinicians are considering leaving their current role by 2024, with as many as half of this group in some countries leaving healthcare entirely. This comes on top of the existing global healthcare workforce shortage, where clinicians continue to experience severe levels of fatigue and burnout since COVID-19 was declared a pandemic. “As a practicing doctor, I am acutely aware of the struggles today’s clinicians face in their efforts to care for patients,” said Charles Alessi, MD, Chief Clinical Officer, Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS). “This comprehensive report from Elsevier Health provides an opportunity for the industry to listen — and act — on the pivotal guidance given by those on the frontlines. I commend this important initiative and look forward to next steps in supporting our doctors and nurses.” What today’s clinicians want for the clinician of the future The “Clinician of the Future” report includes a quantitative global survey, qualitative interviews and roundtable discussions with nearly 3,000 practicing doctors and nurses around the world. The data helps shed light on the challenges impacting the profession today and predictions on what healthcare will look like in the next decade, according to those providing critical patient care. To ensure a positive shift moving into the future—and to fill current gaps—clinicians highlight the following priority areas for greater support: Enhancing health technology skills: Clinicians predict that over the next 10 years “technology literacy” will become their most valuable capability, ranking higher than “clinical knowledge.” In fact, 56% of clinicians predict they will base most of their clinical decisions using tools that utilize artificial intelligence. However, 69% report being overwhelmed with the current volume of data and 69% predict the widespread use of digital health technologies to become an even more challenging burden in the future. As a result, 83% believe training needs to be overhauled so they can keep pace with technological advancements. A greater focus on the patient-provider relationship: Clinicians predict a blended approach to healthcare with 63% saying most consultations between clinicians and patients will be remote and 49% saying most healthcare will be provided in a patient’s home instead of in a healthcare setting. While clinicians may save time and see more patients thanks to telehealth, more than half of clinicians believe telehealth will negatively impact their ability to demonstrate empathy with patients they no longer see in person. As a result, clinicians are calling for guidance on when to use telehealth and how to transfer soft skills like empathy to the computer screen. An expanded healthcare workforce: Clinicians are concerned about a global healthcare workforce shortage, with 74% predicting there will be a shortage of nurses and 68% predicting a shortage of doctors in 10 years’ time. This may be why a majority of global clinicians agree that a top priority will be to increase the number of healthcare workers in the coming decade. Clinicians require the support of larger, better equipped teams and expanded multidisciplinary healthcare teams, such as data analysts, data security experts and scientists, as well as clinicians themselves. “While we know that many nurses are leaving the profession due to burnout, we also know that the pandemic has inspired others to enter the field because of a strong desire for purposeful work,” said Marion Broome, PhD RN, FAAN, Ruby F. Wilson Professor of Nursing at the School of Nursing, Duke University. “We must embrace this next wave of healthcare professionals and ensure we set them up for success. Our future as a society depends on it.” Looking to the future Findings from this research will be leveraged to provide strategic insights and solutions for physicians, nurses, educators, healthcare administrators and policymakers as Elsevier Health establishes initiatives designed to address the gaps highlighted: Provide an annual Elsevier Health “Clinician of the Future” pulse survey to ensure these voices continue to be front-and-center. Convene a Global Coalition of healthcare leaders and institutions to explore solutions at the medical school and clinical practice level. Explore the issue of patient empathy in partnership with our trusted research journals and subject matter experts. “Ultimately, we asked clinicians for what they need, and now it’s our responsibility as a healthcare industry to act,” said Thomas (Tate) Erlinger, MD, MPH, Vice President, Clinical Analytics, Elsevier Health. “Now is the time for bold thinking — to serve providers and patients today and tomorrow. We need to find ways to give clinicians the enhanced skills and resources they need to better support and care for patients in the future. And we need to fill in gaps today, to stop the drain on healthcare workers to ensure a strong system in the next decade and beyond.” Research methodology Elsevier and Ipsos collaborated to develop this study with Ipsos conducting the three phases of research cumulatively leading to the explorations in this report. The phases included (1) 60-minute online qualitative interviews with 23 key opinion leaders from around the world to uncover trends and expectations for the future state of clinician roles and to inform quantitative design (run from Aug. 11 until Sept. 10, 