Landmark research shows weight stigma, medical dismissal, and overlooked mental health conditions derail Polyendocrine Metabolic Ovarian Syndrome (PMOS) care

SAN DIEGO, Sept. 24, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- After the decision earlier this year to rename Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) to Polyendocrine Metabolic Ovarian Syndrome (PMOS), comprehensive new research from eating disorder care provider Equip and award-winning health and wellness media brand Women's Health reveals that systemic barriers in healthcare for treating the condition remain largely unchanged.

PMOS impacts millions worldwide through a blend of hormonal, metabolic and reproductive symptoms. However, its overlap with eating disorders, which affect 9% of the U.S. population during their lifetimes, is often overlooked. The national data gathered on 1,048 women and intersex individuals demonstrates how pervasive weight stigma continues to delay critical medical diagnoses, fuel disordered eating cycles and leave mental health unaddressed.

Key Research Findings

- Diagnostic delays and weight bias: 21% of respondents waited more than five years to receive a formal PMOS diagnosis. Additionally, 43% of diagnosed individuals reported that healthcare providers attributed their symptoms entirely to weight, which they reported directly delayed their diagnosis.

- Healthcare avoidance: 40% of respondents indicated that they avoided or delayed necessary medical care as a result of prior negative healthcare interactions and weight-based judgment.

- Overlooked mental health symptoms: Despite high rates of clinical-level distress—37% screening positive for depression and 48% for anxiety—over 60% of respondents reported that their doctors rarely or never discuss the emotional or psychological impacts of the condition.

- Disordered eating and body image: The research identified a high rate of positive screens for eating disorders: 56% of diagnosed respondents screened positive on the SCOFF eating disorder screener, and about 60% reported feeling shame or embarrassment regarding their relationship with food.

"The psychological and eating-related distress that comes with PMOS is so often missed simply because standard care leads providers to focus on weight as the cause of symptoms, rather than a sign of another underlying issue," said Dr. Erin Parks, Co-Founder and Chief Clinical Officer at Equip. "Because of that, patients are left to navigate the emotional toll of the condition alone. Routine screening for mental health and eating disorders needs to become a standard part of PMOS care so we can better support patients and the clinicians treating them."

Timed with PMOS Awareness Month in September, Women's Health released a multi-platform editorial package spotlighting the clinical data and exploring the mechanics behind diagnostic delays and the real cost of weight-stigmatizing PMOS care, alongside actionable advice for patient self-advocacy and a reimagining of what holistic PMOS care must look like.

"PMOS is finally receiving the attention it deserves. But all too often, complex symptoms are reduced to weight, dismiss patients' concerns, and leave mental health out of the conversation," said Abigail Cuffey, executive editor of Women's Health. "Our hope is that this research and editorial partnership help women understand what better care can–and should–look like."

The Women's Health feature package is available at: womenshealthmag.com/equip-womens-health-research

Study Methodology

This IRB-approved study (Sterling IRB: 16473) surveyed 1,048 U.S. adults with diagnosed or suspected PMOS/PCOS. Recruited via CloudResearch, participants underwent rigorous data-quality screening, including bot detection, behavioral analysis, geolocation verification, and attention checks, to ensure high data accuracy and reliability.

About Equip

Equip is a leading virtual, evidence-based eating disorder treatment program on a mission to ensure that everyone with an eating disorder can access treatment that works. Created by clinical experts and people with lived experience, Equip builds on evidence-based treatments to empower individuals to reach lasting recovery. All Equip patients receive a dedicated care team, which may include a therapist, dietitian, physician, and recovery coaches. The company operates in all 50 states and is partnered with most major health insurance plans and a growing number of Medicaid plans. For more information, visit equip.health.

About Women's Health

The largest wellness media brand for women, Women's Health delivers the best science-based and expert-backed information on fitness, nutrition, health, mental health, beauty, and relationships, empowering its audience to be their best and strongest selves, inside and out. Launched in 2005, Women's Health is published by Hearst Magazines, a unit of Hearst, a leading global, diversified media, information and services company. Discover more at womenshealthmag.com | @WomensHealthMag

SOURCE Equip

Share this article

WASHINGTON, Sept. 24, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- The Leapfrog Group, a national watchdog organization of employers and other purchasers focused on health care safety and quality, today announces the election of Raquel Bono, MD, MBA, FACS, as its new Board Chair. Leapfrog also welcomes a new slate of Board officers and two new board members.

Dr. Bono will be the first surgeon to serve as Chair of The Leapfrog Group's Board of Directors. Dr. Bono is a board-certified trauma surgeon and retired three-star Vice Admiral in the U.S. Navy, where she served as the 11th Chief of the Navy Medical Corps. She directed the Defense Health Agency from 2015–2019, overseeing the integration of a $50 billion global health system serving millions of service members and their families.

"This is an important and exciting time for The Leapfrog Group as we continue to expand our work in advancing patient safety, quality, and transparency in health care," Dr. Bono said. "As a surgeon, I am especially excited about Leapfrog's new Recognized Leader in Geriatric Surgery program with the American College of Surgeons. I am honored to serve as Board Chair and look forward to working with Leapfrog's management and Board to continue driving meaningful improvements in patient safety."

The officers are:

- Chair of the Board: Vice Admiral (Ret) Raquel Bono, MD, MBA, FACS

- Vice Chair: Laurel Pickering, MPH, President & CEO, Gateway Business Health Coalition & Missouri Health Value Collaborative

- Treasurer: John G. Zern, President and Chief Executive Officer, Ryan Specialty Benefits

- Secretary: Sally Welborn, Advisor, Welborn Advisory Services

- At-Large Member: Janet Lucas-Taylor, Executive Director, Business Health Care Group

Leapfrog also welcomes two returning members to its Board of Directors:

Laurel Pickering, MPH, President & CEO, Gateway Business Health Coalition & Missouri Health Value Collaborative

Laurel Pickering is a longtime leader in employer-driven efforts to improve health care quality, value, and the patient experience. She previously led Northeast Business Group on Health for more than 20 years and teaches health care quality and safety at Thomas Jefferson University.

