New Vrbo data shows changing family travel habits due to COVID-19

AUSTIN, Texas, Aug. 5, 2020   Fresh consumer research and travel data from Vrbo® indicate a new fluidity in how families are vacationing the rest of this year. Call it the rise of the Flexcation, an emerging travel trend where families book vacation rental trips later in August, September and October, consider staying longer to mix work and play, and often get better value in high-demand locales.

AUSTIN, Texas, Aug. 5, 2020   Fresh consumer research and travel data from Vrbo® indicate a new fluidity in how families are vacationing the rest of this year. Call it the rise of the Flexcation, an emerging travel trend where families book vacation rental trips later in August, September and October, consider staying longer to mix work and play, and often get better value in high-demand locales.

Key findings from a nationwide Vrbo survey of families point directly to a Flexcation mindset [1]:

  • 50% of those surveyed agreed that flexible school schedules provide more flexibility in vacationing, while 48% said they can work from anywhere
  • 21% of respondents said that working from anywhere creates big opportunities for travel during the second half of 2020
  • 67% said «I just need a change of scenery» when asked why they might take a family vacation through year-end, suggesting new motivation for getting away apart from traditional seasonal trips
  • Vacation rentals ranked first among types of vacations respondents say they want to take now through December, specifically to «spend time with family and friends (they) haven’t seen»

«This summer, we’ve seen countless families switch to road trips and rent private vacation homes instead of taking traditional vacations. What’s interesting is the shift in when people are traveling and how families are blending vacation time with working from home or remote learning,» said Vrbo president Jeff Hurst. «Families can use this flexibility as an opportunity to travel outside of peak seasons and try new experiences, like seeing the mountain leaves change, catching the first snow of the season, or visiting the beach when it isn’t as hot.»

Longer Stays, Uncrowded Destinations, Good Value

Recent Vrbo travel data indicates families want to take longer vacations – interest in one-week and three- or four-week stays have grown relative to the total number of searches, up 25% and 15%, respectively, compared to the same time last year [2].

Flexcationers who wait until later in the season to visit top destinations are also being rewarded with attractive prices. Popular destinations such as Cape Cod, MA; Cape May, NJ; and Ocean City, MD are experiencing both a drop of at least 20% in average nightly rates and fewer crowds for the months of August through October compared to prime summer travel dates [3, 4]. Prices for vacation rentals typically drop during shoulder season, the time period after Labor Day and before the holiday travel season. Families who are not tied to strict in-person school or office commitments can benefit from fewer crowds and lower prices by choosing later travel dates.

Flexibility and Family Vacations: Reestablishing Balance
In addition to allowing families to get away during months they might not traditionally travel, Flexcations also can give them a break and an opportunity to relax. After months of sheltering in place, a change in scenery is an ideal way to reestablish a healthy sense of balance.

According to an NYU study, people feel happier when they have more variety in their daily routines – when they go to novel places and have a wider array of experiences.

«Though this year has been incredibly difficult for families, it’s inspiring to see how they have become resilient and resourceful by choosing alternative ways and dates to take vacation,» said Lish Kennedy, vice president of brand marketing at Vrbo. «More flexibility in our work and school schedules is allowing families to enjoy a welcome change in their surroundings and a relaxing break together.»

[1] Survey of 887 Vrbo travelers in the U.S. in July 2020.

[2] Based on an analysis of searches on Vrbo comparing March 15-July 20, 2019 and March 15, 2020-July 20, 2020.

[3] Based on an analysis of average nightly rates for Vrbo vacation rentals comparing Aug. 24-Oct. 21, 2020 and Jun.1-Aug. 23, 2020.

[4] Based on an analysis of Vrbo vacation rental demand comparing August 24-October 31, 2019 and August 24-October 31, 2020.

About Vrbo

In 1995, Vrbo introduced a new way for people to travel together, pairing homeowners with families and friends looking for places to stay. We were grounded in one purpose: To give people the space they need to drop the distractions of everyday life and simply be together. Since then, we’ve grown into a global community of homeowners and travelers, with unique properties around the world. Vrbo makes it easy and fun to book cabins, condos, beach houses and every kind of space in between.

Vrbo is part of Expedia Group and offers homeowners and property managers exposure to over 750 million visits to Expedia Group sites each month. To learn more, visit www.vrbo.com.

© 2020 Vrbo, an Expedia Group company. All rights reserved. Vrbo, HomeAway, the Vrbo logo, and the HomeAway logo are trademarks of HomeAway.

For more information, please contact media@vrbo.com.

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Evolve IP Delivers World’s Only Omnichannel Contact Center Integrated with Microsoft Teams and Virtual Workspaces

WAYNE, Pa., Aug. 5, 2020 /PRNewswire/ — Evolve IP, the world’s leading provider of Work Anywhere™ solutions; today announced that it has integrated the omnichannel Evolve Contact Suite with Microsoft Teams and the company’s virtual Workspaces solution. The powerful combination allows agents to be fully immersed in all parts of the business…

WAYNE, Pa., Aug. 5, 2020 /PRNewswire/ — Evolve IP, the world’s leading provider of Work Anywhere™ solutions; today announced that it has integrated the omnichannel Evolve Contact Suite with Microsoft Teams and the company’s virtual Workspaces solution. The powerful combination allows agents to be fully immersed in all parts of the business while supporting clients and prospects anywhere on the devices of their choice. Leveraging a powerful, Web-based identity and access management portal, agents and managers can take advantage of the productivity benefits of Microsoft Teams, access all of the business’s applications, including legacy on-premises applications, while delivering a world-class customer experience with Evolve IP’s analyst-acclaimed omnichannel contact center software.

