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Dr. Marvin Caruthers Receives the Inaugural Merkin Prize in Biomedical Technology in a Ceremony at the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard

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Merkin Prize honors Dr. Caruthers’ transformative work synthesizing DNA

CAMBRIDGE, Mass., Oct. 4, 2023 /PRNewswire/ — Dr. Richard Merkin, Founder and CEO of Heritage Provider Network, and members of the team at the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, awarded Dr. Marvin Caruthers, of the University of Boulder Colorado, the inaugural Richard Merkin Prize in Biomedical Technology in a daylong celebration and gala dinner recognizing Dr. Caruthers’ groundbreaking work in synthesizing DNA.

Dr. Caruthers won the inaugural Merkin Prize in Biomedical Technology for developing automated technology for quickly synthesizing DNA that provided essential elements in the development of modern molecular medicine. These are used in genetic sequencing, drug and vaccine development, cancer diagnostics and many aspects of basic biomedical research. Without his methodologies, working with genetic material to study human health, diagnose and treat disease, synthesize DNA and RNA strands to detect pathogens, manufacture drugs and edit gene sequences would not be possible, paving the way for a genetics revolution.

“I’m so pleased and proud to honor Dr. Caruthers with the inaugural Merkin Prize in Biomedical Technology. The biotech industry would not be what it is today if it weren’t for Dr. Caruthers,” Dr. Merkin said. “The Broad would not be what it is, or maybe even exist, if it weren’t for Dr. Caruthers. His work demonstrates the type of technology used in the life sciences that impacts patients’ care and has significantly advanced healthcare for millions, the purpose of the prize.”

“I’m extremely honored that I was chosen from an equally important number of colleagues who could have received this prize,” said Dr. Caruthers. “It’s a very high honor for me to have been selected for this prize. The research we’re being recognized for, people worldwide in almost every biology and biochemistry laboratory use our chemistry in one way or another,” he continued.

The Merkin Prize, which recognizes novel technologies that have improved human health, carries a $400,000 cash award. The prize was created by the Merkin Family Foundation and is administered by the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard. More than fifty technologies and scores of scientists from around the globe who invented them were nominated for the 2023 Merkin Prize. Those nominations were evaluated by the selection committee, composed of eight scientific leaders from academia and industry in the US and Europe and jury chair Dr. Harold Varmus, Nobel laureate.

“There are a lot of prizes in biomedical science, but very few of them are focused on technology,” Dr. Varmus said. “Yet we all know as scientists that it’s technology that drives discovery. In this case the prize is designed to honor not just technologies that are exciting in the laboratory, but technologies that have had an impact on public health and clinical care.”

“Like Eli Broad, Dr. Merkin is one of those rare philanthropists who is not only generous, but also sees the value in being patient and investing in technologies and fundamental science that someday will pay off and benefit humanity,” said Todd Golub, Director and founding core institute member of the Broad Institute. “He’s been one of our most important partners, making much of what we do here at the Broad possible.” 

At an afternoon science symposium, Merkin Institute fellows and other prominent scientists including Dr. Caruthers spoke about their innovative work.

“We really want to introduce chemical synthesis to introduce much more diverse chemical language into the intricate design of mRNA therapeutics, which could have a really big potential in many diseases,” said Xiao Wang, MIT chemistry professor, Broad Institute core member and Merkin fellow. “I’m really thankful for the support of the Merkin fellowship,” she said. “It is because we had the fellowship that we could buy our very first DNA and RNA synthesizer in the lab.”

Nominations are now open for the 2024 Merkin Prize in Biomedical Technology. Learn more here.

About the Merkin Family Foundation
The Merkin Family Foundation was founded by visionary health care executive Richard Merkin, MD.

Richard Merkin, MD is the founder and CEO of Heritage Provider Network, Inc. (HPN). HPN is one of the largest physician founded and physician owned managed care organizations in the country dedicated to value-based healthcare delivery improvements. HPN develops and manages coordinated, patient-doctor centric, integrated health care systems that offer some of the strongest solutions for the future of health, care, and cost in the United States. HPN and its affiliates operate in New York, California, and Arizona, providing high-quality, cost-effective healthcare with over one million patient members. HPN is dedicated to quality, affordable health care, and putting patients’ wellness first.

About Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard
Broad Institute was launched in 2004 to empower this generation of scientists to transform medicine. The Broad Institute seeks to describe the molecular components of life and their connections; discover the molecular basis of major human diseases; develop approaches to diagnostics and therapeutics; and disseminate discoveries, tools, methods, and data to the entire scientific community.