2021). Participants were recruited from databases supplied by Elsevier and its flagship medical journal, The Lancet, in addition to clinicians recruited directly from Ipsos’ network (REACH – Thought Leadership); (2) a 15-minute online global survey completed by 2,838 1 clinicians to measure attitudes and uncover the paradigm shifts expected to most impact how healthcare is delivered (run from Oct. 15 until Dec. 13, 2021). The 2,838 respondents included a mixture of doctors and nurses from around the world. All participants who took part chose to do so, and individuals invited to participate were drawn from a number of sources, including clinicians who had published recently, who were randomly selected from a database of published authors across 9,000 health titles (including journals and books) from various publishers, clinicians on a third-party panel, and users of Elsevier solutions aimed at doctors and nurses. Data generated from this study was weighted using a regional weighting efficiency of 77.7% and a doctor-to-nurse weighting efficiency of 93.0%; (3) three qualitative virtual roundtables with 13 key opinion leaders in the US (5 participants), UK (4 participants) and China (4 participants) to gather reactions to the findings and provide expert points of view on the clinician of the future (run Nov. 22, 2021, Dec. 7, 2021, and Jan. 13, 2022). A global medical student roundtable with 12 participants was also conducted to capture the voice of the next generation of clinicians (run Feb. 15, 2022). For these roundtables, participants were recruited from databases supplied by Elsevier and The Lancet, in addition to clinicians recruited directly from Ipsos’ network (REACH - Though Leadership), a global social impact organization. To read the “Clinician of the Future” report in its entirety, click here. Notes for editors [1] Full base size Total (n=2838), Doctors (n=1691), Nurses (n=1108) Total (n=2838). Females (1465), Males (1300), Other (73) Total (n=2838), USA (n=434), UK (n=604), China (n=499), India (n=161), DE (n=162), JP (n=63), FR (n=82), ES (n=239), AUS (n=46), Mexico (n=50), NOAM (n=445), EUROPE (n=1255), APAC (n=842), MEA (n=128), South America (n=168); Doctor (n=1691), USA (n=261), UK (n=411), China (n=209), India (n=69), DE (n=69), JP (n=61), FR (n=24*), ES (n=130), AUS (n=30), Mexico (n=39), NOAM (n=268), EUROPE (n=755), APAC (n=433), MEA (n=105), South America (n=130); Nurses (n=1108), USA (n=164), UK (n=190), China (n=289), India (n=92), DE (n=86), JP (n=2*), FR (n=55), ES (n=106), AUS (n=16*), Mexico (n=9*), NOAM (n=168), EUROPE (n=481), APAC (n=408), MEA (n=21*), South America (n=30). About Elsevier Health Elsevier Health is a new brand identity that elevates our unique position to leverage knowledge, data, and technology to help clinicians, leaders, educators and students globally. Through our research, we have identified Five Pillars to Shape the Future of Health, which will guide our actions for the future. These pillars focus on the need to improve access to evidence-based information to tackle the infodemic; prepare more future health professionals with effective tools and resources; provide insights that improve patient outcomes; deliver healthcare that is truly inclusive; and support a more personalized and localized healthcare experience. Elsevier Health supports healthcare professionals throughout their career journey from education through clinical practice by providing current, accessible, evidence–based information, that can help empower clinicians to provide the best healthcare possible. About Elsevier As a global leader in information and analytics, Elsevier helps researchers and healthcare professionals advance science and improve health outcomes for the benefit of society. We do this by facilitating insights and critical decision-making for customers across the global research and health ecosystems. In everything we publish, we uphold the highest standards of quality and integrity. We bring that same rigor to our information analytics solutions for researchers, health professionals, institutions and funders. Elsevier employs 8,100 people worldwide. We have supported the work of our research and health partners for more than 140 years. Growing from our roots in publishing, we offer knowledge and valuable analytics that help our users make breakthroughs and drive societal progress. Digital solutions such as ScienceDirect, Scopus, SciVal, ClinicalKey and Sherpath support strategic research management, R&D performance, clinical decision support and health education. Researchers and healthcare professionals rely on our 2,500+ digitized journals, including “ The Lancet ” and “ Cell ”; our 40,000 e-Book titles; and our iconic reference works, such as “Gray’s Anatomy.” With the Elsevier Foundation and our external Inclusion & Diversity Advisory Board, we work in partnership with diverse stakeholders to advance inclusion and diversity in science, research and healthcare in developing countries and around the world. Elsevier is part of RELX, a global provider of information-based analytics and decision tools for professional and business customers. www.elsevier.com Media contact Teresa Mueller, VP Communications, Elsevier Health Elsevier Communications t.mueller@elsevier.com Contact Details Elsevier Communications, UK Teresa Mueller t.mueller@elsevier.com Company Website https://www.elsevier.com/

