Latest news with #Flanagan
Yahoo
a day ago
- General
- Yahoo
This Giant Snail Lays Eggs Out of Its Neck… Yes, Seriously
If you thought human birth was seriously twisted, get a load of the Mount Augustus snail from New Zealand. This giant carnivorous gastropod pushes 5-millimeter-wide eggs out of a pore just below its head. The pain-in-the-neck form of reproduction was recently caught on camera by Lisa Flanagan, a ranger at NZ's Department of Conservation (DOC), who has been caring for a captive population of these snails (Powelliphanta augusta) since 2006. "It's remarkable that in all the time we've spent caring for the snails, this is the first time we've seen one lay an egg," says Flanagan. "We caught the action when we were weighing the snail. We turned it over to be weighed and saw the egg just starting to emerge from the snail." Powelliphanta are among the largest snails in the world, and they comb through NZ's forest and grasslands slurping up earthworms like spaghetti. P. augusta is one of the more famous species (nearly 10 centimeters in length), and it was only discovered by the DOC in 2005, when most of the snail's habitat was subject to mining. The wild population is now confined to just a few introduced sites, where the snail hasn't lived historically, but a captive colony exists of roughly 2,000 individuals as a genetic insurance policy. These are some of the longest-living snails in the world – some of the captive snails under Flanagan's care are between 25 and 30 years old. "I just love watching their progress each month, weighing them, how their shells develop, and all the interesting things they do," says Flanagan. While they usually lay around five eggs per year, starting from about the age of eight, this is the first time scientists in New Zealand have seen the egg-laying in action. The species is a hermaphrodite, meaning each individual has male and female genitalia. To mate, each snail pushes out a penis from its neck pore and pokes it into the pore of the other snail. Both individuals exchange sperm and then store it for later fertilization. It is from this same neck pore that a fertilized egg later emerges. Talk about evolutionary efficiency. Cephalopods Passed a Cognitive Test Designed For Human Children Study Reveals How Your Cat Remembers Who You Are 'Lost City' Deep Beneath The Ocean Is Unlike Anything We've Seen Before on Earth
Yahoo
a day ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Cofactor Genomics Presents Breakthrough Work Combining RNA and AI to bring Precision Medicine to Immunotherapy at RNA Society's 30th Annual Meeting
SAN DIEGO, May 30, 2025--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Cofactor Genomics announced the latest validation results for OncoPrism®, Cofactor's breakthrough RNA-based diagnostic approach at the RNA Society's 30th Annual Meeting. The talk, presented by Dr. Kevin Flanagan (Cofactor's VP of Translational Science), "Bringing Precision Medicine to Cancer Immunotherapy with a Robust RNA Diagnostic Platform", highlighted OncoPrism's dramatic improvement in the prediction of patient responses to cancer immunotherapies relative to other diagnostics. Using an AI approach and RNA expression data from patient tumors, Cofactor's OncoPrism platform has demonstrated a 300–400% improvement in predictive performance compared to other clinical tests. Cofactor also presented for the first time the validation results for OncoPrism-NSCLC, with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) representing the single largest patient population eligible for immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) immunotherapy. Validated with patients enrolled across 12 clinical sites, OncoPrism outperformed PD-L1, with higher sensitivity and specificity in NSCLC. Cofactor's approach has already proven its clinical value. OncoPrism-HNSCC and OncoPrism-NSCLC are available for clinical use from Cofactor's CAP-accredited, CLIA-certified laboratory. In addition, OncoPrism-HNSCC has secured Medicare reimbursement approval. The robustness of Cofactor's platform comes from its proprietary Health Expression Models – multidimensional RNA models built with machine learning. These Heath Expression Models decode complex RNA expression patterns to measure the immune status of the tumor microenvironment, delivering high predictive accuracy beyond single-gene tests. This unique approach ensures robust, reproducible results across different patient populations and tumor types. "OncoPrism is bridging the precision medicine gap by providing clinicians with reliable insights that far surpass the predictive power of conventional biomarkers," said Dr. Flanagan. "Leveraging RNA's rich information, we can identify