Latest news with #LAI
USA Today
8 hours ago
- Health
- USA Today
Eagles owner Jeffrey Lurie launches Lurie Autism Institute in Philadelphia
Eagles owner Jeffrey Lurie launches Lurie Autism Institute in Philadelphia Show Caption Hide Caption Greg Olsen expresses excitement for upcoming Olympic flag football Former TE Greg Olsen is excited for some NFL players to showcase their skills in the upcoming 2028 Summer Olympics and the debut of flag football. Sports Seriously Philadelphia Eagles owner Jeffrey Lurie is donating $50 million to the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia and Penn Medicine to create a joint initiative of autism spectrum disorder research, the three parties announced Tuesday, June 10. According to a press release, the $50 million gift that will launch the Lurie Autism Institute (LAI) is "the largest single donation to U.S. academic medical centers focused on autism research across the lifespan." The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP), perhaps obviously, focuses its efforts in autism research with children, while Penn largely works with the adult community. One of LAI's main goals is to combine the work of CHOP and Penn and aid researchers in painting a broader picture of autism's effects over a lifetime. As LAI Interim Director Dr. Dan Rader put it, the work they do will help researchers "better understand the condition, the heterogeneity, and how we can actually ultimately use the research to make a difference in their lives." In addition, the new institute and its funding will aim to incentivize other doctors and researchers — those not currently working on autism-related work — to join in supporting the work of CHOP and Penn Medicine. To that end, LAI will launch a certificate program from PhD trainees and postdocs called the "Next-Generation Program in Autism Bioscience," the press release said. What are the goals for the Lurie Autism Institute? "This is a time when we've seen so many advances in neuroscience, genetics, imaging, molecular pathways, processes and artificial intelligence," Lurie told USA TODAY in an exclusive interview. "It's opening up an entirely new world of possibilities for autism research." Both Rader and Lurie emphasized that a big part of LAI's work will be determining how translational therapeutics might be effective in treating individuals on the spectrum, in part with the aid of the latest in artificial intelligence. In other words, LAI's efforts will consist of collecting data from existing and ongoing research and then, using new technology and AI, figuring out how that data can be translated into a form of treatment. That treatment, according to Lurie, could consist of repurposing certain drugs or gene editing. "The complex part of autism is there's no single gene, there's no single reason," Lurie said. "So it's very research-based in order to get to the therapeutics." As LAI focuses largely on research, the clinical efforts at CHOP and Penn will continue and "likely expand" in the wake of LAI's launch, Rader said. Then, as those two organizations diagnose and work with more individuals on the spectrum, they could "recruit" those individuals as "partners in the research to better understand this complex condition." In addition, Lurie said one of the main visions he has for LAI is to become a "catalyst" for more worldwide funding and research to tackle the complexities of understanding autism. As part of those efforts, the institute will host an annual international symposium and award a prize for autism research, according to the press release. Lurie family has long history of autism research philanthropy Lurie and his family are not newcomers to advocating for autism research and awareness. 'My brother is autistic. So for my family and me, we've been supporting the autism community for ... decades," Lurie said. "That's really where it all originated from. "My mother has really led the way over all these decades as the primary investor in autism research, and the rest of the family has followed suit. What I've done is just re-emphasize that over the decades, over the years." Lurie's mother, Nancy Lurie Marks, founded the Nancy Lurie Marks Family Foundation (NLMFF) in 1977 to aid individuals with autism. In 2009, the NLMFF established the Lurie Center for Autism at Massachusetts General Hospital. In 2018, Jeffrey Lurie started the Eagles Autism Foundation. And in 2019, the Eagles, the NFL team Lurie has owned since 1994, opened the NFL's first in-stadium sensory room, "a dedicated space designed by medical professionals for those who may need a quieter and more secure environment," according to the team's official website. "And wherever we go, whether it's Brazil or the Super Bowl, we bring it along with us," Lurie said. "And (sensory-inclusive efforts have) become adopted by so many sports teams. It's gratifying." Indeed, many sports teams across various leagues — MLB, MLS, the NBA and the NHL — have