Author: Asher Alt

Q&A with Annual Celebration 2023 Awardees: J. David Prologo, MD

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Dr. Prologo is an interventional radiologist whose research has focused on the application of image guided techniques to the delivery of stem cell therapies, the treatment of cancer pain, and for obesity management. Can you introduce yourself? I am David Prologo – an Interventional Radiologist and Associate Professor of Radiology in the Emory School of Medicine. What did you enjoy about winning an award? This is an amazing honor given the incredible level of innovation and commercialization that comes out of Emory. Can you tell us a little bit more about the technology/innovation you received the award for? My partner Read More …

Q&A with Annual Celebration 2023 Awardees: Cassandra Quave, PhD

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Cassandra Quave, Ph.D. is Curator of the Herbarium and Associate Professor of Dermatology and Human Health at Emory University, where she leads natural product drug discovery research initiatives and teaches courses on medicinal plants, microbiology, and pharmacology. Can you introduce yourself? I’m an Associate Professor of Dermatology and Human Health at Emory. I also serve as the Curator of the Emory Herbarium. I cofounded Verdant Scientific in the summer of 2022 and serve as the CSO for the company. What did you enjoy about winning an award? It is always nice to receive recognition for one’s work. I am passionate Read More …

Funding Opportunities for Women-Owned Start-Ups

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Women-owned businesses are on the rise: According to 2022 census data, their average earnings increased by 27% from 2021, they employ 10.9 million Americans, and they had an estimated $432.1 billion in annual payroll. But despite these impressive numbers, women-owned businesses still lag behind their non-women-owned counterparts in an important area. While women-owned businesses were more likely to take funding compared to men in 2022, they got less money. In 2022, male-owned businesses received 41% more in funding than women-owned enterprises. Since a lack of funding can prevent a start-up from getting off the ground, these facts put women-owned start-ups Read More …

About Hemophilia

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In 1854, the son of Queen Victoria, Prince Leopold, died following minor fall. Leopold had hemophilia: a hereditary bleeding disorder in which the blood does not clot properly. In the 19th century, hemophilia was a misunderstood and devastating disease, and contributed to the deaths of people in all levels of society, including princes. But with his prominence in society as a member of the Royal Family, Prince Leopold’s death led to more attention to the disease and more research for a cure. Today, hemophilia can largely be controlled, and patients’ quality of life can remain high. What is hemophilia? Hemophilia Read More …

4 Federal Grant Options for Small Businesses and Start-ups

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Ask any entrepreneur, and they’ll tell you that money is a top concern for their small business. Profits are essential, but grants specifically for small businesses can also be a gamechanger for their long-term success. Grants – monetary awards designated for a specific purpose – help small businesses in more ways than one. They can bring in more cash flow, offer visibility and credibility, and make businesses more likely to receive other forms of funding. For U.S.-based companies, there are several small business grant options, starting with the government. Does the government provide small business grants? Yes! The United States Read More …

Lupus 101

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Maybe you know someone with lupus, or you’ve heard celebrities like Selena Gomez and Toni Braxton share their stories and experiences with the disease. Lupus is challenging to diagnose, difficult to treat, and presents differently in each person. These facts make it an unpredictable and largely misunderstood disease, even though the most common type of lupus affects about 200,000 US adults, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. It’s also disproportionately represented in women, who account for 9 out of 10 diagnoses. While lupus and other diseases like it don’t yet have known causes, there are treatments to Read More …

15 Good Minutes: Stefan Sarafianos

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Stefan Sarafianos is the rare researcher whose expertise spans structural biology, biochemistry, and virology. He recently led the groundbreaking development of a SARS-CoV-2 subgenomic replicon system, including mutants, that can be used for high-throughput screening and characterization of SARS-CoV-2 replicase inhibitors at a lower biosafety level—considerable benefits for pursuing studies such as drug discovery and inhibitors assay. Many of us are familiar with the bedeviling question: “Do you want it faster, cheaper, and better? Pick one.” In the case of the replicon system Stefan Sarafianos has developed, researchers studying SARS-CoV-2 are able to benefit from all three and add one Read More …

COPD at a glance

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Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) causes breathing problems for millions of Americans. Not only is it in the top five leading causes of death in the U.S., but also it can be tricky to treat. Depending on the type of COPD a patient has, like emphysema or chronic bronchitis, it can cause damage to their lungs and obstruct their airways, making it difficult to breathe and participate in everyday activities. How does COPD work? Our lungs have tiny, elastic air sacs called alveoli. In healthy lungs, breathing in causes the alveoli to inflate, and breathing out makes them deflate. With Read More …

4 Benefits of Going Sober for One Month

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After all the indulgence that can come with the winter holidays, it might seem like a good idea to get a fresh start in the new year. Dry January, a social challenge created by charity Alcohol Change UK, might be your inspiration to do so. The goal is to forego alcohol for 31 days, not only to “detox” from the holidays, but also to approach alcohol more intentionally. In the decade since Dry January was created, it’s exploded in popularity: A 2022 national survey suggested that up to 35% of US adults abstained from alcohol last January. But you don’t Read More …