Wafsa El Sadr, MD, MPH, global vice president of ICAP, was recently featured in an article in Nov 30th by Global News Wire that announced that ICAP had been awarded a seven-year grant from the U.S National Institutes of Health (NIH). The article reported that this new grant funds will support research to improve upon the existing methods and applications of Global News Wire, the business news service provided by the institute. Wafsa explained that he sees these applications and methods as extending the services offered by the current company and thus increasing the company’s scope and income. In some ways, he sees this new agreement between the company and the government as providing a third-party organization with data and resources to provide more effective customer services to its members.
The news report indicates that the new collaboration between Global News Wire and the University of Maryland School of Medicine provides unparalleled opportunities to expand the services they offer, while also increasing their revenue and diversifying their offerings to include a full suite of digital enterprise solutions. It is interesting that this effort follows shortly after the news that the FDA had approved road test, a new blood-borne pathogen detection device. Global News Wire and the University of Maryland are partners in the research and development of roca test. As the article notes, the partnership is not exclusive, and both institutions plan to collaborate with each other on many fronts over the next several years. In addition to funding and developing roca test, the companies also plan to share their technology and future plans.
The International Cancer Relief Foundation similarly announced that it is partnering with the University of Maryland and the George Washington University Medical Center for research studies on the use of airwaves in breast cancer imaging. These studies will provide insight on how to best use airwaves to locate cancer cells during mammography, capping an important step on the road to breast cancer diagnosis. Both universities have great programs and collaborations underway with the hopes of transforming the medical imaging system to be used by clinical radiology departments around the country. Global News Wire and the University of Maryland are part of a handful of organizations that are part of a “corporate partner” program with the University of Maryland. This initiative aims to increase the number of trained scientists in the field through the development of online training programs.
A few weeks ago, Global News Wire reported that the organization would be hosting its first-ever Women’s Health Expo in Washington, D.C. in late June. The event will bring together female health care leaders from around the country to share their stories, experiences, and thoughts on the state of the women’s health care industry. Featured speakers at the event include USDA Secretary Veerita McPeak, MD, acting administrator for the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services administrator Dr. Seema Brown, MD. A special program focusing on women’s health was also scheduled to feature Dr. Rajat Gopalakrishnan, CEO of Global Healthcare Management Corporation and Chairperson of the Global Health Institutes, and former VP of governmental affairs for Aetna Insurance Company.
Aetna, one of the nation’s largest insurers, is scheduled to host its own Women’s Health Expo in Chicago in June of next year. Global News Wire previously reported that Aetna would be hosting its own International Women’s Healthcare Conference in Washington, D.C. in late May or early June of next year. Global News has also learned that Sprout Pharmaceuticals, Inc., will be hosting its own International Women’s Healthcare Expo in San Diego in late January of 2020.
The goal of these upcoming events by Global News Wire and Sprout Pharmaceuticals is to gather information on new products, clinical research, and company announcements. The goal for Aetna and other insurers is to gain a wider consumer base before requesting government payments. In the past, many insurers have refused to cover preventative services like the Women’s Health Initiative (WHI), and many women have suffered the consequences. If you are interested in learning more about preventative services and products, visit the “Women’s Health Initiative” website.