adopted similar sensory rooms and other tools. The Buffalo Bills, for example, offer sensory inclusion kits that include things like noise-canceling headphones and fidget toys to help make their games and events more inclusive to their neurodiverse fans. Said Lurie: "I've always grown up in an atmosphere of acceptance and inclusivity, so when we have done things with the Eagles like we do with different organizations ... we want to try to create inclusive atmospheres for autistic people no matter if they're young or old." Increased efforts in autism research now 'more important than ever' The topic of autism research on a national level has gained steam in recent months. That has been inspired in part by U.S. health secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. — who in the past has promoted scientifically discredited theories that autism is linked to childhood vaccines — declaring in April that the U.S. will find the cause of autism by September. As part of those efforts, Kennedy announced "a massive testing and research effort" that will "involve hundreds of scientists from around the world." An HHS official told USA TODAY in late April that the National Institutes of Health (NIH) is using $50 million to invest in autism research. Other efforts headed by NIH — namely launching a real-world data platform using public data from federal agencies and data collected from private sector sources like smart watches and fitness trackers — and lack of clarity surrounding those efforts have resulted in heightened privacy concerns. "The use of registries and registry data in general can be a valuable tool in helping to understand the causes of diseases and disorders, but in this case, the lack of clarity around how data will be collected, shared, maintained and tested for accuracy raises red flags," a statement from the Autism Science Foundation read. Despite the relevant timing, the launch of the LAI is not an event that is happening in response to Kennedy and the HHS's recent initiative, Lurie clarified. "This notion of merging CHOP and Penn — I've been looking for where to do this for about three years," he said. "It just came to be probably about two years ago, and we've been talking ever since of how to make this great. So, no, it had nothing to do with anything else but trying to impact the lives of those with autism with all these new technologies and discoveries as best as possible." That doesn't take away from the significance of the timing, says Rader. "There's a lot of confusion right now about what are the causes of autism, what should we be doing about it, how might we better prevent it," he said. "It's more important than ever to bring this information together in a synthetic way that allows us to really better understand this complex condition. "So, I think, yes, the rationale for this got even greater over the last few months." Kinsey Crowley contributed to this report.
Yahoo
8 hours ago
- Health
- Yahoo
Eagles owner Jeffrey Lurie launches Lurie Autism Institute in Philadelphia
Philadelphia Eagles owner Jeffrey Lurie is donating $50 million to the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia and Penn Medicine to create a joint initiative of autism spectrum disorder research, the three parties announced Tuesday, June 10. According to a press release, the $50 million gift that will launch the Lurie Autism Institute (LAI) is "the largest single donation to U.S. academic medical centers focused on autism research across the lifespan." The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP), perhaps obviously, focuses its efforts in autism research with children, while Penn largely works with the adult community. One of LAI's main goals is to combine the work of CHOP and Penn and aid researchers in painting a broader picture of autism's effects over a lifetime. As LAI Interim Director Dr. Dan Rader put it, the work they do will help researchers "better understand the condition, the heterogeneity, and how we can actually ultimately use the research to make a difference in their lives." In addition, the new institute and its funding will aim to incentivize other doctors and researchers — those not currently working on autism-related work — to join in supporting the work of CHOP and Penn Medicine. To that end, LAI will launch a certificate program from PhD trainees and postdocs called the "Next-Generation Program in Autism Bioscience," the press release said. "This is a time when we've seen so many advances in neuroscience, genetics, imaging, molecular pathways, processes and artificial intelligence," Lurie told USA TODAY in an exclusive interview. "It's opening up an entirely new world of possibilities for autism research." Both Rader and Lurie emphasized that a big part of LAI's work will be determining how translational therapeutics might be effective in treating individuals on the spectrum, in part with the aid of the latest in artificial intelligence. In other