Dan Roble, Attorney at Law, Cameron & Roble, LLP

Dan Roble has 50 years of legal experience in health care. He previously served as a partner in a Boston law firm, then as General Counsel of the parent company of a Boston academic medical center. He served as the General Counsel of The Leapfrog Group for 20 years.

"We are incredibly fortunate to welcome Dr. Bono as our new chair, along with all the outstanding new and continuing members of Leapfrog's strong Board," said Leah Binder, President and CEO. "They bring tremendous vision, experience, and important new perspectives as we work together to improve American health care. Dr. Bono's leadership has been extraordinary at the Defense Health Agency, where she worked with Leapfrog to see vast improvements in the quality of care for military personnel and their families. Our board is exactly the leadership we need right now to succeed in our mission."

About The Leapfrog Group

Founded in 2000 by large employers and other purchasers, The Leapfrog Group is an independent national nonprofit organization driving a movement for patient safety and transparency. Leapfrog collects, analyzes, and publicly reports data on hospital and ambulatory surgery center performance to help patients, purchasers, and other stakeholders make informed health care decisions. Leapfrog's flagship initiatives include the Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade, a biannual letter grade focused exclusively on hospital safety, and the Leapfrog Hospital Survey. This voluntary survey publicly reports hospital performance on patient safety and quality measures. Leapfrog's ratings and reports are peer-reviewed, fully transparent, and free to the public.

For more from Leapfrog, follow us on X, LinkedIn, Facebook and Instagram, or sign up for our newsletter.

SOURCE The Leapfrog Group

Share this article

New York Proton Center Chief Medical Officer Dr. Charles B. Simone II Serves as Co-First Author of Groundbreaking Phase III Trial Establishing 82% Two-Year Survival Benchmark

NEW YORK, Sept. 24, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- The New York Proton Center (NYPC), a global leader in proton therapy research and education and the first and only proton therapy center in New York, announced today that its Chief Medical Officer, Charles B. Simone II, MD, serves as co-first author of the National Cancer Institute-funded SWOG/NRG Oncology S1914 clinical trial published September 6, 2026, in The Lancet.1 The study is the first fully reported Phase 3 cooperative group randomized trial to evaluate immunotherapy in combination with stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) for early-stage, inoperable non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) — and it establishes a new standard for what modern precision radiation therapy can achieve for patients who cannot undergo surgery.

"This trial tells a story that every patient, physician, and policymaker needs to hear: modern precision radiation therapy has transformed what is possible for patients with early-stage lung cancer who cannot have surgery. An 82% two-year overall survival, achieved consistently across 146 institutions nationwide, is evidence that precise SBRT works at scale and for the patients who need it most," said Charles B. Simone II, MD, Chief Medical Officer, New York Proton Center, and Co-First Author, SWOG/NRG S1914. "The fact that immunotherapy added no benefit in this setting is an important finding that will help inform a new generation of clinical trials, but the outcomes achieved with SBRT alone in this trial demand our full attention as clinicians."

A Landmark Finding for Patients

The SWOG/NRG Oncology S1914 trial enrolled 417 patients across 146 institutions throughout the United States between March 2020 and September 2024 — making it the largest prospective SBRT study ever reported. SBRT monotherapy alone achieved an 82% two-year overall survival rate (95% CI 75–87%). The study concludes that these results are "better than expected" and represent a "new benchmark for expected outcomes with SBRT."1

These findings take on particular significance against a backdrop of steadily improving — but historically modest — outcomes for this patient population:

- Before SBRT became standard of care, conventional radiation for inoperable early-stage NSCLC produced two-year survival rates below 40%.2

- RTOG 0236 — the transformative Phase II trial that established SBRT as standard of care — reported three-year overall survival of just 55.8%, with a median overall survival of four years.3

- S1914's 82% two-year overall survival was achieved consistently across 146 institutions — community and academic centers alike — with rigorous, centralized radiation plan review for every patient, demonstrating that this level of precision can be delivered reliably and at scale.1

The trial also found that adding atezolizumab immunotherapy to SBRT conferred no additional benefit and significantly increased toxicity. Grade 3 or higher adverse events occurred in 12% of patients on the combination arm versus 3% on SBRT alone; two grade 5 respiratory events occurred with immunotherapy, none with SBRT alone. The study concludes: "SBRT monotherapy remains the standard of care."1

Advancing the Science of Lung Cancer Care

For patients with early-stage NSCLC who are medically inoperable, SBRT has long represented the primary curative-intent treatment option. S1914 provides the most rigorous, large-scale prospective evidence to date of what modern SBRT can achieve in this population — and the results exceed what has previously been achieved. The trial's centralized radiation quality assurance protocol, which required review of treatment plans for all 146 participating sites, also establishes a new model for multi-institutional research quality in radiation oncology.

Dr. Simone has been a principal investigator or co-chair of 12 NIH-funded cooperative group clinical trials spanning NRG Oncology, SWOG, ECOG-ACRIN, Alliance, and the Proton Collaborative Group. His co-first authorship of S1914 reflects NYPC's commitment to advancing the science of radiation oncology through the most rigorous channels available — from National Cancer Institute–sponsored cooperative group trials to publishing in The Lancet, the world's highest-impact peer-reviewed medical journal.