March 15, 2022 09:13 AM Eastern Daylight Time

Boston Marathon® Jimmy Fund Walk is Back on the Course in 2022

Boston Marathon® Jimmy Fund Walk

The annual Boston Marathon ® Jimmy Fund Walk presented by Hyundai will be returning to the historic course in person on Sunday, October 2 nd, to defy cancer. The Jimmy Fund Walk is the only organized walk permitted on the famed course and participants have the flexibility to choose from four distance options: 5K Walk (3.1 miles from Dana-Farber Cancer Institute), 10K Walk (6.2 miles from Newton), Half Marathon Walk (13.1 miles from Wellesley), or Marathon Walk (26.2 miles from Hopkinton). Participants can also choose to join the event virtually by “ walking their way ” from wherever they are most comfortable—in their neighborhood, on a favorite hiking trail, or on a treadmill at home. Virtual programming and supporting materials will be available. “Throughout the Jimmy Fund Walk’s 33-year history, we have raised money to support our lifesaving mission, and the pandemic didn’t stop us,” said Zack Blackburn, Director of the Jimmy Fund Walk. Over the past two years, we saw our teams walk virtually and celebrate in their own unique way. Now, we welcome them to walk the course in person. We are back, and we are stronger than ever.” The Jimmy Fund Walk has raised more than $155 million for Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in its 33-year history. Funds raised from the Walk support all forms of adult and pediatric patient care and cancer research at the nation’s premier cancer center, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. Anyone interested in additional information can email JimmyFundWalk@DFCI.Harvard.edu or call 866-531-9255. Along the course, walkers are treated to 12 refueling stations as well as poster-sized photographs of patients – Jimmy Fund Walk Heroes – displayed at each mile marker and half-mile marker as inspiration. All four routes of the Jimmy Fund Walk end at the Copley Square Finish Line with a celebration complete with food, music, and a speaking program. To register for the Jimmy Fund Walk (#JimmyFundWalk) or to support a walker, visit www.JimmyFundWalk.org or call (866) 531-9255. Registrants can enter the promo code NEWS for $5 off the registration fee. All registered walkers will receive a bib, medal, and a Jimmy Fund Walk T-shirt. About the Jimmy Fund The Jimmy Fund, established in Boston in 1948, is comprised of community-based fundraising events and other programs that, solely and directly, benefit Dana-Farber Cancer Institute’s lifesaving mission to provide compassionate patient care and groundbreaking cancer research for children and adults. The Jimmy Fund is an official charity of the Boston Red Sox, the Massachusetts Chiefs of Police Association, the Pan-Mass Challenge, and the Variety Children's Charity of New England. Since 1948, the generosity of millions of people has helped the Jimmy Fund save countless lives and reduce the burden of cancer for patients and families worldwide. Follow the Jimmy Fund on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram: @TheJimmyFund. Contact Details Brodeur Partners Kaitlynn Cooney +1 609-351-5944 kcooney@brodeur.com Company Website https://danafarber.jimmyfund.org/site/TR?fr_id=1840&pg=entry

March 15, 2022 08:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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College of DuPage Awarded Illinois CRSS Success Program Grant to Support Individuals with Mental Health or Substance Use Recovery