The COVID-19 pandemic has wreaked havoc on contact centers forcing businesses to quickly spin up patchwork, work-from-home solutions or dramatically alter their physical contact center footprint. Now, with businesses evaluating a long-term strategic change toward work anywhere users, IT and contact center leaders are looking at better ways to connect agents not only to the contact center solution, but to the critical applications they need to do their jobs.

The Evolve Contact Suite, which has been noted by Gartner in three consecutive CCaaS Magic Quadrants, was designed from the start to enable contact center agents to work anywhere. And new enhancements to the platform further those capabilities, all at a cost that is 30-40% less than other solutions that lack its remote work capabilities and Microsoft Teams integration.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Px1n-MmSsUs

Major advantages of the Evolve Contact Suite include:

  • Robust omnichannel features – ECS provides all of the features required by contact centers to deliver a world-class customer experience, including voice, email, text, chat, and more.
  • Integrated with Microsoft Teams – For businesses using Microsoft Teams for collaboration and video conferencing, contact center agents can take full advantage of Team’s productivity features while also interacting with the rest of their company’s associates.
  • Work and Hire Anywhere (Agent & Managers) – The Evolve Contact Suite runs on all major Web-browsers with easily navigable, attractive modern user interfaces that improve agent productivity and empower a great customer experience. Real-time dashboards help users, no matter where they live and work, stay on top of KPI and key business metrics.
  • Work Anywhere (IT) – Agents and Managers need nothing more than a web browser to securely access Contact Center, SaaS, and critical legacy applications from the same Web portal. This frees IT from deploying and managing PCs and supporting clunky VPNs to get agents access to the tools they need.
  • Unified Solution / Leverage Current Phone Investments – ECS can be deployed as a unified solution with Cisco / Broadsoft VoIP software. This cloud-based delivery provides superior reliability, higher call quality, and in many cases, can help businesses further reduce costs by keeping current handsets.
  • Superior AI Speech Analytics – Using Evolve RECAP, agents and managers can easily identify call sentiment, receive automated notifications, and document, review, and train via multi-media call transcriptions.
  • Advanced Reporting – Evolve IP offers a wide variety of easily customizable ‘out-of-the-box’ reports and can provide a standard API for businesses to build their own reporting via its Data Warehouse.
  • Quickly Customize Call Flows – With more dispersed agents, working under tougher conditions than ever, call routing more has become even more challenging. ECS offers a powerful GUI (Graphic User Interface) to easily build advanced routing call flows.
  • Maintain Compliance – The Evolve Contact Suite is compliant for organizations needing  HIPAA / HITRUST, GDPR, PCI-DSS, SOC2, and more.

«When agents and their managers were forced to move home, businesses struggled to deliver all of the functionality required for them to be successful,» said Scott Kinka, Chief Technology Officer of Evolve IP. «Some CCaaS solutions provide a remote way for agents to join the omnichannel contact center, but they fall short in securely delivering the rest of the applications agents need to be successful.  IT is still burdened with shipping computers and managing VPNs.»

Kinka continued, «No one in the contact center market, besides Evolve IP, can provide a complete solution for agents and managers that delivers award-winning omnichannel features, secure access to SaaS and legacy applications, and integration with the rest of the business via Microsoft Teams; all from a web browser on nearly any device.»

WHY CLIENTS CHOOSE EVOLVE IP

Businesses can Work Anywhere™ with Evolve IP. We take the tools you’d typically use at the office, like a phone and the apps on your desktop, and deliver them from a single portal that users can access on any device. Employers are increasingly aware of the importance of a ‘work anywhere’ mindset where employees want to be more productive and collaborate in meaningful ways no matter where they are, or what time it is. Evolve IP enables employees to contribute to the business in ways that fit their lifestyles while their company’s IT becomes more secure, more dependable, and much easier to manage.

Follow Evolve IP on Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter and YouTube.

Photo(s):
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SOURCE Evolve IP

Purina Achieves Significant Environmental Goal to Make Pet Care Products Sustainably

ST. LOUIS, Aug. 5, 2020 /PRNewswire/ — Purina’s robust portfolio of pet care products for dogs and cats is now getting to pet food bowls and litter boxes in a more sustainable way. Known for trusted brands spanning dog food, cat food, treats and litter, Purina announced today it has reached the company’s 2020 goal to achieve zero waste for disposal across all manufacturing operations and its corporate headquarters.

ST. LOUIS, Aug. 5, 2020 /PRNewswire/ — Purina’s robust portfolio of pet care products for dogs and cats is now getting to pet food bowls and litter boxes in a more sustainable way. Known for trusted brands spanning dog food, cat food, treats and litter, Purina announced today it has reached the company’s 2020 goal to achieve zero waste for disposal across all manufacturing operations and its corporate headquarters.

«Purina is passionate about pets and the planet, and sustainability is a central factor in our operations and product development,» said John Bear, Vice President of Manufacturing. «I’m incredibly proud of the effort it took to accomplish this goal of being zero waste across our operations. This achievement is a testament to the passion and commitment of our more than 8,000 employees across the country who are working to create a better world for us to share with our pets.»