"The publication of this trial in The Lancet is a testament to the quality of the science and the dedication of Dr. Simone and his co-investigators to answering the most important questions in lung cancer care," said Christopher Panczner, Chief Executive Officer, New York Proton Center. "At NYPC, we believe that advancing cancer care means contributing to the evidence base that guides treatment decisions for patients everywhere, not just those who walk through our doors. This research does exactly that, and we are proud that NYPC's clinical leadership continues to help define the future of radiation oncology."

About the New York Proton Center

The New York Proton Center (NYPC) is creating the gold standard for proton therapy, giving new hope to patients living with cancer. The NYPC is advancing new and better ways to fight cancer with proton therapy, a highly targeted form of radiation therapy with fewer treatment-related complications. In partnership with leading academic medical centers: Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, Montefiore Health System, and Mount Sinai Health System, NYPC is the only proton center in the state of New York, attracting patients from around the country and the world. Through impactful clinical trials and game-changing clinical research, NYPC's internationally renowned clinical team continues to revolutionize cancer treatment while offering patients individualized, highly skilled, and compassionate care.

Learn more at nyproton.com.

References

- Daly ME, Simone CB 2nd, Redman MW, et al. Induction and consolidation atezolizumab with stereotactic body radiation therapy versus radiation alone in high-risk, early-stage non-small-cell lung cancer (SWOG/NRG S1914): a multicentre, open-label, superiority, phase 3, randomised controlled trial. The Lancet Published online September 6, 2026. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(26)01655-7

- Videtic GMM, Donington J, Giuliani M, et al. Stereotactic body radiation therapy for early-stage non-small cell lung cancer: Executive Summary of an ASTRO Evidence-Based Guideline. Practical Radiation Oncology2017;7:295–301. doi:10.1016/j.prro.2017.04.014

- Timmerman R, Paulus R, Galvin J, et al. Stereotactic body radiation therapy for inoperable early-stage lung cancer. JAMA 2010;303(11):1070–1076. doi:10.1001/jama.2010.261

Media Contacts:

Melissa Weisstuch

Marketing & Communications Manager, New York Proton Center

P: 646-968-9061 | C: 914-645-6444

[email protected] 

Amy Briskin

TogoRun Media Specialist

C: 917-734-1639

[email protected] 

SOURCE New York Proton Center

Share this article

- Rock Tech broadens investor outreach and increases awareness of its growth strategy

- Rock Tech addresses previously underserved Canadian investor audience

TORONTO, Sept. 24, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Rock Tech Lithium Inc. (TSXV: RCK) (OTCQX: RCKTF) (FWB: RJIB) (WKN: A1XF0V) (the "Company" or "Rock Tech") is pleased to announce its participation in the Muskoka Capital Event, hosted by CEM (Capital Event Management Ltd.), taking place September 25–27, 2026 at the JW Marriott The Rosseau Muskoka Resort & Spa in Muskoka, Ontario.

The Muskoka Capital Event brings together companies from a diverse range of sectors and stages of development with a select group of institutional investors, portfolio managers, investment advisors, family offices, and high-net-worth investors from across North America. The event is structured around a series of pre-scheduled one-to-one meetings designed to facilitate direct dialogue and support the development of long-term capital relationships.

Rock Tech will participate in 18 scheduled, 20-minute meetings throughout the event, joining approximately 47 companies and over 55 investors for CEM's final Capital Event of 2026.

Rock Tech's participation in the upcoming conference is part of its continued efforts to engage with Canadian investor base and strengthen awareness of the Company's growth strategy. During the conference, Rock Tech will provide an update on the advancement of its Canadian mining project and processing plant, highlighting key development milestones, upcoming catalysts and initiatives aimed at further de-risking and advancing these projects, while outlining the Company's near- and medium-term priorities and potential value-creation opportunities.

For more information on the event, please visit cem.ca.

On behalf of the Company,

Mirco Wojnarowicz

CEO

About Rock Tech Lithium

Rock Tech is enabling the battery age by making the battery industries in Europe and North America more independent and competitive. The Company's goal is to ensure the supply of high-quality, locally produced lithium – supporting a resilient, sustainable, and transparent value chain from mine to battery-grade material.

Rock Tech relies on responsible sourcing, state-of-the-art and proven technologies, and a clear focus on circular economy principles. The Company's lithium converter projects in Guben, Germany (24,000 tonnes LHM per year) and Ontario, Canada (up to 32,000 tonnes LCE per year) form the foundation for a stable and regional supply to the battery and automotive industries. The Guben converter has been recognized as a Strategic Project under the EU Critical Raw Materials Act.

The raw materials for Rock Tech's converter projects are intended to be sourced exclusively from verifiably ESG-compliant suppliers. In Canada, Rock Tech relies, among other sources, on its wholly-owned Georgia Lake Project, which is intended to provide a stable and sustainable supply for the North American market and is being developed in close partnership with local Indigenous communities. By integrating recycled materials, the Company aims to close the local battery loop.

With its facilities, Rock Tech intends to contribute to battery-grade material sovereignty and the achievement of climate targets. The company works in partnership with industry, policymakers, and community groups, and is committed to open communication and the highest environmental standards. With its facilities, Rock Tech makes a central contribution to battery-grade material sovereignty and the achievement of climate targets. The company works in partnership with industry, policymakers, and community groups, and is committed to open communication and the highest environmental standards.

About CEM (Capital Event Management Ltd.)

Capital Event Management Ltd. connects high-quality public companies with a curated network of institutional and high-conviction investors through weekend events and structured one-to-one virtual meetings. Founded in 2010 and based in Vancouver, CEM supports more efficient capital formation and helps companies build meaningful, long-term relationships.

CEM also provides strategic advisory services and invests through its Partners' Fund, backing select opportunities emerging from its network.