College of DuPage

Students with lived experience of mental health or substance use recovery can now earn a certificate in behavioral health at College of DuPage thanks to a newly awarded grant from the Illinois Department of Human Services, Division of Mental Health. Launching in fall 2022, the 16-hour Certified Recovery Support Specialist (CRSS) program will prepare students for an entry level position in the behavioral health workforce, specifically in the areas of substance abuse and mental health disorder recovery. Certified Recovery Support Specialists use their lived experience to help others gain hope and achieve specific life and recovery goals. Students in the program will receive full funding to overcome practical barriers to success, including tuition, textbook costs, application fees, childcare and transportation. COD Human Services Associate Professor Jason Florin said that there is a critical and growing need for mental health support professionals in DuPage County. “The rapidly growing peer workforce is an integral part of behavioral health treatment,” he said. “Increasingly in the last decade, these highly trained and competent peers are being hired in a variety of different health care settings, non-profits and other recovery-oriented systems.” Certified Recovery Support Specialists bring not only their expertise, but compassion, hope, and honesty to any team offering treatment and recovery services, said COD Human Services Professor Andrea Polites. “The new CRSS program at COD creates a win-win scenario,” she said. “The organization hiring someone in recovery gains an employee with competency in utilizing their life experiences to help others, and upon completion of our program, the student is qualified for gainful employment, where they can leverage their lived experience to support and mentor others, while expanding their skillset,” she said. Program graduates can sit for two certification exams through the Illinois Certification Board—Certified Recovery Support Specialist (CRSS) or Certified Peer Recovery Specialist (CPRS). For more information about the CRSS program, contact Florin at florin@cod.edu or (630) 942-2043. Learn more about the COD Human Services Program. Watch a video of Florin discussing the importance of the new CRSSS program: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QInT4eauXfs ### Contact Details Angela Mennecke +1 630-942-3134 menneckea@cod.edu

March 14, 2022 08:00 AM Central Daylight Time

ibble Launches Social Networking App Landing One Of The Largest Series Seed Funding In Texas History

ibble

ibble, a new social media app empowering people to spark conversations and ignite new ideas has received $12.7MM, the largest series seed funding round in Texas history. Leading the seed round was Drive Capital followed by TTV Capital, Unknown Ventures, and Get Engaged Media. The investment in ibble comes amidst societies overwhelming frustrations with current social media platforms as they increasingly cut content; remove conversations and restrict engagement. “ibble is a Social Media App built on the idea of learning through conversations and having the ability to talk directly with the experts without the friction that currently exists on traditional social media apps and platforms,” said Raymond Kaminski, CEO and Co-founder of ibble. “We believe that talking with your community, not at your community, through the power of audio and video can spark more meaningful conversations and create more insightful engagement." ibble’s mission is to help people connect with and learn from experts through the power of video and audio conversations. Users are able to ask experts questions directly as well as spark conversations with their peers, naturally expanding candid conversations without friction. Is an expert always right? No, of course not. We believe what makes someone an "expert" is their relentless pursuit of the truth about a certain subject and their willingness to share it. For people who have been frustrated by structured and ad focused social media platforms that stifle conversations and are not easily suited to video and audio conversations, the solution is ibble – the social media app built by a distinguished team of entrepreneurs who believe that conversations and connections must have a healthy environment to thrive and grow in this digital age. “Brands, celebrities, influencers, the news, sports figures and more are looking for new ways to engage but that is almost impossible when dealing with the limits of current social media apps and platforms,” said Irving Lee, Co-Founder and Head of Partnerships at ibble. “We built ibble knowing that authenticity is not found in a like, comment or status update, and how could it? ibble provides a platform that celebrates real conversations with real people and threads that mirror real life conversations; conversations you can jump in and out of." With ibble anything is possible through the power of conversation. Users can start a video or audio conversation about their favorite show. They can also ask their favorite influencer or celebrity a question and get a response back with a simple click of a button. ibble makes conversation easy because ibble has made conversation through social media possible, with a focus on the natural flow of conversations and questions. For brands, shows, influencers, celebrities and others, ibble has made it easy to talk with their community members directly while not having to worry about being throttled or competing brands advertised to them while they are communicating with them. About ibble ibble is the social media app that enables experts and their communities to directly engage through audio and video conversations. ibble makes events more accessible and adds depth through back-and-forth video and audio posts. Learn more at https://www.getibble.com/ Contact Details ibble Jason Jepson +1 949-394-7033 press@ibble.io Company Website https://www.getibble.com/