Achieving zero waste for disposal means that all 21 of Purina’s manufacturing sites and its St. Louis Headquarters have found ways to derive benefits from materials that would have otherwise been discarded. All locations now recycle, reuse, recover or compost waste from daily operations. In certain cases, locations also may utilize destinations that convert waste to energy to generate power. Purina products feed 49 million dogs and 66 million cats every year, so reaching 100 percent across all Purina brands and factories was no small feat.

The company-wide commitment was achieved thanks to local teams and local solutions. Each site began with an in-depth review to understand its waste streams. This fueled passion within the facility to identify solutions and improve processes to minimize waste generation at the source while also identifying credible vendors that could support efforts to handle remaining materials in a sustainable way. Some of the materials from Purina facilities even transform into the company’s Yesterday’s News alternative cat litter, which uses recycled paperboard as a key ingredient. 

«Pet lovers care about how their pets’ food and litter are made, and that it’s done in a responsible way, and we couldn’t agree more,» said Gopi Sandhu, Director of Sustainable Operations at Purina. «By focusing on reducing waste and finding beneficial uses for materials that would have otherwise been discarded, Purina employees lead the charge by driving innovation towards a more circular economy.  Some of our former waste materials now become soil amendments, needed to grow our healthy ingredients. Others are converted to methane, which is then captured to fuel the types of carbon-neutral energy we increasingly rely on.»

Purina is working toward a global ambition for zero environmental impact in its operations by 2030, and achieving zero waste is a significant step in that journey. Purina is also committed to sourcing ingredients responsibly, caring for water, making the packaging for all of its pet care products 100 percent recyclable or reusable by 2025 and acting on climate change with a goal of achieving 100 percent renewable electricity at all of our sites. Learn more about Purina’s packaging recyclability efforts here: https://www.purina.com/about-purina/recycling.

About Nestlé Purina PetCare
Nestlé Purina PetCare creates richer lives for pets and the people who love them. Founded in 1894, Purina has helped dogs and cats live longer, healthier lives by offering scientifically based nutritional innovations. Purina manufactures some of the world’s most trusted and popular pet care products, including Purina ONE, Pro Plan, Fancy Feast and Tidy Cats. Our more than 8,000 U.S. associates take pride in our trusted pet food, treat and litter brands that feed 49 million dogs and 66 million cats every year. More than 500 Purina scientists, veterinarians, and pet care experts ensure our commitment to unsurpassed quality and nutrition.

Purina promotes responsible pet care through our scientific research, our products and our support for pet-related organizations. Over the past five years, Purina has contributed more than $150 million towards organizations that bring, and keep, people and pets together, as well as those that help our communities and environment thrive.

Purina is part of Nestlé, a global leader in Nutrition, Health and Wellness. For more information, visit purina.com or subscribe here to get the latest Purina news.

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Furr’s™ Reopens with Launch of AYCE Marketplace™ and Introduces New ToGoKitchens.com™ Concept

SAN ANTONIO, Aug. 5, 2020 /PRNewswire/ — Known for buffet-style dining, Furr’s™ is reopening restaurants with new service concepts to cater to their customers and the current climate spurred by the coronavirus. The AYCE Marketplace™ concept— All You Can Eat Without Leaving Your Seat™— meets COVID-19 safety measures, while allowing the brand to continue serving on freshness, quality, innovation, and convenience. ToGoKitchens.com™, commonly known as ghost kitchens, are also…

SAN ANTONIO, Aug. 5, 2020 /PRNewswire/ — Known for buffet-style dining, Furr’s™ is reopening restaurants with new service concepts to cater to their customers and the current climate spurred by the coronavirus. The AYCE Marketplace™ concept— All You Can Eat Without Leaving Your Seat™— meets COVID-19 safety measures, while allowing the brand to continue serving on freshness, quality, innovation, and convenience. ToGoKitchens.com™, commonly known as ghost kitchens, are also being added to AYCE Marketplace locations.

«Like many other businesses, we’ve had to shift our focus and vision of service. The pandemic has affected everyone around the globe,» said Marketing Manager Misty Moren. «With employees and guests being our top priority, we had to come together as a team and figure out how we can safely and successfully move forward, all while staying attuned to the new operational regulations and the fact that we’re in an ever-changing situation with the pandemic. Our priority is to protect our guests and our team members, while still being able to offer the top-notch service and food that our guests expect.»

AYCE Marketplace has launched in 11 locations and will be unveiled in other markets as permitted by local reopening procedures. The new AYCE Marketplace will continue to offer all-you-can-eat but elevated with table service. Guests will now have food served directly to their tables, so they do not need to leave their seats. Guest’s favorite menu offerings still taste better than ever, with some seasonal favorites from our other brands sprinkled on the menu throughout the year. Guests may order individual meals and family meals. Menu selections and prices will vary by location.

The New AYCE Marketplace will also unveil a new shopping component, featuring freshly prepared and packaged hot and chilled foods to-go, pre-cooked and cooked bulk sides and meals, and dry goods available for purchase. Customers may pick up fresh milk, vegetables, and other grocery essentials. Refrigerated foods will include suggested heating instructions so fans may enjoy their favorites at their convenience and in the comfort of their homes.

Moren added, «As people are more conscious of their trips outside of their homes, we’ve developed a one-stop-shop for them to pick up delicious hot or cold meals plus other goods they may need and use in their kitchens. These shifts in service allow us to maintain our commitments to convenience and innovation while also offering our employees an opportunity to return to work.»