For more information, visit cem.ca.

LinkedIn | Instagram | X

CAUTIONARY NOTE CONCERNING FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION

Certain statements contained in this news release constitute "forward-looking information" under applicable securities laws and are referred to herein as "forward-looking statements". All statements, other than statements of historical fact, which address events, results, outcomes or developments that the Company expects to occur are forward-looking statements. When used in this news release, words such as "expects", "anticipates", "plans", "predicts", "believes", "estimates", "intends", "targets", "projects", "forecasts", "may", "will", "should", "would", "could" or negative versions thereof and other similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements.

In particular, this press release contains forward-looking information pertaining to Rock Tech's opinions, beliefs and expectations regarding the Company's business strategy, development and exploration opportunities and projects; and plans and objectives of management for the Company's operations and properties.

The forward-looking information in this news release is based on several key assumptions and material factors. The forward-looking information also assumes favorable market conditions for lithium. Forward-looking statements by their nature are based on assumptions and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results to differ materially from the forward-looking statements, including general business, economic, competitive, political and social uncertainties; delay or failure to receive regulatory approvals; changes in project plans; the risk that regulatory approvals may not be obtained on the anticipated timeline or at all; and risks, uncertainties and other factors discussed in the Company's public disclosure documents available under its profile on SEDAR+. No assurances can be given that any of the events anticipated by the forward-looking statements will transpire or occur, and the Company cautions the reader not to place undue reliance upon any such forward-looking statements. The Company does not intend, nor does it assume any obligation to update or revise any of the forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, changes in assumptions, future events or otherwise, except to the extent required by applicable law.

SOURCE Rock Tech Lithium Inc.

Share this article

Two-year qualification effort in collaboration with Raytheon and the US Navy reduces supply chain risk as SPY-6 radar build rates increase.

WASHINGTON, Sept. 24, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Lyntris Inc. (NYSE: LYNX), a defense technology company delivering sense-to-act connectivity solutions for the modern, connected battlespace, today announced that it has completed qualification of a critical hardware assembly supporting Raytheon's SPY-6 family of radars. This qualification is a crucial milestone in the production ramp for SPY-6, which is required to meet the increasing global demand for the world's premier maritime radar. Raytheon is an RTX business.

SPY-6 is the radar family that the U.S. Navy is fielding across its surface fleet, providing detection and tracking against air, surface, ballistic missile, and electronic warfare threats. Its modular architecture builds multiple radar variants from common building blocks, serving destroyers, carriers, amphibious ships, and frigates.

As SPY-6 moves from development into production, Lyntris worked with Raytheon to build vertically integrated manufacturing and test capability in California and Nevada for the radar's Radar Modular Assembly (RMA), the common building block of every SPY-6 array. Although most of the RMA chassis is produced within that capability, Raytheon asked Lyntris to identify supply chain constraints that could limit build rates in full-rate production. That review identified the wedgelock, a sub-assembly within the RMA chassis, as a risk. Over nearly two years, the companies established manufacturing processes, validated performance and qualified Lyntris as a scalable source for wedgelock assemblies that meet U.S. Navy requirements and support long-term program needs.

Wedgelock assemblies secure electronic components inside the thermally managed SPY-6 array chassis, protecting the electronics and helping transfer heat away from high-power components to ensure reliability in demanding maritime environments. Their production requires precision manufacturing, controlled assembly and steady access to specific raw materials - factors that have historically led to long lead times across the supplier base.

Bringing the assembly in-house draws on manufacturing capability Lyntris already runs for fielded radar and electronic warfare programs, where precision manufacturing, electronics packaging, and test capabilities sit under the same roof. The same processes apply to other long-lead components in radar and sensing programs that may face supply chain constraints.

"Supply-chain resilience is built one critical component at a time," said Brian Morrison, CEO at Lyntris. "This qualification reflects nearly two years of disciplined work with Raytheon and targeted investment by Lyntris to establish a reliable source for hardware essential to SPY-6 array electronics. It strengthens an important naval sensing capability while expanding the manufacturing platform we can apply across other radar and electronic systems."

"This effort demonstrates the value of early collaboration between customers and their critical suppliers," said Matt Parisi, VP of Business Development at Lyntris. "By understanding the operational environment, investing in the right equipment and materials, and working through qualification together, we have converted a historically long-lead component into a capability that Lyntris can control and scale. That is exactly how we intend to help our customers accelerate delivery of critical systems to the warfighter."

The milestone is another example of Lyntris' organic growth strategy: making customer-informed investments in differentiated technologies and manufacturing capabilities that strengthen domestic defense supply chains, support production at scale, and increase the company's contribution to enduring defense platforms.

About Lyntris

Lyntris is a defense technology company delivering sense-to-act connectivity solutions for the modern, connected battlespace. Combining differentiated hardware, software and mission expertise, Lyntris helps customers detect threats earlier, decide faster and act with precision in contested, multi-domain environments.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. These forward-looking statements are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements generally can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "expect," "believe," "anticipate," "may," "could," "intend," "plan," "estimate," "target," "predict," "project," "will," "should," "forecast," "outlook" or similar expressions, or by discussion of strategies, plans or intentions.

Forward-looking statements in this press release include, but are not limited to, statements regarding: the timing and volume of wedgelock assembly production; the projected timing of the SPY-6 production ramp; Lyntris' ability to scale production to meet SPY-6 program requirements; the anticipated performance and reliability of qualified hardware; the continuation and expansion of Lyntris' relationship with Raytheon; the application of Lyntris' manufacturing capabilities to other radar, sensing and mission electronics programs; Lyntris' organic growth strategy and expectations regarding future investment in manufacturing capabilities; and the potential for expanded business opportunities.