March 10, 2022 09:00 AM Eastern Standard Time

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GROUNDWORK BIOAG NAMED THIRD MOST INNOVATIVE FOOD COMPANY IN THE WORLD BY FAST COMPANY

Groundwork BioAg

Groundwork BioAg® has been selected by Fast Company as one of the World’s Most Innovative Food Companies for 2022. The bioagriculture company was recognized for tackling grand challenges facing humankind today: food security, soil health and climate change. Groundwork BioAg ensures farmers have access to its cost-effective mycorrhizal inoculants that increase yield while reducing the use of phosphorus, protecting against drought and permanently sequestering carbon. The company’s Rootella® product line sets the standard for quality, concentration and predictability through its mass production technology innovation. This translates to greater in-field performance to help farmers grow more productive and resilient crops. “We are honored to stand with this prestigious group of companies recognized by Fast Company for innovation that is transforming the world today,” said Dr. Yossi Kofman, CEO and Co-Founder, Groundwork BioAg. "As commercial agriculture reconciles societal shifts and climate change realities, the industry is adopting more regenerative practices that reduce farmers’ dependence on toxic and expensive chemical fertilizers. For the health of our planet and all who live here, we remain committed to restoring the world’s soils with the mainstream application of mycorrhizae – the Queen of Biologicals.” Applied on more than one million acres in 2021, Groundwork BioAg accelerated global production and expanded product formulations and application methods. Previously, the biotechnology and manufacturing processes were too complex and costly to produce a highly effective and affordable inoculant for mainstream agriculture. “The industrial agriculture revolution only took society so far and its potential has been exhausted. Groundwork BioAg’s innovations are at the epicenter of the next agricultural revolution — the bioagricultural revolution — and it will grow, as healthy plants do, from soil rich in mycorrhizae,” said Kofman. As part of its annual process, Fast Company ’s editors and writers sought out the most groundbreaking businesses across the globe and industries. The World’s Most Innovative Companies is Fast Company ’s signature franchise and provides both a snapshot and a roadmap for the future of innovation across the most dynamic sectors of the global economy. “The world’s most innovative companies play an essential role in addressing the most pressing issues facing society, whether they’re fighting climate change by spurring decarbonization efforts, ameliorating the strain on supply chains, or helping us reconnect with one another over shared passions,” said Fast Company Deputy Editor David Lidsky. Fast Company ’s Most Innovative Companies issue (March/April 2022) is available online and on newsstands beginning March 15. About Groundwork BioAg Groundwork BioAg, a global bioagriculture company, leverages the natural power of mycorrhizal fungi to improve the productivity, sustainability and profitability of mainstream agriculture and expand regenerative agriculture practices. Groundwork BioAg is the first to use innovative techniques to solve challenges inherent in high-volume mycorrhizal inoculant production. We will not rest until every hectare of arable land is protected by mycorrhizae and every farmer benefits from higher crop yields while preserving our soils. For more information, visit www.groundworkbioag.com. Contact Details AgTech PR for Groundwork BioAg Jennifer Goldston +1 816-260-0040 jennifer@agtechpr.com Company Website https://www.groundworkbioag.com