Founded by MIT, Harvard, Harvard-affiliated hospitals, and the visionary Los Angeles philanthropists Eli and Edythe L. Broad, the Broad Institute includes faculty, professional staff, and students from throughout the MIT and Harvard biomedical research communities and beyond, with collaborations spanning over 100 private and public institutions in more than 40 countries worldwide.

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SOURCE Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard

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CHiQ at IFA 2026: From Global Expansion to Deeper Local Engagement

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29 minutes ago

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September 4, 2026

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BERLIN, Sept. 4, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — At IFA Berlin on September 4, CHiQ unveiled its new AI-powered home appliance range, covering TVs, refrigerators, air conditioners, and washer-dryer combos. Rather than emphasizing technical specifications in isolation, the brand demonstrated how AI integrates into real-life household routines, marking a shift from technological innovation to everyday experiences and reflecting parent company Changhong’s continued focus on localization across global markets.

To address diverse household needs, CHiQ is embedding AI into a growing number of everyday scenarios. Its RGB MiniLED AI TV lineup integrates an integrated AI Sports Platform, transforming the TV from a traditional display into an interactive hub for home fitness and shared activities. The air conditioner features AI Human Presence Radar, which detects users’ locations and habits to adjust airflow dynamically. Meanwhile, the AI-powered refrigerator and laundry care system employ intelligent sensing and monitoring to help users take a more proactive approach to managing food freshness and garment cleanliness.

On IFA’s opening day, Grundig, CHiQ’s strategic partner and a premium European home appliance brand, presented a new product lineup across TVs, refrigerators, washer-dryers, and air conditioners. This showcase represents a further extension of Grundig’s brand development and product strategy and points to a new direction for Grundig in European and global markets.

In recent years, CHiQ’s focus has centered on simplifying everyday household chores through smart innovation. The brand has introduced a virtual giant panda as an AI interactive assistant, adding warmth and personality to its smart TVs and other AI-enabled appliances while naturally incorporating distinctive elements of Chinese culture into the user experience.

Skiing has also become another bridge connecting CHiQ with European lifestyles. Over the same period, the brand has strengthened its European presence as an official data partner of the FIS Ski Jumping World Cup. These efforts have deepened CHiQ’s connections with consumers in Europe and around the world. At the same time, the brand incorporates the speed of skiing and the pristine character of winter sports into its products, bringing technology closer to users’ lifestyles.

Behind these initiatives lies a broader shift: CHiQ is advancing its localization efforts. From product experiences and brand messaging to sports, culture and other aspects of local life, the company is establishing more diverse touchpoints as it expands its presence in Europe. Moving beyond simply entering overseas markets toward becoming part of them, CHiQ is bringing its global expansion into closer alignment with the local markets it serves.

About CHiQ

CHiQ, one of the world’s leading manufacturers of consumer electronics and household appliances, is redefining industry standards with innovative products, intelligent technologies, and a growing commitment to corporate social responsibility. Its influence continues to grow across global markets, especially in Europe.

SOURCE CHiQ

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New Poll: Parents Overwhelmingly Support the Agreement Between the States & Meta To Keep Young People Safe Online

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29 minutes ago

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September 4, 2026

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More Than Four-in-Five Parents Want Other Platforms Such As TikTok, YouTube and Snapchat to Adopt Safeguards

WASHINGTON, D.C., Sept. 4, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — The Coalition to Empower our Future (CEF) today released new research finding overwhelming support among parents nationwide for the recent agreement between states across the country and Meta to strengthen protections for young people online and give parents additional tools to support their children. The findings show that parents not only support the agreement, but also want other social media platforms to follow Meta’s lead and implement similar protections so young people have consistent safeguards across platforms.

“Parents want practical tools that help them keep their kids safe online, and they want those tools no matter what platform their kids are on,” said Glen Weiner, executive director of the Coalition to Empower our Future. “This agreement is an important step forward that will help protect young people using Instagram and Facebook, but kids don’t spend all their time on one platform. To continue making progress, other social media platforms need to join these efforts and adopt the same policies. There’s no single solution to the challenges young people are facing, but giving parents more tools and helping young people build healthier habits with technology are important pieces of a broader, comprehensive approach.”