These statements are based on current expectations, estimates, assumptions and projections of Lyntris' management and are neither predictions nor guarantees of future events, circumstances or performance. Forward-looking statements are inherently subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and assumptions that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such statements. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those discussed in the forward-looking statements include, without limitation: qualification as a production source does not guarantee any particular volume or timing of orders; Lyntris' dependence on U.S. government defense budgets, appropriations and naval shipbuilding programs; changes in SPY-6 program requirements, demand, schedule or production rates; Lyntris' dependence on its relationship with Raytheon for orders under this qualification; the ability to maintain qualification and quality standards across production volumes; risks associated with performance on fixed-price or cost-type government contracts; the competitive environment for precision machining and electronics packaging; availability, cost and lead time of specialized raw materials and components; Lyntris' ability to scale production to meet customer demand; our ability to protect and enforce proprietary technology and intellectual property rights; the inherent uncertainties in complex defense programs, including potential schedule delays, technical challenges or cost overruns; changes in applicable laws, regulations or government procurement policies; and other factors described under "Risk Factors" in Lyntris' filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its registration statement on Form S-1, as amended, copies of which are available free of charge at the SEC's website at www.sec.gov under Lyntris Inc.

The forward-looking statements included in this announcement are only made as of the date of this announcement. Factors or events that could cause our actual results to differ may emerge from time to time, and it is not possible for us to predict all of them. We may not actually achieve the plans, intentions or expectations disclosed in our forward-looking statements and you should not place undue reliance on our forward-looking statements. We undertake no obligation to publicly update or review any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise, except as may be required by any applicable law.

Nothing in this press release, including use or display of third parties' trademarks, service marks, trade name or products, should be construed as an approval, endorsement, guarantee or sponsorship by any third parties of Lyntris Inc., its products, business or financial performance or any aspect of this press release.

SOURCE Lyntris

Share this article

ALEXANDRIA, Va., Sept. 24, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- FirstService Residential, the leading residential community management company, is pleased to announce that three of its managed communities recently participated in the Plug in Alexandria program, including Marina Towers Condominium Association, Northampton Place Condominium, and Parkfairfax Condominium, all located in Alexandria, Virginia.

FirstService Residential, through FirstService Energy, provides advisory and consulting support to help communities identify, pursue, and maximize available incentive opportunities in areas, including New York City, Boston, Toronto, and New Jersey.

Plug in Alexandria is a program to help residents of multi-family communities, including condominiums and apartments, in Alexandria, Virginia, access charging for electrical vehicles (EVs). The program provides expert guidance and financial assistance. Communities accepted into the program receive technical assistance from an industry expert and will be eligible to receive a reimbursement grant of $10,000 to cover a portion of eligible expenses from installing EV chargers.

"Our local teams were proud to work with these communities throughout the process," said Trent Harrison, President, MidAtlantic, FirstService Residential, "EV charging is a great asset for the residents of these communities."

FirstService Energy 360° offers communities a holistic, expert-driven energy management solution that provides management teams and boards with the data intelligence and confidence to make informed decisions for their communities. 360º is designed to simplify energy management, track utility spending, increase efficiency, and identify cost savings, all in one easy-to-manage subscription.

As the leading residential community management company, FirstService Residential collaborates with boards and residents to enhance property values, elevate the resident experience, and deliver tailored solutions that meet the unique needs of every community it serves.

About FirstService Residential

FirstService Residential is simplifying property management. Its hospitality-minded teams serve residential communities across the United States and Canada. The organization partners with boards, owners, and developers to enhance the value of every property and the life of every resident.

Leveraging unique expertise and scale, FirstService serves its clients with proven solutions and a service-first philosophy. Residents can count on 24/7 customer care and tailored lifestyle programming, amenity activation, and technology for their community's specific needs. Market-leading programs with FirstService Financial, FirstService Energy, and special districts teams deliver additional levels of support.

Boards and developers select FirstService Residential to realize their vision and drive positive change for residents in the communities in their trusted care.

FirstService Residential is a subsidiary of FirstService Corporation (NASDAQ and TSX: FSV), a North American leader in providing essential property services to a wide range of residential and commercial clients.

SOURCE FirstService Residential

Share this article

Asimov to integrate Minaris' OXGENE technology into its AAV Edge producer cell lines to unlock higher manufacturing titers and improved product quality.

PHILADELPHIA and BOSTON, Sept. 24, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Minaris, a global cell and gene therapy (CGT) CDMO and multimodal biosafety testing organization, and Asimov, the company building an AI-native synthetic biology platform to advance therapeutic development, today announced a partnership that enables higher performing producer cell lines for production of adeno-associated virus (AAV) gene therapies.

AAV manufacturing remains a significant challenge for developers using this delivery modality for gene therapies, where large quantities of vectors are required and product quality is paramount. Through OXGENE, Minaris' center of excellence for advanced viral vector technology development, Minaris brings industry-leading optimization and engineering technology to improve AAV and lentiviral vector manufacturability, complementing its broader viral vector development and manufacturing services. Through this collaboration, Asimov will have the ability to incorporate Minaris' proprietary OXGENE technology into its diverse toolkit for AAV Edge producer cell lines, amplifying the potential through its synthetic biology expertise to solve one of the industry's most daunting bioproduction challenges.

"Minaris is committed to enabling the cell and gene therapy industry through technology partnerships that raise the bar for manufacturing excellence," said Eytan Abraham, Chief Commercial & Technology Officer at Minaris. "We believe in democratization of our technologies and creating a wide variety of solutions to enable the viral vector modality for patients, and are thrilled to enable Asimov in the creation of next-generation AAV producer cell lines."