March 09, 2022 07:30 AM Central Standard Time

MyYogaTeacher Launches Official 200-Hour Yoga Teacher Training Program Online

MyYogaTeacher

MyYogaTeacher announces the launch of a 200-hour Yoga Teacher Training (YTT) program, which will be offered three times each year, and features live instruction by a group of highly-skilled, certified, India-based and -trained instructors. Unlike the self-paced, pre-recorded, video-based packages sold online, which offer digital materials, videos, and only a handful of live sessions led by an instructor, MyYogaTeacher’s courses are 100% live, taking place daily over a period of 95+ days. MyYogaTeacher was named one of “The 6 Best Online Yoga Classes of 2022” by Byrdie. “Our students have a wide range of reasons for pursuing teacher training,” says Jitendra Gupta, the Indian-born CEO of MyYogaTeacher, who co-founded the company with Mexican-American entrepreneur Will Allen, after pursuing yoga to improve his personal physical and mental well-being. “Some definitely have a desire to teach yoga, but others simply want to improve their practice and challenge themselves a bit further by expanding their yogic knowledge and taking their physical practice to the next level.” The program is open to students of all levels. The Yoga Alliance-certified teacher training program features 6 highly-qualified MyYogaTeacher instructors, and is led by Rohan Shroff, who earned a Masters in Science in Yoga from SVYASA University in Bangalore and has over 1300 hours of yoga teacher training from well-known and respected institutions in India. Rohan has graduated over 500 students from online and in-person teacher training programs, including over 100 MyYogaTeacher students, and he also teaches Pranayama, Meditation, Ashtanga Vinyasa, Yoga Sutras, and Methodology, at MyYogaTeacher. Besides live instruction on a variety of topics–yoga history, theory, anatomy and physiology–in addition to asana practice, pranayama, chanting, meditation, yoga sutras, and more, the program includes a 150-page e-book, recordings of the classes so students can return to each session and review, plus a community setting that keeps students engaged, motivated and energize. They can also live chat with instructors (Bodhi Abishek Singh, Gomati Woli, Stuti Asher, Umesh Balavaradaraju, Bharath Ram) and fellow students. “What’s great is that your investment in teacher training is nowhere close to the cost you will incur by traveling to India during our post-Covid era,” says Gupta. “And we offer students a 14-day free trial so if they are not happy with the coursework, they can cancel.” The first round of this YTT program runs from March 5 to May 28, and the program will be offered 3 times each year. The next round will take place in the summer of 2022. Learn more about the program and featured instructors here. About MyYogaTeacher MyYogaTeacher is reconnecting yoga to its roots and sharing it through live lessons taught by the world’s foremost teachers who studied yoga at India’s most elite universities and schools. With over 100,000 registered U.S. students, it offers over 40 group classes daily, and provides private sessions, along with over one million minutes of live interactions each month. The Cupertino, California-based company was co-founded in 2018 by Jitendra Gupta and Will Allen. Gupta is the successful former co-founder of Punchh, who turned his struggle with burnout into a platform to help others. Allen is a former mechanical engineer who left the lucrative aerospace industry to travel the world, and pursue yoga and meditation over the past decade. MyYogaTeacher recently received $3 million in seed round funding, led by TSVC, with participation from Leonis Investissement, Weekend Fund, All Access Fund, and Bertelsmann Digital Media Investments. For more information, visit MyYogaTeacher.com. Contact Details Carolyn Kamii PR Carolyn Kamii +1 310-251-0550 carolyn@carolynkamii.com Company Website https://www.myyogateacher.com/

March 09, 2022 04:30 AM Pacific Standard Time

Fine Hygienic Holding recognized as one of few Global Top Employers for the first time