According to the survey, more than four-in-five parents across the country support the agreement between the states and Meta, including 82 percent of Democratic parents and 84 percent of Republican parents. Other key findings include:

Parents believe the new safety measures will have a positive impact on youth mental health, including expanded parental controls (82 percent), daily screen-time limits (80 percent), and muting notifications during school hours (77 percent) and overnight (76 percent).Overwhelming majorities of parents on both sides of the aisle want other platforms to adopt the same policies. More than four-in-five say other platforms should implement the same online safety measures, including 85 percent of Democratic parents and 86 percent of Republican parents.

Support is similarly strong when parents are asked about individual platforms, including:TikTok (85 percent);YouTube (84 percent); andSnapchat (82 percent).Parents want policymakers to take action. Four-in-five parents (80 percent) would support their state legislature putting these online safety measures into law, and more than two-thirds of parents (67 percent) would be more likely to vote for an elected official who advances these measures.

The new findings build on previous research from CEF showing that parents and voters want a comprehensive approach to youth mental health that gives families practical tools and teaches young people how to navigate technology safely and responsibly.

The full research findings can be found HERE.

The research, conducted between August 28 and August 31, 2026, in partnership with Mercury Analytics, included an online survey of 1,000 parents nationwide.

About the Coalition to Empower our Future

Coalition to Empower our Future is an organization bringing together a range of voices to fully inform solutions that empower youth, parents, communities, and society. The Coalition to Empower our Future supports solutions that are inclusive of the full spectrum of factors impacting youth mental health. Former Montana Governor Steve Bullock, former U.S. Representative Carlos Curbelo, and Dr. Caroline Carney, a board-certified psychiatrist and internist, serve on the board of directors of the Coalition to Empower our Future.

To learn more, visit empowerourfuturecoalition.com or follow Coalition to Empower our Future on Facebook, X and YouTube.

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SOURCE Coalition to Empower our Future

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Bybit On-Chain Earn Raises BTC Staking Yield by 50% to 1.2% APR

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29 minutes ago

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September 4, 2026

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DUBAI, UAE, Sept. 4, 2026 /CNW/ — Bybit, the world’s second-largest cryptocurrency exchange by trading volume, is pleased to announce Bybit On-Chain Earn has partnered with Function (FBTC) to upgrade its BTC staking Vault product, raising the guaranteed annualized return from 0.8% to as much as 1.2%, a 50% increase of the evergreen offering.  With Bybit, BTC holders no longer need to sit on their idle asset as they navigate a range-bound BTC.

In early September 2026, BTC has been consolidating around the $80,000 level after rebounding from roughly $62,600 in August and briefly climbing above $81,000 in late August. The cryptocurrency continues to hold above its key moving averages, encouraging many long-term holders to maintain their position.

Bybit On-Chain Earn‘s new BTC staking solution comes with a guaranteed minimum return, distinguishing it from variable-rate products where yield fluctuates with market conditions. Eligible users may subscribe to a fixed 45-day term with no option for early redemption. A subscription cap of 200 BTC applies. Upon maturity, participants can opt into automatic renewal, allowing both principal and accrued returns to roll seamlessly into the next staking cycle without requiring manual reinvestment. This structure is designed to give BTC holders a straightforward way to generate yield on idle holdings while maintaining predictable, fixed-term commitments.

The partnership with Function, the protocol behind FBTC, extends Bybit’s collaboration with the DeFi and TradFi convergence space, diversifying user access to potential yield opportunities across the digital asset landscape.

The upgraded exclusive BTC vault is now live on Bybit. Terms and conditions apply. Users may visit Bybit On-Chain Earn for details on eligibility requirements and potential restrictions.

#Bybit  / #NewFinancialPlatform

About Bybit

Bybit is The New Financial Platform.

We believe every person should have access to every financial opportunity on earth. That’s why we’re building the first intelligent platform that connects anyone, anywhere to the world’s finance.

Trusted by more than 80 million users worldwide, Bybit brings together investing, trading, payments, and wealth-building in a single secure and intelligent ecosystem. Through the combination of AI-powered technology, deep global liquidity, robust security, and transparent operations, Bybit makes global finance more accessible, efficient, and empowering for everyone.

Built for everyone. Powered by intelligence. Open to the world.

Learn more at Bybit.com

For more details about Bybit, please visit Bybit Press
For media inquiries, please contact: media@bybit.com
For updates, please follow: Bybit’s Communities and Social Media

Discord | Facebook | Instagram | LinkedIn | Reddit | Telegram | TikTok | X | Youtube

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SOURCE Bybit

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