Most AAV programs today still depend on transient production, which requires multiple GMP plasmids to be transfected every batch. This approach drives up costs, limits scalability, and can result in inconsistent product quality. However, stable production systems for AAV have been challenging to develop due to the immense complexity and interdependency of the viral genetics. Asimov's AAV Edge Stable Producer System leverages genetic design expertise to solve this problem and bring forward high-titer, clonal producer cell lines.

"Stable producer cell lines are a key technology to enable AAV gene therapies at scale, and we are excited to partner with Minaris to unlock a new level of performance for our AAV Edge system," said Raja Srinivas, Co-Founder at Asimov. "At Asimov, we have developed a genetic design toolkit that allows us to engineer high-titer cell lines, and we look forward to adding Minaris's technology to this toolkit and building a production system purpose-built for the next generation of gene therapies."

The agreement further strengthens Minaris' position as an integrated viral vector development and manufacturing partner, combining proprietary technologies developed through OXGENE with broader development, manufacturing and testing capabilities that support viral vector programs from development through commercialization.

About Minaris

Minaris is a global cell and gene therapy (CGT) CDMO and multimodal biosafety testing organization. With more than 25 years of CGT development and manufacturing expertise and more than 40 years in biosafety testing, Minaris combines deep legacy experience with state-of-the-art GMP facilities as a fully U.S.-owned organization under new ownership and management, built for today's evolving therapeutic landscape.

Through its divisions, Minaris Advanced Therapies and Minaris Advanced Testing, the company supports innovators from IND through commercial supply and delivers GMP analytics, biosafety, viral clearance, and product characterization across CGT and biologics. With five global sites across three continents, Minaris is committed to helping partners bring more therapies to more patients worldwide.

For more information, visit minaris.com or follow us on LinkedIn.

About Asimov

Asimov's mission is to advance humanity's ability to design living systems, enabling biotechnologies with outsized societal benefit. The company is developing a synthetic biology platform, from cells to software, to design and manufacture next-generation therapeutics, including biologics, cell/gene therapies, and RNA through a combination of products, services, and collaborations.

Founded by bioengineers from MIT and Boston University and headquartered in Boston, the company has raised over $200 million from top institutional investors including Andreessen Horowitz, CPP Investments, Horizons Ventures, and Fidelity Management & Research Company. For more information, visit www.asimov.com.

Minaris Media Contact

Kristen White, Co-Founder & Partner

Oak Street Communications

[email protected]

Asimov Media Contact

[email protected]

SOURCE Minaris Advanced Therapies, LLC

Share this article

Manish Nariwal assumes all operating responsibility as Jim Andrews leads the client organization.

LOS ANGELES, Sept. 24, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- MDpanel, one of the fastest growing and largest providers of expert medical opinions in the United States, has appointed Manish Nariwal Chief Operating Officer and Jim Andrews Chief Client Officer. Both report to Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Jason Erdell.

In 2023, MDpanel began to combine and modernize some of the nation's most respected medical opinion providers, most notably through its industry's only comprehensive technology platform which now removes nearly all administrative burden from physicians and clients. Combined, MDpanel supports hundreds of thousands of medical opinion deliveries annually across the United States and Canada, through its vast healthcare professional network. Nariwal leads the company's enterprise operations, including its Qualified Medical Evaluation (QME) and Independent Medical Examination (IME) business lines, with a mandate to continue to innovate the processes and technologies that separate MDpanel from its competitors. Andrews leads the company's client organization, with responsibility for relationships with carriers, third-party administrators, state and local governments, and attorneys nationally.

"The processes and infrastructure supporting expert medical opinions have remained stagnant for decades; MDpanel is making significant and contemporary investments to drive efficiency, reliability, and quality," said Jason Erdell, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of MDpanel. "Manish understands how to put technology to work inside complex healthcare and insurance operations. Jim has dedicated his career to serving the insurance industry and has built a proven track record of delivering extraordinary results that meet client expectations. Together, they will materially accelerate our already industry-leading performance."

Nariwal joined MDpanel in July 2026. He spent the prior three years as Chief Operating Officer of Ontellus, a national records retrieval and claims intelligence company serving the insurance and legal markets, where he consolidated multiple acquired businesses onto shared operating platforms and processes.

Before Ontellus, Nariwal spent seven years at First Advantage (Nasdaq: FA), a global provider of background screening and verification services, where he served as Senior Vice President of Global Operations and later as Senior Vice President of Product Technology.

Andrews joins MDpanel from mea, where he served as Chief Executive Officer, Americas. Prior to mea, Andrews played a meaningful role in the growth of Carpe Data, a data and predictive analytics company serving property and casualty carriers, where he led the company's revenue and customer-facing functions and worked directly with carrier claims and underwriting leadership.

About MDpanel

MDpanel is one of the largest providers of expert medical opinions in the United States. While its foundation is independent and qualified medical evaluations (IME and QME), MDpanel continues to regularly offer its stakeholders innovative new offerings and service lines. For more information, visit mdpanel.com.

SOURCE MDpanel

Share this article

Leading c-store brands turn to Scale Computing edge computing and network solutions to modernize in-store IT, strengthen security, and simplify operations across thousands of locations

AUSTIN, Texas, Sept. 24, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Scale Computing, the leader in edge computing and network solutions, today announced continued momentum in the convenience and fuel retail sector, where a growing roster of leading c-store brands are standardizing on Scale Computing solutions to modernize distributed IT, secure payment and network environments, and simplify operations across thousands of locations. The company will showcase its solutions at NACS Show in Las Vegas, October 6-9, 2026, at Booth C6517.