Fine Hygienic Holding

In recognition of its excellent work environment, Fine Hygienic Holding (FHH), the world leading wellness group and manufacturer of hygienic paper products and long-lasting germ protection solutions, has been recognized as a global Top Employer for 2022 by the prestigious Top Employers Institute. FHH was named Top Employer Middle East 2022, as one of few employers worldwide recognized at the awards for its outstanding human resources strategy as well as employees’ experience and culture. The group’s operations in Egypt, Jordan, KSA and the UAE all achieved the highest global benchmark of HR practices which cover the areas of People Strategy, Work Environment, Talent Acquisition, Learning and Development, Well-being and Diversity & Inclusion. Marking the group’s latest achievement, James Michael Lafferty, FHH’s CEO, said, “We are very proud of being recognized as a top employer in the field of FMCG. Attaining this certificate proves yet again that our motto – if we take care of our people, the business will take care of itself – is being put into action every single day. We know that our success as a company derives from the strength of our most important asset, our Fine people. That is why we are constantly working to create an environment that attracts and retains the very best, and always celebrate employees who excel both in their performance and in embodying our company values.” Fine Hygienic Holding has around 3,000 employees from more than 40 nationalities spread among its operations in the MENA region with two headquarters: Amman and Dubai. To achieve the “Top Employer” award, the company went through a multi-stage certification program. Companies from all over the world wishing to participate in the award are required to fill a detailed survey covering six HR domains consisting of 20 topics and undergo extensive auditing for each HR process. The Top Employers Institute specializes in the alignment of practices and policies through a global program based on benchmarking best HR practices to grant the global workforce with full outstanding people practices. About Fine Hygienic Holding: Fine Hygienic Holding (FHH), one of the world’s leading wellness groups and MENA’s leading manufacturer of hygienic products, serves consumers in more than 80 countries around the world. Originally established as a paper manufacturer, FHH has transformed into a wellness company dedicated to enhancing global health and wellbeing. Committed to becoming “the shining star of the Arab FMCG business world,” the Group focuses on wellness, sustainability, pioneering CSR programs, and state-of-the-art production processes. Fine Hygienic Holding offers a diverse array of award-winning products including sterilized facial tissues, napkins, kitchen towels, toilet paper, baby diapers, adult briefs, jumbo rolls, as well as away-from-home products to accommodate all types of private and public institutions, in addition to its advanced range of personal protective equipment (PPE) and long-lasting germ protection solutions, it also brings Nai natural iced teas and innovative nutritional supplements, Motiva, to the market. Along with multiple accolated and awards over the years, particularly for its products and CSR initiatives, the company was recognized as a Top Employer Middle East 2022 by the prestigious Top Employers Institute in every country it operates. Contact Details Rana Kawalit │ Corporate Communication & PR Director Rkawalit@finehh.com Company Website https://www.finehh.com/

March 08, 2022 11:24 PM Eastern Standard Time

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Data from pre-clinical study of OCT461201 shows positive results

Oxford Cannabinoid Technologies Holdings Plc

Oxford Cannabinoid Technologies Holdings plc (LSE: OCTP, OTCQB: OCTHF), the pharmaceutical company developing prescription cannabinoid medicines targeting the US$ multi-billion pain market is pleased to announce positive results from a pre-clinical pain study for its lead compound, OCT461201, targeting the global Chemotherapy Induced Peripheral Neuropathy (“CIPN”) treatment market valued at US$1.61bn in 2020 and forecasted to reach US$2.37bn by the year 2027. CIPN is a peripheral neuropathy resulting from the neurotoxic effects of common chemotherapeutic drugs. The hallmarks of CIPN are pain, numbness and tingling in the extremities. On average, an estimated 60 per cent. of people undergoing chemotherapy are affected by CIPN at 3 months. CIPN can be progressive and enduring, leading to years of debilitation and suffering. The results from OCTP’s recent study show that OCT461201 successfully reduces pain in a pre-clinical animal model of CIPN induced by paclitaxel, a widely used chemotherapy agent. Two common symptoms of CIPN are pain caused by innocuous stimuli, like light touch (mechanical allodynia) and heat or cold (thermal hyperalgesia). In the study, OCT461201 significantly reduced pain from both mechanical allodynia and thermal hyperalgesia compared to untreated animals. Globally, there is an urgent need for new therapies to treat CIPN as there are currently no approved therapies for this condition. The current standard of care is the off-label use of gabapentinoids (gabapentin and pregabalin) and antidepressants (e.g. duloxetine), drugs associated with serious side effects. Furthermore, in some cases their overall clinical effectiveness is inadequate, leaving cancer patients in pain, with a reduced quality of life and the prospect of having to change or stop their chemotherapy altogether. Commenting on the results of the experiment, OCTP Chief Executive John Lucas said: “To obtain such a positive result in this study is significant and provides further evidence that OCT461201 could be an effective therapy in the treatment of CIPN in cancer patients. Based on previously completed pre-clinical safety experiments, the Directors believe the administered dose of OCT461201 could have been increased by over three times. The results of this study demonstrate the opportunities open to OCT461201 in treating a major and common side effect experienced by so many cancer patients and we are more excited than ever to be starting phase 1 clinical trials early next year. These latest results reaffirm the potential of OCT461201 across multiple indications.” Oxford Cannabinoid Technologies Holdings plc is the holding company of Oxford Cannabinoid Technologies Ltd, a pharmaceutical company developing prescription cannabinoid medicines for approval by key medicines regulatory agencies worldwide and targeting the U$ multi-billion pain market (together the “Group”). Cannabinoids are compounds found in the cannabis plant that have been shown to have a range of therapeutic effects on the body, including pain relief. The Group has a clearly defined path to commercialisation, revenues and growth. The Group is developing drug candidates through clinical trials to gain regulatory approval (FDA/MHRA/EMA) that will enable medical professionals to prescribe them with confidence.The Group’s portfolio aims to balance risk, value and time to market, whilst ensuring market exclusivity around all its key activities. The Group’s lead compound, OCT461201, is a highly potent and selective CB2 agonist and is being developed by OCT in a solid oral dosage form. OCT is conducting pre-clinical testing and development with clinical trials scheduled for Q1 2023. The Group’s product pipeline also uses a balanced drug product strategy that employs both natural and synthetic compounds for the treatment of rare diseases and includes chemically modified phytocannabinoids with improved drug-like characteristics and a proprietary library of cannabinoids. OCTP operates a partnership model with external academic and commercial partners. Caution regarding forward looking statementsCertain statements in this announcement, are, or may be deemed to be, forward looking statements. Forward looking statements are identified by their use of terms and phrases such as ''believe'', ''could'', "should" ''envisage'', ''estimate'', ''intend'', ''may'', ''plan'', ''potentially'', "expect", ''will'' or the negative of those, variations or comparable expressions, including references to assumptions. These forward-looking statements are not based on historical facts but rather on the Directors' current expectations and assumptions regarding the Company's future growth, results of operations, performance, future capital and other expenditures (including the amount, nature and sources of funding thereof), competitive advantages, business prospects and opportunities. Such forward looking statements reflect the Directors' current beliefs and assumptions and are based on information currently available to the Directors. Contact Details Harbor Access Jonathan Paterson +1 475-477-9401 jonathan.paterson@harbor-access.com Investor Relations Ricahrd Leighton +1 475-477-9403 Richard.Leighton@Harbor-Access.com Company Website https://www.oxcantech.com/