We are excited to introduce our new TogoKitchens.com concept that will bring new locations of everyone’s favorite brands for takeout and delivery to areas across the country.  With three sites open and 30+ locations opening in about 90 days, TogoKitchens.com will provide delivery or takeout orders from Zio’s Italian Kitchen™, Sushi Zushi™, Tahoe Joe’s™, Hops Wings & Burger Bar™ and Don Pablo’s Cantina™.  

«These unprecedented times have inspired team VitaNova Brands™ to work together and challenged us to create new and exciting ways to enjoy our food and the friendly team members,» Moren said. «Adding TogoKitchens.com is just another way for guests to enjoy our food, even if it may have never been available in their area previously, from the comfort of their own home.» 

The AYCE Marketplaces will offer dine-in service as regulated by CDC and local guidelines, to-go, and curbside pickup. Hours of operation vary by location but will mostly remain the same as before the COVID-19 pandemic unless otherwise determined by local governments. For more information about the AYCE Marketplace, including restaurant locations, visit www.AYCEMarketplace.com, www.togokitchens.com or www.vitanovabrands.com 

MEDIA CONTACT:
Victoria Segovia
786-327-8125
victoria@inklinkmarketing.com 

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SOURCE Furr’s AYCE Marketplace

Children’s Hospital Colorado Releases Updated Guidelines for Parents and School Officials to Manage COVID-19 and In-School Learning

AURORA, Colo., Aug. 5, 2020 /PRNewswire/ — In preparation for the return to school this fall Children’s Hospital Colorado (Children’s Colorado) has released a guide for how schools, parents and…

AURORA, Colo., Aug. 5, 2020 /PRNewswire/ — In preparation for the return to school this fall Children’s Hospital Colorado (Children’s Colorado) has released a guide for how schools, parents and caregivers, and local public health officials can effectively manage students and staff with COVID-19 or who have been exposed to people with symptoms. Recommendations were informed by Children’s Colorado infectious diseases experts who have helped lead the response to COVID-19.

The Guidelines for Managing COVID-19 with Schools Reopening is available on the Children’s Colorado website, along with the previously released guide and Charting Pediatrics podcast designed to help school administrators and board members determine how they can most safely re-open their schools for in-person learning. These materials provide considerations and recommendations based on the most current COVID-19 medical guidelines.

«As we continue to move through these challenging times where increasing cases of COVID-19 impact our ability to plan for a safe return to school, it remains critical to build a thoughtful approach to supporting student, staff and family safety, while recognizing the long list of rich benefits associated with in-person learning,» said Heidi Baskfield, vice president of Population Health and Advocacy at Children’s Colorado. «Our goal is that schools, parents and local public health partners can use this document to develop successful plans to support appropriate levels of in-person learning, while preserving the flexibility of all of our partners to address their own localized needs.»

The Children’s Colorado protocols clarify definitions for exposure, symptoms, testing, isolation and quarantine and also urge schools to have a clearly agreed upon screening process in place to help ensure that sick students and staff don’t come to school.

The guide then addresses what happens when someone has symptoms or has been exposed to someone with COVID-19 symptoms with scenarios for when to stay home and/or contact the school, when to get a test, how to monitor and identify symptoms, when to isolate, and how to plan for a safe return to school. Scenarios include:

  • Scenario 1: What happens when a student, staff or family member experiences COVID-19 symptoms?
  • Scenario 2: What happens when someone doesn’t experience symptoms until they are at school?
  • Scenario 3: What happens when a person is exposed to someone who has tested positive for COVID-19?
  • Scenario 4: What happens if someone tests positive for COVID-19 but doesn’t experience symptoms?
  • Scenario 5: What happens when a student or staff person is asymptomatic but has been exposed to someone who has symptoms and who hasn’t gotten test results?
  • Scenario 6: What happens when someone is exposed to someone who is exposed to someone who tested positive with COVID-19 (two layers removed)?

«It is important to remember that schools’ ability to safely engage in re-opening for in-person learning is directly tied to the circulation of COVID-19 within a community. When a community is consistently engaged in safe practices like social distancing and wearing face coverings, it is more likely that community can support a safe return to school,» said Sam Dominguez, MD, infectious disease specialist at Children’s Hospital Colorado.

In addition, Children’s Colorado medical experts continue to lead regular School Town Halls that provide real-time data, support, and evidence-based, pediatric-focused guidance on managing kids during the COVID-19 pandemic. Children’s Colorado has a robust School Health team that provides school nurses and health services in seven Colorado school districts, 34 charter schools, 16 private schools and 100 preschools and camps. 

About Children’s Hospital Colorado
Children’s Hospital Colorado is one of the nation’s leading and most expansive pediatric healthcare systems with a mission to improve the health of children through patient care, education, research and advocacy. Founded in 1908 and recognized as a top 10 children’s hospital by U.S. News & World Report, Children’s Colorado has established itself as a pioneer in the discovery of innovative and groundbreaking treatments that are shaping the future of pediatric healthcare worldwide. Children’s Colorado offers a full spectrum of family-centered care at its urgent, emergency and specialty care locations throughout Colorado, including its location on the Anschutz Medical Campus, and across the region. In 2019, Children’s Hospital Colorado, Colorado Springs, opened as the first pediatric-only hospital in southern Colorado. For more information, visit www.childrenscolorado.org, or connect with us on Facebook and Twitter

Children’s Hospital Colorado complies with applicable Federal civil rights laws and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, or sex.