Convenience and fuel retailers operate some of the most demanding edge environments in retail: 24/7 uptime requirements, a patchwork of single-purpose systems spanning point-of-sale, fuel controllers, and kitchen technology, and strict Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS) compliance obligations, all while managing IT across hundreds or thousands of geographically dispersed sites with lean IT teams. Scale Computing offers an integrated portfolio spanning hyperconverged infrastructure, edge orchestration, managed networking, and edge computing as a service, giving operators a unified foundation designed to streamline infrastructure, enhance automation, protect sensitive transaction data, and keep every location online, without adding headcount.

"Convenience and fuel retailers are running some of the most complex, distributed environments in retail today, with payment security, compliance, and uptime all riding on infrastructure spread across tens to thousands of sites," said William Morrow, CEO, Scale Computing. "Our platform was built to meet that complexity head-on, delivering an integrated means for c-store operators to secure, connect, and manage every store, so their teams can spend less time firefighting and more time serving customers."

Today, some of the largest names in convenience and fuel retail are partnering with Scale Computing to power that transformation:

- Casey's General Stores, the third-largest convenience store chain in the U.S. with nearly 2,900 locations, partnered with Intel and deployed SC//Reliant™Manager Edge Computing as a Service across more than 2,600 stores in just ten months. The cloud-to-edge platform enabled Casey's to virtualize legacy point-of-sale and fuel systems, extend the life of existing hardware, and run containerized applications alongside virtualized workloads, supporting new digital initiatives like mobile ordering and loyalty programs while centralizing chain-wide updates and monitoring.

- Royal Farms, a privately owned convenience and fuel retail chain with roughly 300 locations across the Mid-Atlantic, standardized on SC//HyperCore™HyperVisor and SC//Fleet™ Manager edge orchestration software to modernize its 24/7/365 store IT within tight space and budget constraints. Using Zero Touch Provisioning, Royal Farms scaled deployments from 11-12 stores per week to 20-25 stores per week, with a 90% reduction in recovery time from hardware failures and a 75% reduction in infrastructure management time.

- RaceTrac, the Atlanta-based operator of nearly 600 RaceTrac convenience stores and 200+ RaceWay locations across the Southeast, deployed SC//Reliant Manager to consolidate single-purpose hardware and centralize management across its store network. Since deployment, RaceTrac saw over a 40% reduction in overall support incidents and a 90% reduction in truck rolls for critical device failures, freeing its IT team to focus on innovation instead of on-site firefighting.

- S&G Stores, a growing retail convenience store and gas station chain in Ohio and Michigan, standardized on Scale Computing, deploying SC//AcuVigil™solutions for c-store networks to improve visibility, simplify remote troubleshooting, and achieve 95%+ uptime across locations. The brand gained a consistent technology foundation to keep business moving, helping the team prepare for faster, more seamless rollouts of future initiatives.

"The ability to consolidate hardware and systems, plus allowing us to make changes to a single location, specific groups of stores, or even chain-wide in near real time, was a game changer for us. Real-time observability into operations is critical for our continued success," said Tyler Grubbs, executive director of store technology, RaceTrac.

Scale Computing's growth in the c-store sector is underpinned by a portfolio built specifically for the demands of distributed, multi-site retail environments:

- SC//AcuVigil Networking managed network solutions pair 24/7 network operations support with self-service visibility and control, giving multi-site operators a unified way to monitor, troubleshoot, secure, and optimize every connection across their network.

- SC//Connect SD-WAN delivers cloud-native secure SD-WAN and SASE capabilities that simplify WAN management and boost performance, security, and reliability across the enterprise.

- SC//Reliant Manager is a hardware- and cloud-agnostic, API-capable edge platform that empowers multi-site businesses to manage applications, networks, and security at scale, without added complexity for overburdened IT teams.

- SC//HyperCore HyperVisor virtualization suite integrates software, servers, and storage into a fully unified platform, saving organizations time and resources while enabling AI-powered workloads at the edge. SC//Fleet Manager delivers fleet-wide observability and orchestration across distributed environments.

As convenience and fuel retailers face mounting pressure to protect payment data, maintain compliance, and keep stores running around the clock, Scale Computing's integrated approach to infrastructure and network security is positioned to be central to how the industry modernizes at the edge. For more information about the Scale Computing solutions securing and simplifying convenience and fuel retail IT, visit scalecomputing.com/convenience-fuel-retail-it.

Meet Scale Computing at NACS Show 2026

Scale Computing will showcase its convenience and fuel retail solutions at NACS Show 2026, held October 6-9 at the Las Vegas Convention Center. Attendees are invited to visit Booth C6517 at the show and can book a meeting with the Scale Computing team in advance at scalecomputing.com/contact.

About Scale Computing, Inc.

Scale Computing, Inc. is the industry's largest edge-first platform company, uniquely positioned to power the AI-driven future of distributed enterprises. Providing edge computing, managed network security, SD-WAN, SASE, virtualization and hyperconverged solutions, Scale Computing delivers an integrated infrastructure that adapts and scales from one to 50,000 locations. Thousands of organizations around the world rely on Scale Computing to power critical applications with unparalleled ease. Scale Computing is backed by Oaktree Capital Management L.P., one of the world's largest funds with over $200 billion in assets under management. For more information, visit www.scalecomputing.com.

© 2026 Scale Computing, Inc. All rights reserved. Scale Computing, SC//HyperCore, SC//Fleet Manager, SC//AcuVigil, SC//Reliant, and SC//Connect are trademarks of Scale Computing, Inc. All other marks are the property of their respective owners.