March 08, 2022 03:26 PM Eastern Standard Time

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Industrial Defender Opens European Office in the Netherlands to Meet Increasing Global Demand for OT Cybersecurity

Industrial Defender

Industrial Defender, the leader in OT cybersecurity, today announced its expansion into Europe to meet increasing demands for industrial security in the region. Their new office, located in the Netherlands, will service a variety of critical industries across the entire EMEA region, including utilities, oil & gas, manufacturing, rail, maritime and water companies. “The desire for OT cybersecurity solutions in Europe has grown tremendously over the past few years, and we’re committed to providing a local team on the ground to meet this increasing demand,” said Dario Lobozzo, Managing Director EMEA. “This expansion ensures that our growing customer base in the region has access to the resources they need to run a successful ICS cybersecurity program.” As part of its effort to help European companies reach their highest level of cyber resilience possible during this time of escalating cyberthreats, Industrial Defender is offering critical infrastructure companies in region a complimentary OT cybersecurity strategy review through the end of March. The company is also actively hiring additional cybersecurity professionals in Europe. Interested candidates can explore open positions here: https://www.industrialdefender.com/careers/ To learn more about Industrial Defender’s European presence or to request a complimentary OT cybersecurity strategy review, reach out at https://www.industrialdefender.com/speak-with-an-ot-security-architect/. About Industrial Defender Since 2006, Industrial Defender has been solving the challenge of safely collecting, monitoring, and managing OT asset data at scale, while providing cross-functional teams with a unified view of security. Their specialized solution is tailored to complex industrial control system environments by engineers with decades of hands-on OT experience. Easy integrations into the broader security and enterprise ecosystem empower IT teams with the same visibility, access, and situational awareness that they’re accustomed to on corporate networks. Learn more at www.industrialdefender.com. Contact Details Industrial Defender Erin Anderson +1 617-675-4206 eanderson@industrialdefender.com Company Website https://www.industrialdefender.com

March 08, 2022 09:00 AM Eastern Standard Time