ATENCIÓN: si habla español, tiene a su disposición servicios gratuitos de asistencia lingüística. Llame al 1-720-777-9800.

CHÚ Ý: Nếu bạn nói Tiếng Việt, có các dịch vụ hỗ trợ ngôn ngữ miễn phí dành cho bạn. Gọi số 1-720-777-9800.

http://www.hhs.gov/civil-rights/for-individuals/section-1557 

Media Contact:
Jaime Berg, 720-777-8713
jaime.berg@childrenscolorado.org 

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SOURCE Children’s Hospital Colorado

First-Ever MBA Program Announced for Interior Design! IDMBA Now Enrolling

DALLAS, Aug. 5, 2020 /PRNewswire/ — For the first time ever, interior designers now have access to the business education they have lacked, all in one comprehensive program. The Interior Design MBA (IDMBA) is now open for enrollment for the semester beginning Sept. 21, 2020.

The IDMBA Program is delivered in a hybrid online/live format, with 24 online units supported by active forums and live video calls between students and the course professor, interior design’s leading business expert,…

DALLAS, Aug. 5, 2020 /PRNewswire/ — For the first time ever, interior designers now have access to the business education they have lacked, all in one comprehensive program. The Interior Design MBA (IDMBA) is now open for enrollment for the semester beginning Sept. 21, 2020.

The IDMBA Program is delivered in a hybrid online/live format, with 24 online units supported by active forums and live video calls between students and the course professor, interior design’s leading business expert, David Shepherd.

«What few people realize is how complex running an interior design practice is,» said IDMBA creator, David Shepherd. «I’ve spent almost 20 years combining my time teaching business at top universities and working with hundreds of interior designers, and I’ve never seen such a large gap between the skills needed and the skills provided in their academic curricula.»

Shepherd continued: «That’s why I’ve spent thousands of hours developing this program and made sure to deliver only the business skills interior designers really need and none of the rest. I even have some fun at times, such as telling designers they can probably ignore the advice of so-called experts, including their accountants in many cases.»

Because the business side of interior design can be so challenging, designers have been forced to cobble together their own business education, taking a course here and hiring a freelancer there. Now, with just 24 weeks of total immersion, they can gain all of the business skills they need for a lifetime.

IDMBA graduate Jody Clarke of Dallas said, «About halfway through my IDMBA Program, the light came on and after all these years, now I finally get it. My profits soon increased by more than 300%!»

The 24 units cover topics in a unique way that helps designers to understand concepts that they may have struggled with in the past, like accounting, marketing, and technology.

«The Lessons are incredibly interesting and easy so you’re able to start implementing things right away,» said interior designer Tanya Shively of Scottsdale. «This has enabled me to do $1 million a year while still remaining essentially a one-person firm. I would have to say it really has been life-changing.»

Enrollment for the upcoming IDMBA program is now open, and those interested may register for an information session at www.interiordesignmba.com. Each program is limited in size to ensure that students can get any individual attention they might need.

Media Contact:
Benjamin Smith, Director of Sales and Marketing
Phone: 512-522-1972
Email: ben@interiordesignmba.com

Related Images

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Interior Design MBA Program (IDMBA)
The First Interior Design MBA Program is enrolling now and starts September 21, 2020.

Related Links

Interior Design MBA Home

Attend IDMBA Info Session

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Celularity announces the activation of first California Clinical Trial Site following CIRM Grant Award to Advance Treatments for COVID-19

FLORHAM PARK, N.J., Aug. 5, 2020 /PRNewswire/ — Celularity today announced that it has been awarded a $750,000 COVID-19 Project grant by the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine (CIRM), one of the three clinical awards targeting the coronavirus. This grant will support California…

FLORHAM PARK, N.J., Aug. 5, 2020 /PRNewswire/ — Celularity today announced that it has been awarded a $750,000 COVID-19 Project grant by the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine (CIRM), one of the three clinical awards targeting the coronavirus. This grant will support California Institutions participating in the Phase I/II clinical trial of human placental hematopoietic stem cell derived natural killer (NK) cells (CYNK-001) for the treatment of adults with COVID-19. The University of California Irvine is the first CA site to open for patient enrollment.

CIRM’s COVID-19 Project supports promising discovery, preclinical and clinical trial stage projects that could quickly advance treatments or vaccines that utilize stem and/or progenitor cells. Celularity will use the CIRM grant to support the evaluation of the anti-viral activities of its cryopreserved investigational product, CYNK-001,  in underserved and disproportionately affected populations with COVID-19, an infectious disease caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). Celularity received clearance from the United States Food and Drug Administration to proceed with a Phase I/II study to evaluate the safety, tolerability, and efficacy of CYNK-001 in patients with COVID-19.

«Our investigational product CYNK-001 showed great promise in preclinical studies, and we are optimistic that it will prove effective against corona virus diseases, including COVID-19. As part of our rapidly-scalable placental-derived cellular medicine platform, CYNK-001 could play an important role in the public health response to outbreaks of COVID-19 or other coronaviruses,» said Robert J. Hariri, MD, PhD, Founder, Chairman and CEO of Celularity. «We are very grateful to CIRM for supporting our effort to make novel cellular medicines available to medically underserved and disproportionately affected persons in California

Xiaokui Zhang, PhD, Chief Scientific Officer and Principal Investigator under the CIRM grant says «CYNK-001 has a range of biological activities that not only recognize and destroy virus-infected cells, but also coordinate a robust immune response that may lead to an effective and durable defense against the viral infection.»