SOURCE Scale Computing

Share this article

Duck Creek's Jose Lazares and Andy Moss join industry leaders across four ITC Vegas sessions on tech-native underwriting and the orchestrated carrier

LAS VEGAS, Sept. 24, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Duck Creek, the intelligent core of insurance, will be at ITC Vegas 2026 showcasing its new agentic underwriting-to-core platform. In July, Duck Creek acquired Send, the underwriting orchestration platform, creating the industry's first and only agentic solution to unite core insurance operations and intelligent underwriting workflows across the policy lifecycle for multiple operating models. Conference attendees will be able to learn more about the intelligent core at the Duck Creek (#2633) and Send booths (#1639). Duck Creek arrives at ITC Vegas with momentum, having recently been recognized by industry analysts as the most visionary provider of core insurance systems on the market today.

"We believe the insurers that will lead the market will be those that embrace Agentic AI by orchestrating underwriting, core systems, data, and decisioning on a single intelligent platform," said Tyler Jones, Chief Marketing Officer of Duck Creek. "At ITC Vegas, we will show how Duck Creek is bringing that vision to life and helping insurers turn AI ambition into measurable business impact."

Speaking Sessions

Duck Creek leaders will also be speaking in four sessions:

- Inside the Tech-Native Commercial & Specialty Insurer - Commercial & Specialty Lines Summit, Tuesday, September 29, 9:30–9:50 am

Andy Moss, General Manager of Underwriting at Duck Creek and co-founder of Send, joins Charles Valinotti, Chief Program and Underwriting Officer at Spinnaker Insurance Company, to explore what defines a tech-native operating model in 2026 and how underwriting is evolving as core systems and orchestration converge onto a single platform, offering a preview of the roadmap behind Duck Creek's acquisition of Send.

- How Agentic AI is Providing Competitive Advantage, not Just Cost Savings - Datos Insights Summit: Why AI Transformations Stall in the Race to Operationalize AI, Tuesday, September 29, 2:35–3:00 pm 

Hardeep Gulati, Chief Executive Officer at Duck Creek, joins Merideth Barnes-Cook, Senior Analyst at Datos Insights, to discuss how insurers can turn AI into a lasting competitive advantage across the policy lifecycle, building on the core systems and data foundations they already have in place.

- When Is It Time to Abandon Incrementalism? - Celent Summit: Starting the Countdown to Agentic Insurance, Tuesday, September 29, 4:15– 4:55 pm

Duck Creek Chief Product Officer (CPO) Jose Lazares joins Celent Principal Analyst Rob Norris and Federato CEO Will Ross for a discussion on when it's time to leave legacy software paradigms behind and what should replace traditional approaches to enterprise technology transformation.

- The Orchestrated Carrier - Innovation Through Strategic Foresight, Wednesday, September 30, 2:40 –3:15 PM

Duck Creek CPO Jose Lazares joins Slide Insurance Chief Information Officer Gauthaman Krishnamurthy for a conversation about what comes after modernization. Rather than treating modernization as a one-time initiative, the two will discuss how an insurer builds on the investments it has already made to become more adaptable, reduce operational complexity, and free up capacity for growth and customers. Drawing on Slide Insurance's own growth story, the session will cover what it takes to stay modern on an ongoing basis, how technology and service partnerships can lift operational burden off internal teams, and how greater automation, orchestration, and monitoring create a stronger foundation for what comes next.

"Modernization is not a finish line. It is the foundation insurers need to innovate and keep adapting as the market and their business evolve," said Jose Lazares, Chief Product Officer at Duck Creek. "Slide's growth story shows what is possible when a modern platform, automation, and the right technology and service partnerships work together to reduce complexity and create more capacity for innovation. I look forward to exploring that journey with Gauthaman at ITC Vegas."

Booth & Demonstrations

Attendees can engage with Duck Creek and Send experts at both booths and see live demonstrations of how the combined platform accelerates underwriting and simplifies operations across the policy lifecycle. Demonstrations include:

- Send Underwriting Orchestration: a live look at the agentic workflow Duck Creek and Send now offer together, from submission intake and triage through bind and post-bind servicing, on a single risk-centered workspace.

- Duck Creek Suite: low-code configuration tools, open APIs, and add-on products that can be implemented individually or as one cohesive, agentic platform.

- Duck Creek Policy: a cloud-native, configurable policy administration solution with self-service capabilities and automated processing across underwriting, claims, billing, and reinsurance.

- Duck Creek Claims: a SaaS solution that automates workflows and streamlines the process from initial report to final settlement.

- Duck Creek Reinsurance: a comprehensive solution for managing reinsurance partners, contracts, bills, recoveries, and payables.

- Duck Creek Loss Control: a cloud-based platform that helps insurers proactively manage risk, reduce claims, and optimize pricing.

For more on the acquisition, see Duck Creek Acquires Send, Creating the Industry's Only Agentic Underwriting-to-Core Platform.

About Send

Send is the leading underwriting orchestration platform trusted by insurers, MGAs, and reinsurers to navigate complex risks. The platform connects people, data, AI, and workflows to streamline underwriting operations from submission to bind and beyond. With customers across North America, the United Kingdom, Bermuda, and other global insurance markets, Send helps insurers improve underwriting performance, accelerate decision-making, and drive profitable growth. Visit www.send.technology to learn more.

About Duck Creek Technologies

Duck Creek is the intelligent core that leading insurers choose to build on. Purpose-built for property and casualty (P&C) and general insurance, Duck Creek unifies the full insurance lifecycle on a single platform with one data foundation. As an agentic platform, it connects intelligence across underwriting, policy, billing, claims, reinsurance, and payment workflows where decisions are made and compliance is non-negotiable. Duck Creek enables carriers to launch products faster, adapt quickly to change, and grow with precision and confidence. Solutions are available individually or as a full suite via Duck Creek OnDemand. Visit www.duckcreek.com and follow Duck Creek on LinkedIn and X.

Media Contact

Tara Lefave Stred / Marianne Dempsey

[email protected] 

SOURCE Duck Creek

Share this article