words, LAI's efforts will consist of collecting data from existing and ongoing research and then, using new technology and AI, figuring out how that data can be translated into a form of treatment. That treatment, according to Lurie, could consist of repurposing certain drugs or gene editing. "The complex part of autism is there's no single gene, there's no single reason," Lurie said. "So it's very research-based in order to get to the therapeutics." As LAI focuses largely on research, the clinical efforts at CHOP and Penn will continue and "likely expand" in the wake of LAI's launch, Rader said. Then, as those two organizations diagnose and work with more individuals on the spectrum, they could "recruit" those individuals as "partners in the research to better understand this complex condition." In addition, Lurie said one of the main visions he has for LAI is to become a "catalyst" for more worldwide funding and research to tackle the complexities of understanding autism. As part of those efforts, the institute will host an annual international symposium and award a prize for autism research, according to the press release. Lurie and his family are not newcomers to advocating for autism research and awareness. 'My brother is autistic. So for my family and me, we've been supporting the autism community for ... decades," Lurie said. "That's really where it all originated from. "My mother has really led the way over all these decades as the primary investor in autism research, and the rest of the family has followed suit. What I've done is just re-emphasize that over the decades, over the years." Lurie's mother, Nancy Lurie Marks, founded the Nancy Lurie Marks Family Foundation (NLMFF) in 1977 to aid individuals with autism. In 2009, the NLMFF established the Lurie Center for Autism at Massachusetts General Hospital. In 2018, Jeffrey Lurie started the Eagles Autism Foundation. And in 2019, the Eagles, the NFL team Lurie has owned since 1994, opened the NFL's first in-stadium sensory room, "a dedicated space designed by medical professionals for those who may need a quieter and more secure environment," according to the team's official website. "And wherever we go, whether it's Brazil or the Super Bowl, we bring it along with us," Lurie said. "And (sensory-inclusive efforts have) become adopted by so many sports teams. It's gratifying." Indeed, many sports teams across various leagues — MLB, MLS, the NBA and the NHL — have adopted similar sensory rooms and other tools. The Buffalo Bills, for example, offer sensory inclusion kits that include things like noise-canceling headphones and fidget toys to help make their games and events more inclusive to their neurodiverse fans. Said Lurie: "I've always grown up in an atmosphere of acceptance and inclusivity, so when we have done things with the Eagles like we do with different organizations ... we want to try to create inclusive atmospheres for autistic people no matter if they're young or old." The topic of autism research on a national level has gained steam in recent months. That has been inspired in part by U.S. health secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. — who in the past has promoted scientifically discredited theories that autism is linked to childhood vaccines — declaring in April that the U.S. will find the cause of autism by September. As part of those efforts, Kennedy announced "a massive testing and research effort" that will "involve hundreds of scientists from around the world." An HHS official told USA TODAY in late April that the National Institutes of Health (NIH) is using $50 million to invest in autism research. Other efforts headed by NIH — namely launching a real-world data platform using public data from federal agencies and data collected from private sector sources like smart watches and fitness trackers — and lack of clarity surrounding those efforts have resulted in heightened privacy concerns. "The use of registries and registry data in general can be a valuable tool in helping to understand the causes of diseases and disorders, but in this case, the lack of clarity around how data will be collected, shared, maintained and tested for accuracy raises red flags," a statement from the Autism Science Foundation read. Despite the relevant timing, the launch of the LAI is not an event that is happening in response to Kennedy and the HHS's recent initiative, Lurie clarified. "This notion of merging CHOP and Penn — I've been looking for where to do this for about three years," he said. "It just came to be probably about two years ago, and we've been talking ever since of how to make this great. So, no, it had nothing to do with anything else but trying to impact the lives of those with autism with all these new technologies and discoveries as best as possible." That doesn't take away from the significance of the timing, says Rader. "There's a lot of confusion right now about what are the causes of autism, what should we be doing about it, how might we better prevent it," he said. "It's more important than ever to bring this information together in a synthetic way that allows us to really better understand this complex condition. "So, I think, yes, the rationale for this got even greater over the last few months." Kinsey Crowley contributed to this report. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Lurie Autism Institute: Jeffrey Lurie funds new research initiative