immunotherapy responders with unprecedented accuracy. It's an honor to present these findings at the RNA Society's 30th anniversary meeting, which highlights how RNA science is transforming patient care." Cofactor's presentation at the 30th Annual Meeting of the RNA Society of recent clinical cases where OncoPrism is already changing clinical treatment decisions and improving patient outcomes underscores the growing importance of RNA in precision medicine. Celebrating three decades of RNA research, the conference provides a high-profile forum to share Cofactor's advancements, emphasizing how RNA innovations are driving a new era of personalized cancer immunotherapy. Cofactor's leadership in RNA diagnostics exemplifies how decades of RNA research are now being translated into tangible clinical benefits – improving the selection of therapies like checkpoint inhibitors and ultimately aiming for better patient outcomes in cancer care. About Cofactor: Cofactor Genomics is a commercial stage diagnostics company that bridges the precision medicine gap by decoding RNA to solve the biggest problems in healthcare. It accomplishes this by unlocking RNA's use as a transformational barometer of health through its PRISM database of patented Health Expression Models (HEMs). HEMs are a departure from common and often uninformative gene mutation panel tests. They represent the latest advancements in machine learning and RNA, transforming billions of biological RNA data points into Cofactor's high-dimensional RNA models of biology, disease, and therapy response. Cofactor's pioneering work in RNA modeling has been published in The Journal of ImmunoTherapy of Cancer, The Journal of Molecular Diagnostics, and recognized by Nature Scientific Reports as breakthrough work in cancer. Cofactor is supported and partnered with 38 healthcare systems, representing 20% of US healthcare. Cofactor's OncoPrism is CAP/CLIA-validated and Medicare-approved. Learn more from and LinkedIn. View source version on Contacts Contact: press@ Error while retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error while retrieving data Error while retrieving data Error while retrieving data Error while retrieving data
Gulf Today
2 days ago
- Business
- Gulf Today
NOVVI Properties' Brian Flanagan champions education for orphans through IronMan 70.3 challenge
Gulf Network In a powerful show of endurance and empathy, Brian Flanagan, Leasing Director at NOVVI Properties, is set to compete in the IronMan 70.3 in Durban, South Africa this Sunday, turning a grueling athletic pursuit into a mission of hope. His goal: to raise awareness and vital funds for Future for Orphans, a non-profit dedicated to providing education for orphaned children in Afghanistan. The IronMan 70.3, comprising a 2km swim, 90km cycle, and 21.1km run is no small feat. It marks the culmination of over seven months of dedicated training for Flanagan, who sees the event not only as a test of personal limits but as a chance to make a meaningful difference. 'This Sunday in Durban, I'll be taking on the IronMan 70.3 – a 2km swim, 90km cycle, and a 21.1km run. It's about six hours of intense effort and the culmination of seven months of training,' says Flanagan. 'Being able to turn this into a platform to help children in need has been incredibly important to me.' The initiative supports Future for Orphans, which currently educates over 130 orphaned children in Afghanistan, offering them a chance at a brighter future through learning. 'I grew up in Ireland where education is free and widely accessible,' Flanagan adds. 'The opportunity to support children who've been robbed of that basic right is powerful for me – it's a deep motivation.' Flanagan's endeavor reflects the broader values and culture at NOVVI Properties. With a leadership team that leads by example and a work culture that celebrates generosity and support, his initiative is a testament to the company's belief in community impact. 'At NOVVI Properties, there's a strong culture of wanting to help each other and those in need. This initiative aligns perfectly with that ethos, which is really driven from the top by our owner's example of generosity,' he explains. 'Everybody likes to see each other succeed here, both professionally and personally.' 'Hopefully, some of the things we do inspire others, whether it's finding out what they are capable of physically or taking the time to help those in need. If we can lead by example, and others understand what NOVVI is about, then we have done something truly meaningful,'he concluded. Through this act of endurance, Flanagan hopes to inspire others to discover their own strength, whether by pushing physical boundaries or stepping up for a cause.
