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NIIMBL Announces 11 New Technology, Workforce, and Global Health Fund Projects

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NEWARK, Del., April 29, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — The National Institute for Innovation in Manufacturing Biopharmaceuticals (NIIMBL) is pleased to announce 11 new member-led technology, workforce development, and Global Health Fund projects with a value of ~$11.2 million through the Institute’s Project Call 8.1. This new slate of collaborative projects addresses key industry challenges and aims to strengthen domestic biopharmaceutical manufacturing capabilities.

Six projects focus on priority technology areas identified by NIIMBL industry members, including manufacturing platforms for biopharmaceutical products, process analytical technologies, and data science and modeling.

“NIIMBL members are well-positioned to advance current state-of-the-art processes and analytical technologies,” said Sandeep Kedia, NIIMBL Senior Technology Fellow. “We are excited about the potential these projects have to advance our ability to manufacture biologic products and push the boundaries of what is possible in biomanufacturing.”

The slate of new projects also includes three workforce projects aimed at building awareness and talent pipeline development, ensuring the U.S. has the strongest biopharmaceutical workforce globally.

“To meet the industry’s future talent needs, we need to find innovative ways to reach new talent and offer them pathways to begin their careers in the industry,” said John Balchunas, NIIMBL Workforce Director. “The new projects will provide new tools to help us do that.”

The NIIMBL Global Health Fund (GHF) was established with funding contributed by the Gates Foundation to develop and implement innovative technologies to manufacture preventative medical countermeasures and biologics. Two projects funded as part of Project Call 8.1 focus on reducing the cost of goods to manufacture mRNA-based preventative medical countermeasures.

“With mRNA technologies opening the doors for new therapeutics, we are excited by the opportunities these projects provide to lower costs,” said Chris Roberts, NIIMBL Associate Institute Director.

The approximate value of these 11 projects includes NIIMBL funding plus cost share from participating organizations.

Since NIIMBL’s launch in 2017, the Institute has awarded 160 projects with a total investment of more than $134 million. NIIMBL is composed of 200+ member organizations from academia, industry, government, and non-profit organizations with a common goal to advance biopharmaceutical manufacturing. Funding for Project Call 8.1 projects is subject to project award negotiations.

For a description of each project and to learn more about NIIMBL, please visit the Project Call 8.1 page.

Project Call 8.1 List

Technology Projects

Project: Automation and Control of a Precipitation-based Continuous Downstream Process for High Titer Products
Lead: Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
Participants: Astra Zeneca, Boehringer Ingelheim, Bristol Myers Squibb, ChromaTan, Dyadic, Janssen, Merck & Co., Inc., MilliporeSigma, PAK Bio, PendoTECH, Sanofi

Project: Rapid Bioburden and Sterility Testing for Biopharmaceutical Manufacturing
Lead: Mango, Inc.
Participant: Janssen

Project: Single Particle Analyzer for High-throughput and High-content Characterization of Nanoparticle-based RNA Therapy
Lead: Johns Hopkins University
Participants: CICS Analytics, Sartorius Stedim, National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST)

Project: Integrating High-Throughput Chromatography and Data Science in a Platform for the Rapid and Accurate Quantification of Full, Partial, and Empty AAV Capsids
Lead: North Carolina State University
Participants: Bio Rad Laboratories, Bristol Myers Squibb, Cornell University, LigaTrap Technologies LLC, MilliporeSigma, Refeyn, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Sartorius Stedim, University of Florida

Project: Obtaining Extensive At-line Input and Output Analytics Combined with Machine Learning to Improve Predictive CQA
Lead: Carnegie Mellon University
Participants: Johns Hopkins University, Merck & Co., Inc., Pfizer, Inc., University of Maryland Baltimore

Project: Spectro-acoustic Process Analytical Technology for Real-time Monitoring of Biopharmaceuticals
Lead: Purdue University
Participants: Merck & Co., Inc.

Workforce Projects

Project: Creation of National Standards for a Biomanufacturing Technician Registered Apprenticeship Program
Lead: Apprenti
Participants: InnovATEBIO, LifeScience Workforce Collaborative (LSWC)

Project: Life Sciences Career Hub: Biomanufacturing in Central Massachusetts
Lead: MassBio Education Foundation
Participants: Masschusetts Biomedical Initiative (MBI)

Project: A Day in the Life: Highlighting Careers in Biopharmaceutical Manufacturing
Lead: Bioscience Core Skills Institute (BCSI)
Participants: BioSTL, Merck & Co., Inc., Pfizer, Inc., Texas A&M Engineering Experiment Station (TEES)

Global Health Fund Projects

Project: Lowering the Cost of Goods for Making mRNA Utilizing Continuous Manufacturing
Lead: Sepragen
Participants: University of Massachusetts Lowell, University of Pennsylvania

Project: Lowering mRNA LNP Cost of Goods by Adding a Dose-sparing and Stabilizing Adjuvant
Lead: VaxForm

About NIIMBL

The National Institute for Innovation in Manufacturing Biopharmaceuticals (NIIMBL) is a public-private partnership whose mission is to accelerate biopharmaceutical innovation, support the development of standards that enable more efficient and rapid manufacturing capabilities, and educate and train a world-leading biopharmaceutical manufacturing workforce, fundamentally advancing U.S. competitiveness and security. NIIMBL is part of Manufacturing USA®, a network of federally sponsored manufacturing innovation institutes, and is funded through a cooperative agreement with the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) in the U.S. Department of Commerce with significant additional support from its members.