Yahoo
19-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Louisiana students might qualify for TOPS with conservative-backed ACT alternative
Rep. Raymond Crews. (LAI photo) Louisiana high school students might soon be able to take a conservative alternative to the ACT exam to qualify for the state's popular college scholarship program. State lawmakers quietly approved an amendment to a bill Monday that would make results from the Classical Learning Test acceptable to qualify for the Taylor Opportunity Program for Students, which provides tuition assistance for qualifying Louisiana students. Conservative educators are the chief proponents of the Classical Learning Test, which evaluates students on math, writing and grammar with an emphasis on classic literature and historic documents. Its supporters frequently tout that the exam emphasizes texts that 'shaped Western culture.' The test has been embraced by conservative lawmakers in Oklahoma, Florida and Arkansas. and has the support of the conservative Cato Institution and Heritage Foundation. Oklahoma lawmakers extensively debated embracing the test to qualify for their version of TOPS, with Democrats arguing it doesn't meet the same academic rigor and anti-cheating measures as the ACT. In Louisiana, only Louisiana Christian University and the University of New Orleans Honors College accept the test for admissions, according to the CLT website. The change to TOPS acceptance standard was made through an amendment to House Bill 77 by Rep. Chris Turner, R-Ruston, which creates a new level of TOPS awards for high-achieving students. There was no debate on the amendment and it passed without objection. The House approved Turner's bill in a 91-4 vote. Rep. Raymond Crews, R-Bossier City, sponsored the amendment. Crews said Jeremy Tate, founder and CEO of Classical Learning Initiatives, which created and administers the test, asked him to do so. Crews said he had not heard of the Classical Learning Test before Tate brought it to him, and he did not know that Tate was associated with the test. Turner's bill was also amended on the House floor to allow students who leave the state for their undergraduate education to use their TOPS awards if they return to Louisiana to attend medical school. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
Yahoo
13-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry signs order for ‘Gulf of America' change to all state laws, documents
Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry signs an executive order March 13, 2025, to change all references to the Gulf of Mexico in state laws and documents to the "Gulf of America." State lawmakers joined Landry for the ceremony before his luncheon speech to business organizations at the Cypress Columns event venue in Gray. (Greg LaRose/LAI) GRAY – Following the lead of President Donald Trump, Republican Gov. Jeff Landry signed an executive order Thursday that directs state agencies to change all references to the Gulf of Mexico in Louisiana laws and other documents to the 'Gulf of America.' Landry, who signed the order before he spoke at a business luncheon in Terrebonne Parish, invited state lawmakers in attendance to join in for the ceremony. The same order also urges Congress to make the same name change to the body of water and establish what the governor called a 'uniform state territorial jurisdiction of water limits.' 'That means we're going to all get the same amount of miles off the coast as everyone else,' Landry told the audience. Florida and Texas claim fishing and energy exploration rights to waters 9 nautical miles off their respective Gulf coasts, but the limit in Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama is 3 miles. The difference goes back to when Florida and Texas gained their statehood in 1845. Both were allowed to maintain the offshore boundaries established when they were Spanish territories, while the other three states stayed at the 3-mile mark then-Secretary of State Thomas Jefferson established in 1793. Members of Louisiana's congressional delegation have tried unsuccessfully for decades to extend its offshore water to 9 miles. A copy of the executive order wasn't immediately available from the governor's office. This is a developing story that will be updated. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE On Louisiana's coast, communities embrace 'Gulf of America' rebrand
Yahoo