Mid East Info
2 days ago
- Business
- Mid East Info
NOVVI Properties' Brian Flanagan Champions Education for Orphans Through IronMan 70.3 Challenge - Middle East Business News and Information
In a powerful show of endurance and empathy, Brian Flanagan, Leasing Director at NOVVI Properties, is set to compete in the IronMan 70.3 in Durban, South Africa this Sunday, turning a grueling athletic pursuit into a mission of hope. His goal: to raise awareness and vital funds for Future for Orphans, a non-profit dedicated to providing education for orphaned children in Afghanistan. The IronMan 70.3, comprising a 2km swim, 90km cycle, and 21.1km run is no small feat. It marks the culmination of over seven months of dedicated training for Flanagan, who sees the event not only as a test of personal limits but as a chance to make a meaningful difference. 'This Sunday in Durban, I'll be taking on the IronMan 70.3 – a 2km swim, 90km cycle, and a 21.1km run. It's about six hours of intense effort and the culmination of seven months of training,' says Flanagan. 'Being able to turn this into a platform to help children in need has been incredibly important to me.' The initiative supports Future for Orphans, which currently educates over 130 orphaned children in Afghanistan, offering them a chance at a brighter future through learning. 'I grew up in Ireland where education is free and widely accessible,' Flanagan adds. 'The opportunity to support children who've been robbed of that basic right is powerful for me – it's a deep motivation.' Flanagan's endeavor reflects the broader values and culture at NOVVI Properties. With a leadership team that leads by example and a work culture that celebrates generosity and support, his initiative is a testament to the company's belief in community impact. 'At NOVVI Properties, there's a strong culture of wanting to help each other and those in need. This initiative aligns perfectly with that ethos, which is really driven from the top by our owner's example of generosity,' he explains. 'Everybody likes to see each other succeed here, both professionally and personally.' 'Hopefully, some of the things we do inspire others, whether it's finding out what they are capable of physically or taking the time to help those in need. If we can lead by example, and others understand what NOVVI is about, then we have done something truly meaningful,'he concluded. Through this act of endurance, Flanagan hopes to inspire others to discover their own strength, whether by pushing physical boundaries or stepping up for a cause.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Leigh hold off Giants to go third in Super League
Betfred Super League Huddersfield (6) 24 Tries: Flanagan, Swift, Halsall, Cudjoe Goals: Flanagan (4) Leigh (12) 28 Tries: Liu, McNamara, Armstrong, Lam, Halton Goals: McNamara (4) Leigh Leopards survived a late scare to edge past Huddersfield Giants 28-24 at the John Smith's Stadium. First-half tries from Isaac Liu and Ben McNamara, and second-half scores from David Armstrong, Lachlan Lam and Frankie Halton secured the victory for the visitors. Tries from Adam Swift, Sam Halsall and Leroy Cudjoe created a frantic finish, after George Flanagan went in for Huddersfield's opening score shortly before the interval. Leigh climb to third in the Super League table, while Huddersfield remain second bottom and still waiting for a first home win of the season. Huddersfield, who had won only one of their previous 12 matches, went behind after 15 minutes when George King's error allowed Liu a free run under the posts from close range. McNamara added the extras with a simple conversion. Leigh's second try came 10 minutes later, and it was another defensive misread, this time from Swift. Keanan Brand raced clear before offloading to McNamara who drove over the line. He then composed himself to convert. But the Giants were not lying down and pulled a try back through Flanagan with half-time looming. His weaving run bamboozled the Leigh defence and he touched down uncontested under the posts. He then stepped up to convert. Shortly after the break, Leigh restored their two-score lead. Armstrong exploited another gap in the Giants defence after a risky short drop-out from Flanagan gave possession back to Leigh. McNamara's kick from a tight angle was successful as the Leopards began to pull away. Lam crossed for his first try of the season after a superb drive through the centre of the pitch. After being held up by Tuimoala Lolohea, the play was recycled before the half-back scored in the corner. This time, McNamara failed with his kick. Moments later, Lam turned provider as Leigh raced through the gears. His short offload found Halton, who went over before McNamara converted. Swift made up for his earlier error with a diving try in the left corner after a brilliant catch and pass in the build up by Adam Clune and Lolohea. Flanagan added the extras. Then the drama really kicked in, with Halsall surging through for a solo try after intercepting on his own 20-metre line, before Cudjoe raised the temperature even further with a score after Bailey Hodgson failed to take Lolohea's high kick. Despite that, and Flanagan's two conversions, Leigh held on. Huddersfield: Flanagan; Swift, Milne, Jake Bibby, Halsall; Lolohea, Clune; Powell, Woolford, King, Greenwood, Rushton, Cudjoe. Interchanges: Golding, Wilson, Burgess, Rush. Leigh: Armstrong; McIntosh, Niu, Hanley, Brand; McNamara, Lam; Ofahengaue, Ipape, Mulhearn, Halton, Trout, Liu. Interchanges: Tuitavake, Hughes, Davis, Hodgson. Referee: Jack Smith.