The trial will evaluate the safety and the clinical efficacy of CYNK-001 in SARS-CoV-2 positive subjects as measured by clearance of the SARS-CoV-2 and improvement in clinical symptoms or improvement in radiological evaluation of disease related chest x-ray.  The primary objective of the Phase I portion of the study is to evaluate the safety, tolerability, and efficacy of multiple CYNK-001 intravenous (IV) infusions in COVID-19 patients and will be administered to up to 14 patients in three doses over the course of seven days.

The Phase II portion of the study is a randomized, open-label, multi-site study measuring multiple doses of CYNK-001 against a control group experiencing a similar degree of infection with best supportive care, with two co-primary endpoints. The first co-primary endpoint is to determine the virologic efficacy of CYNK-001 in facilitating the clearance of SARS-CoV-2 from mucosal specimens and/or peripheral blood. The second co-primary endpoint is to assess the impact of treatment with CYNK-001 on clinical symptoms among patients with COVID-19 related lower respiratory tract infection.

Celularity has treated patients with severe COVID-19 and on ventilator support under compassionate use programs in U.S. CYNK-001 was well tolerated and may be associated with clinical benefit in selected cases.

About NK Cells
NK cells are innate immune cells with an important role in early host response against various pathogens. Multiple NK cell receptors are involved in the recognition of infected cells. Studies in humans and mice have established that there is robust activation of NK cells during viral infection, regardless of the virus class, and that the depletion of NK cells aggravates viral pathogenesis.

About CYNK-001
CYNK-001 is the only cryopreserved allogeneic, off-the-shelf NK cell therapy developed from placental hematopoietic stem cells. CYNK-001 is being investigated as a potential treatment option in adults with COVID-19, as well as for various hematologic cancers and solid tumors. NK cells are a unique class of immune cells, innately capable of targeting cancer cells and interacting with adaptive immunity. CYNK-001 cells derived from the placenta are currently being investigated as a treatment for acute myeloid leukemia (AML), multiple myeloma (MM), and glioblastoma multiforme (GBM). On 1 April, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration cleared the Company’s Investigational New Drug (IND) application for the use of CYNK-001 in adults with COVID-19.

About COVID-19
The virus causing COVID-19 is called severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) and is a novel coronavirus that has not been previously identified. COVID-19 has become a global pandemic, with over 4.2 million confirmed cases in the USA and over 650,000 deaths reported to date worldwide.

About Celularity 
Celularity, headquartered in Florham Park, N.J., is a next-generation Biotechnology company leading the next evolution in cellular medicine by delivering off-the-shelf allogeneic cellular therapies, at unparalleled scale, quality, and economics. Celularity’s innovative approach to cell therapy harnesses the unique therapeutic potential locked within the cells of the post partum placenta. Through nature’s immunotherapy engine – the placenta – Celularity is leading the next evolution of cellular medicine with placental-derived T cells, NK cells, and pluripotent stem cells to target unmet and underserved clinical needs in cancer, infectious and degenerative diseases. To learn more visit celularity.com

Media Contact:

Name: Dani Frank

Email: celularity@factorypr.com

 

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SOURCE Celularity

iClicker and Perusall Partner to Improve Student Engagement and Affordability Amid COVID-19 Instructional Changes

NEW YORK, Aug. 5, 2020 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ — iClicker, a Macmillan Learning Company, announced today a new partnership with Perusall, the interactive, digital content company to address two of the most pressing concerns for higher education in light of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic: student engagement and affordability.

According to an Inside Higher Education

NEW YORK, Aug. 5, 2020 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ — iClicker, a Macmillan Learning Company, announced today a new partnership with Perusall, the interactive, digital content company to address two of the most pressing concerns for higher education in light of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic: student engagement and affordability.

According to an Inside Higher Education study, higher education faculty are most concerned with ensuring student engagement in virtual learning environments, and the potential for online classes to have an inequitable impact on underrepresented students. The study revealed 87% of respondents are concerned over the impact of virtual classes on students from low-income backgrounds and 77% view the ability to maintain student engagement when teaching online as ‘somewhat challenging’ to ‘very challenging’.

Instructors can use iClicker to take attendance, facilitate active learning and complete in-class quizzes using mobile devices or iClicker remotes. iClicker was developed by teaching professors and is currently used at more than 1,200 institutions by more than 5,000 instructors and more than 10 million students.

«Student engagement is in both iClicker and Perusall’s DNA, as both were created by educators who are recognized as leaders in researching and using active learning and peer instruction methodologies. This new partnership will help make iClicker’s polling, quizzing and assignments even more accessible with Perusall’s content engagement platform and will ultimately support deeper learning, wherever it happens,» said Steven Ray, Vice President of Macmillan Learning Institutional Solutions.

The iClicker and Perusall partnership will make it even easier to facilitate peer-to-peer learning and deep content engagement in virtual environments, at an affordable price. There is early proof that the partnership can help foster deep connections with content and peers in an online learning environment. Last spring, amid the outbreak of COVID-19 that demanded a quick pivot to teaching virtually, University of Louisville Psychology Professor Edna Ross, PhD, used Perusall and iClicker to deliver the same active, peer-to-peer learning methodologies she has become known for delivering in her face-to-face classes.