30-01-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Jury rules in favor of St. John Parish officials in case involving environmental advocate
St. John the Baptist President Jaclyn Hotard, pictured in front of the property where a massive grain terminal with 56 silos was proposed. (LAI photo illustration) NEW ORLEANS — A jury reached a verdict Wednesday afternoon (Jan. 29) on a First Amendment case filed by environmental justice activist Joy Banner against St. John the Baptist Parish President Jaclyn Hotard, Parish Council President Michael Wright and the parish. The nine jurors found three things to be true in their verdict: that Wright, Hotard and the parish did not restrict Banner's speech, that the three defendants did not engage in First Amendment retaliation and that they did not violate Louisiana's Open Meetings Law. As a result, Banner will not receive compensatory or punitive damages. The jury took more than three hours to deliberate in the U.S. Eastern District of Louisiana courthouse in New Orleans where the trial took place. Hotard and Wright were not in the courtroom for the verdict. Cam Owens, one of the jurors, said that the video of the 2023 council meeting that set this case off was the deciding factor for the jury. He said that he felt the testimonies were a bit muddled and that the video helped to clarify what occurred. He also said that he felt Banner had the chance to speak at the meeting. 'We broke down her amount of time, and when she was stopping, when she was interrupted, and she had three minutes [to speak], and even though they were interrupting her, she did get out what she was trying to say,' he told reporters. 'I think at the end of the day, they did try to stop her, but she did actually say what she had to say.' Owens said he thinks Banner was not fully able to say what she had to, but that it would still be inaccurate to say that her First Amendment rights were violated because she did get to talk. In Nov. 2023, Banner attended a council meeting and attempted to make a public comment about the council's potential decision to hire an attorney for Hotard to represent her in an ethics investigation related to the now-canceled Greenfield grain terminal project. Hotard interrupted Banner at that meeting and told Wright to stop Banner's comment. Wright read off a statute that implied that Banner could be fined or imprisoned for continuing to speak. After trying to speak several times, Banner eventually walked away from the podium. Banner and her twin sister Jo Banner founded The Descendants Project, an organization dedicated to telling the history of and advocating for Black communities within the River Parishes. They opposed the Greenfield development because they believed it would have negative environmental effects on their Wallace community. Both Banner sisters commented on the verdict outside of the courtroom, along with Joy's attorney William Most. Joy Banner said that wished the outcome was different, but that the case shined a light on transparency issues within St. John. In this way, she said the case was a win. St. John president's mother-in-law admits she would have benefited from land deal 'A win would have been nice, but it was honestly making the parish president [and] Michael Wright, our public officials have to answer for the decisions that they've made,' Joy said. Joy said that she knows she made the right decision to go forward with the trial and said that this was an eye-opening process. Text messages that surfaced as evidence in the case had revealed that Hotard had kept her mother-in-law, who stood to benefit from a rezoning measure tied to the Greenfield project, updated on the project, though Hotard had previously claimed no such communications existed. 'I think that President Hotard took a lot of effort to keep a lot of things hidden, and now it's out there,' Jo Banner said. 'It's a matter of public record.' Joy also described an accusation by Hotard's attorney that she and her sister are trying to be social media influencers as 'inaccurate' and that social media helps amplify their activism. Most said that there may be future legal repercussions with regard to Hotard. He said that this trial revealed that Hotard's husband had a financial stake in the land where Greenfield would have been. 'The parish president has not committed to recusing herself from decisions about that plan [about Greenfield], so there may be future legal repercussions,' Most said. Verite News reached out to Hotard and Ike Spears, Hotard's attorney, for a comment on potential future legal repercussions resulting from what was revealed in the case, but they did not immediately respond. Joy Banner said that she will 'absolutely' continue her advocacy at St. John meetings and that the problems with transparency among parish leadership have become a 'rallying cry.' 'We will continue to do the work,' Joy said. 'They see us fighting.' This article first appeared on Verite News and is republished here under a Creative Commons license. .
