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CBS News
2 days ago
- Business
- CBS News
High school students build tiny homes to help solve Marin County's housing crisis
As housing prices continue to soar across the Bay Area, more residents are turning to accessory dwelling units (ADUs) as a potential solution to the ongoing housing shortage. On Saturday afternoon, a nonprofit organization teamed up with San Rafael High School to showcase two student-built ADUs, constructed from the ground up over the course of the academic year. "The square footage is 160, it's 8 feet by 20 feet," said San Rafael High School senior Joe Miller as he pointed to one of the compact homes. The completed units will soon be placed in Novato, where they'll provide permanent housing for two low-income families. Miller is one of 24 students who contributed to the year-long construction project, learning trade skills alongside six adult apprentices known as "learning leaders." Working under the guidance of the Big Skills Program—run by the nonprofit Rebuilding Together East Bay Network—the students gained hands-on experience in everything from framing to finish work. "This is the kitchen area, dining room as well. We have four pull-out cabinets, a couple of lower ones with some shelves on the bottom as well. And then underneath the sink, you have more storage for cleaning supplies," said Miller, giving a tour of the space. Every inch of the compact units is used with intention. The homes are fully equipped with heating, cooling, and convertible furniture to maximize functionality. "This comes up and then you've got this little stand right here. And then that comes up and then you pull out these little chairs and you can have yourself a nice dinner table," Miller added, demonstrating a fold-out dining space. The construction took the entire school year, from August to May, to complete. "We are so excited to be working in partnership with the Marin Housing Authority to place these units here in the backyards of low-income homeowners right here in Marin," said Program Director Sean Ticknor. Ticknor, who leads the Big Skills Program, emphasized the dual purpose of the initiative: giving students practical trade education while contributing to local affordable housing efforts. "This is not the solution, but it's part of the solution. This provides infill affordable housing in the existing space that we have," Ticknor explained. Each ADU costs about $65,000 in labor and materials, with an additional $40,000 to $60,000 required to place the unit on its permanent foundation and connect utilities, according to Ticknor. "Together, we built something that's going to help someone and probably change someone's life. I think everyone involved is going to walk away feeling a lot better," said learning leader Brandon Werly. For students like San Rafael High senior Wyld Owyeung, the program is not only a class, but preparation for future life skills. "I might own a property in the future. It's good to know what to expect in a house," said Owyeung, who spent two years in the Big Skills Program. Miller described the course as his favorite class in high school, largely because of the impact it will have. "You can't get that [sense of reward] in any other class in high school. That feeling you get when you see it being delivered. It's going to something better than yourself, going to someone in need. And it's just a great feeling to help out people," said Miller. He heads to college in the fall and hopes to one day run his own construction company.
Associated Press
28-05-2025
- Business
- Associated Press
Circulate Health Publishes Results of Multiomics Study Demonstrating Impact of Therapeutic Plasma Exchange on Biological Age in Aging Cell
First-of-its kind trial shows that therapeutic plasma exchange combined with intravenous immunoglobulin reduced biological age on average by 2.6 years, as measured by multi-omics biomarkers NOVATO, Calif., May 28, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Circulate Health, the company dedicated to harnessing the potential of therapeutic plasma exchange (TPE) to advance human healthspan and lifespan, today announces the publication of a single blind, human clinical trial in Aging Cell. This groundbreaking study, led by researchers from Circulate and the Buck Institute for Research on Aging provides promising early data on the impact of TPE on biological age, supporting its potential for new disease and longevity applications. 'Unfortunately, most so-called 'longevity interventions' lack proven effectiveness in humans. By conducting clinical trials, we aim to change that—this study marks the first step in demonstrating that plasma exchange can significantly improve key mechanisms of biological aging,' commented Dr. David Furman, senior author of the Aging Cell paper. Therapeutic plasma exchange is a procedure that separates, removes, and replaces patient plasma to treat certain diseases. Multi-omics Analysis Reveals Biomarkers that Contribute to Biological Age Rejuvenation in Response to Therapeutic Plasma Exchange, investigated how TPE impacts biomarkers associated with biological age, including changes across the epigenome, proteome, metabolome, glycome, and immune system, alongside physical measures like balance and strength. Research participants were assigned one of four different treatment groups: 1) biweekly TPE, 2) biweekly TPE with intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) 3) monthly TPE or 4) a control group. The study found: 'This is the first interventional multi-omics study to examine the effectiveness of therapeutic plasma exchange modalities,' said Brad Younggren, MD, CEO and Co-founder of Circulate. 'Our findings show that plasma exchange and intravenous immunoglobulin are a powerful tool for biological age rejuvenation and provide compelling evidence that targeted plasma interventions can impact age-related molecular changes.' 'In this study, we examined thousands of molecular signatures to pinpoint key drivers of rejuvenation. Our characterization builds a better understanding of which baseline biomarkers are predictive of treatment response and lays a foundation upon which we can build personalized intervention plans for patients in the future,' said Eric Verdin, MD, President and CEO of the Buck Institute and Co-founder of Circulate. 'We are excited to expand our research to larger populations, increase access to these treatments for eligible patients, and continue to identify areas of unmet need where these therapies can make a meaningful difference.' Clinicians can learn more about Circulate at About Circulate Health Backed by Khosla Ventures, Circulate Health is pioneering technologies to reverse aging and improve health outcomes. About Buck Institute Our success will ultimately change healthcare. At the Buck, we aim to end the threat of age-related diseases for this and future generations by bringing together the most capable and passionate scientists from a broad range of disciplines to identify and impede the ways in which we age. An independent, nonprofit institution, our goal is to increase human healthspan, or the healthy years of life. Globally recognized as the pioneer and leader in efforts to target aging, the number one risk factor serious diseases including Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, cancer, macular degeneration, heart disease, and diabetes, the Buck wants to help people live better longer. Learn more at: View original content: SOURCE Circulate Health
Washington Post
06-05-2025
- Business
- Washington Post
Ultragenyx: Q1 Earnings Snapshot
NOVATO, Calif. — NOVATO, Calif. — Ultragenyx Pharmaceutical Inc. (RARE) on Tuesday reported a loss of $151.1 million in its first quarter. On a per-share basis, the Novato, California-based company said it had a loss of $1.57.