«Before iClicker, it was very difficult to get input from all of my students and before Perusall it was a struggle to get students to read the material,» explains Ross. «Once class moved online due to COVID-19, students in my class quickly found a rhythm of beginning discussions with Perusall asynchronously and then responding with iClicker questions during synchronous sessions to dive deeper into opinions in class. Using both together really impacted learning and engagement for the entire class.»

The partnership will enable Perusall customers to purchase access to iClicker’s student mobile app at a discounted price, delivering course content and engagement capabilities to support deep learning in both synchronous and asynchronous learning methodologies common in online courses.

«We are excited to partner with iClicker to combine our affordable, digital learning solutions to help students engage more fully with the course content and one another. With so many courses needing to move online this fall, this is important now more than ever,» said Brian Lukoff, Perusall co-founder and CEO.

Click here for more information on how iClicker and Perusall are being used at University of Louisville.

About Macmillan Learning
Macmillan Learning is a privately-held, family-owned company that improves lives through learning. By linking research to learning practice, we develop pioneering products and learning materials for students that are highly effective and drive improved outcomes.. To learn more, please visit macmillanlearning.com or or join our Macmillan Community.

About Perusall
Perusall is a free social learning platform that delivers reading and video assignments to students before they come to class. The platform incorporates content delivery with collaborative annotation tools to ensure students read more, come to class prepared, and are more engaged in the learning experience, enabling instructors to teach more effectively. Automated reports document where students struggle the most to understand course content, allowing instructors to specifically address these issues in class. More than 500,000 students at over 2,000 educational institutions in 75+ countries use Perusall. To learn more visit http://www.perusall.com.

 

SOURCE iClicker

The Rodriguez Law Group in Los Angeles, CA, Launches a New Website

LOS ANGELES, Aug. 5, 2020 /PRNewswire/ — The Rodriguez Law Group, a criminal defense firm in Los Angeles, California, is proud to announce the launch of its new website.

This state-of-the-art website was created to highlight the firm’s media appearances and case results. The Rodriguez Law Group believes that its users will benefit from the updated design and usability. The new site was designed to improve the user experience for mobile users. As more and more…

LOS ANGELES, Aug. 5, 2020 /PRNewswire/ — The Rodriguez Law Group, a criminal defense firm in Los Angeles, California, is proud to announce the launch of its new website.

This state-of-the-art website was created to highlight the firm’s media appearances and case results. The Rodriguez Law Group believes that its users will benefit from the updated design and usability. The new site was designed to improve the user experience for mobile users. As more and more consumers rely on their smart devices, it is critical for law firms to adapt their websites accordingly.

According to founder Ambrosio Rodriguez, «Our downtown Los Angeles, California, office serves clients throughout Southern California. We wanted to grow our online presence by providing a high-end experience for our site visitors.»

People can contact The Rodriguez Law Group if they need the services of a criminal lawyer in Los Angeles, California.

About The Rodriguez Law Group:

The Rodriguez Law Group was founded in 2013 by former prosecutor Ambrosio Rodriguez. Prior to becoming a criminal defense attorney,  Rodriguez spent 13 years as a prosecutor. During that time, he handled thousands of cases, including death penalty trials. Contact the Los Angeles criminal defense attorneys at The Rodriguez Law Group today for more information.

Media Contact:
The Rodriguez Law Group
Ambrosio Rodriguez
626 Wilshire Blvd, Suite 626
Los Angeles, CA 90017

Phone: (213) 995-6767
Email: info@aerlawgroup.com
Website: https://www.aerlawgroup.com

Related Images

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Ambrosio Rodriguez
Ambrosio Rodriguez, Founder of The Rodriguez Law Group in Los Angeles, CA

Related Links

Los Angeles Criminal Defense Lawyers

Los Angeles Criminal Defense Blog

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SOURCE The Rodriguez Law Group

Elizabeth Dole Foundation and U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Launch Emergency Veteran Caregiver Respite Program with CareLinx $1 Million Donation

WASHINGTON, Aug. 5, 2020 /PRNewswire/ — The Elizabeth Dole Foundation and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs have joined together to create a new program, Respite Relief for Military and Veteran Caregivers, which will offer family caregivers of veterans access to no-cost, short-term relief with the help of CareLinx in-home care professionals. The CareLinx donation of $1 million will provide more than 40,000 hours of non-medical home care for more than 1,600…

WASHINGTON, Aug. 5, 2020 /PRNewswire/ — The Elizabeth Dole Foundation and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs have joined together to create a new program, Respite Relief for Military and Veteran Caregivers, which will offer family caregivers of veterans access to no-cost, short-term relief with the help of CareLinx in-home care professionals. The CareLinx donation of $1 million will provide more than 40,000 hours of non-medical home care for more than 1,600 caregivers and their wounded, ill, or injured. The program is being developed as the urgent need for respite care among military caregivers has become critical during the COVID-19 pandemic. The donation is made possible through the generous contribution by Generali, CareLinx’s parent company, who created a fund to support various relief efforts in countries significantly impacted by COVID-19. AARP has also joined as a key collaborator for this effort to help spread the word to military and veteran caregivers. 

«Since the Foundation first began its work, we have seen the desperate need for short-term relief among veteran caregivers. The lack of affordable, convenient professional respite care takes a significant toll on the emotional and physical well-being of these hidden heroes and the limitations created by the COVID-19 pandemic have further reduced their respite options,» said Steve Schwab, CEO of the Elizabeth Dole Foundation. «We are grateful CareLinx has stepped up in such a generous way to make this program possible. We look forward to working with the VA to use CareLinx’s and potentially other contributors’ donations to provide urgent relief to those who need it most, and working with AARP to reach millions of veterans and military families nationwide.»

The COVID-19 pandemic has further strained veteran caregivers who have lost the in-person support of family and friends because of social distancing regulations. Even as states begin re-opening, some of the nation’s most critically wounded or ill veterans and their caregivers will have a long journey back to the pre-pandemic world as their vulnerable immune systems require families to take every precaution against exposure.

«Caregivers charged with caring for our nation’s Veterans face new challenges during the pandemic. They are becoming increasingly isolated and are hindered from getting reliable outside help,» said U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Secretary Robert Wilkie. «This compassionate and thoughtful program will give them some much-needed relief during this stressful time.»

Today marks the program launch date for eligible caregivers in select regions in California, Florida, and Texas to apply for services. This program will be able to offer selected veteran caregivers approximately 24-hours of respite care by providing a qualified in-home care professional for their veteran. These care professionals will be able to perform tasks such as companionship, grocery shopping, cooking, mobility assistance, transportation, bathing, and other activities of daily living.

«CareLinx is honored to support our military families and veteran caregivers during this unprecedented time,» said Sherwin Sheik, CEO of CareLinx. «This program is a win-win for our nation’s caregivers; it will give family caregivers a much needed break, enable vulnerable veterans to minimize their risk of exposure to COVID-19, and provide new rewarding work opportunities for professional caregivers.» 

Depending on availability of hours, the Elizabeth Dole Foundation seeks to further expand the program to other regions of the country later on in 2020. The Foundation has established a Respite Relief Fund where organizations can contribute funding to support expansion to other regions of the country. Individuals seeking to learn more about the Respite Relief Fund should contact RespiteRelief@elizabethdolefoundation.org.

Eligibility Requirements:

  1. You must be a family caregiver to a wounded, ill, or injured veteran or service member (and submit proof of service).
  2. Requested relief support includes one of the following: companionship, light housekeeping, grocery shopping and meal preparation, transportation, mobility support/transferring, exercise, toileting, bathing, dressing and grooming. If you and your care recipient need more assistance such as assistance with administering medications, in home physical therapy, or any other type of specialized medical care, you will not be eligible for this service at this time.
  3. The military/veteran family must seek respite care relief in Florida, California, and Texas (and only in those zip codes with available services).

For more information, please visit hiddenheroes.org/respite.

About the Elizabeth Dole Foundation
The Elizabeth Dole Foundation is the preeminent organization empowering, supporting, and honoring our nation’s 5.5 million military caregivers – the spouses, parents, family members, and friends who care for America’s wounded, ill, or injured veterans at home. Founded by Senator Elizabeth Dole in 2012, the Foundation adopts a comprehensive approach in its support and advocacy, working with leaders in the public, private, nonprofit, and faith communities to recognize military caregivers’ service and promote their well-being. Learn more about the Elizabeth Dole Foundation at hiddenheroes.org.

About CareLinx
CareLinx is the leading nationwide online home-care platform. Professional caregivers leverage proprietary digital care plans to better assist the elderly, individuals with disabilities, and people with chronic health conditions with activities of daily living. The CareLinx platform helps families and caregivers easily manage all the administrative tasks of their caregiving needs, including scheduling, time tracking, care coordination, and payroll processing. To date, CareLinx has a nationwide network of over 400,000 tech-enabled caregivers who provide personal in-home care for families and support safe transitions of care. The CareLinx platform revolutionizes transparency and facilitates active coordination in the post-acute care environment, leading to increased quality of care, better health outcomes, and significantly reduced total cost of care. Visit us at https://www.carelinx.com.

About Generali
Generali is one of the largest global insurance and asset management providers. Established in 1831, it is present in 50 countries in the world. With nearly 72,000 employees serving 61 million customers, the Group has a leading position in Europe and a growing presence in Asia and Latin America. Generali’s ambition is to be the life-time partner to its customers, offering innovative and personalized solutions thanks to an unmatched distribution network. Learn more about the Generali group at https://www.generali.com/.

About the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs was established to provide veterans the world-class benefits and services they have earned – and to do so by adhering to the highest standards of compassion, commitment, excellence, professionalism, integrity, accountability, and stewardship. The Veterans Health Administration is the largest integrated healthcare system in the United States, providing care at 1,255 health care facilities, including 174 VA Medical Centers and 1,062 outpatient sites to over 9 million Veterans enrolled in the VA health care program.

About AARP
AARP is the nation’s largest nonprofit, nonpartisan organization dedicated to empowering people 50 and older to choose how they live as they age. With a nationwide presence and nearly 38 million members, AARP strengthens communities and advocates for what matters most to families: health security, financial stability and personal fulfillment. AARP also produces the nation’s largest circulation publications: AARP The Magazine and AARP Bulletin. To learn more, visit www.aarp.org or follow @AARP and @AARPadvocates on social media.

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SOURCE Elizabeth Dole Foundation