Contact
News Media
Daniel Maiese
Communications Manager
302-831-3824
dmaiese@udel.edu

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SOURCE National Institute for Innovation in Manufacturing Biopharmaceuticals (NIIMBL)

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SUNGLASS HUT CELEBRATES “OWN YOUR MOMENT” & COVENT GARDEN POP-UP WITH AN UNFORGETTABLE LONDON EVENT FRONTED BY AMBASSADOR MELANIE C

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LONDON, June 2, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Sunglass Hut, the leading global destination for premium sunglasses, brought its OWN YOUR MOMENT summer campaign to life with an exclusive event to launch its consumer pop-up in London’s Covent Garden. The evening celebrated the brand’s summer collection alongside global ambassador Melanie C, delivering a high-energy experience for consumers to enjoy.

The night was kicked off by Sunglass Hut ambassador and Spice Girl Melanie C, who took to the decks for a special DJ set, setting the tone for an evening that was equal parts fashion and fun. Guests explored the collection, enjoyed the atmosphere and embraced the spirit of the campaign, centred on confidence, individuality and living in the moment.

Guests enjoyed a series of thoughtfully curated experiences throughout the evening. Bespoke goody bags offered guests a keepsake from the campaign and artisan gelato from Badiani brought a refined touch of Italian flair.

At the heart of the event was the opportunity to explore the summer collection first-hand, including key seasonal styles from Ray-Ban, Oakley and Ray-Ban Meta, alongside a broader mix of leading fashion brands and Sunglass Hut exclusives. Guests were also able to browse Melanie C’s dedicated product edit, a curation of easy everyday styles with a sporty edge and elevated designer pieces, available on Sunglass Hut ecommerce and in select stores.

The pop-up is part of a wider summer ambassador series in which Sunglass Hut is deepening local relevance through authentic talent partnerships and bold customer experiences. Melanie C joins Breanna Stewart in the United States and María Pedraza in Spain as part of the brand’s global summer ambassador series, each hosting an event inspired by the culture and energy of their market.

The Sunglass Hut pop-up is now open to the public at Covent Garden, running until 14th June, 12pm-7pm daily.

First introduced in 2025, OWN YOUR MOMENT marked a refreshed brand positioning for Sunglass Hut, creating a more inspiring and emotionally resonant identity for customers around the world. The platform celebrates the idea that sunglasses are more than an accessory. They have the power to transform how people see the world and how the world sees them.

Shop the summer collection and Melanie C’s edit now at: www.sunglasshut.com

About Sunglass Hut

Founded in 1971, Sunglass Hut has grown into the best curated destination for the most sought-after high-quality fashion and performance sunglass brands, with more than 2,500 retail locations. Stores can be found in fashionable shopping districts across the globe, from the Americas, Europe and the Middle East to Australia, South Africa, China, Southeast Asia and beyond, providing consumers with a fun, highly engaging shopping experience in-store and online. www.sunglasshut.com 

About EssilorLuxottica

EssilorLuxottica is a global leader in the design, manufacturing, and distribution of ophthalmic lenses, frames, and sunglasses. With more than 200,000 employees across 150 countries, 650 operational facilities and 18,000 stores, its mission is to help people around the world see more and be more by addressing their evolving vision needs and personal style aspirations.

EssilorLuxottica is home to some of the most advanced lens technologies, including Varilux, Stellest, and Transitions, as well as some of the most iconic eyewear brands, including Ray-Ban and Oakley, highly sought-after licensed luxury brands, and world-class retailers such as Sunglass Hut, Óticas Carol, and GrandVision.

The OneSight EssilorLuxottica Foundation has enabled access to sustainable vision care for more than 760 million people in underserved communities worldwide. For more information, visit www.essilorluxottica.com

Photo – https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2993703/Sunglass_Hut.jpg

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HIMSS and SingHealth to Co-Host 2026 HIMSS APAC Health Conference & Exhibition in Singapore to Accelerate Healthcare Transformation

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SINGAPORE, June 3, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — HIMSS, a mission-driven independent society, global thought leader and advisor, will co-host the 2026 HIMSS APAC Health Conference & Exhibition 23–25 August 2026 in Singapore in strategic partnership with SingHealth, Singapore’s largest public group of healthcare institutions.

HIMSS26 APAC will convene senior health system leaders, government ministers, clinicians and technology innovators from across Asia-Pacific and beyond to address the defining challenge of the time: translating AI ambition into scalable, evidence-based impact.

Under the theme “Trust, Intelligence and Agility: Re-engineering APAC Health Systems in the AI Era,” the three-day program will combine an exclusive pre-conference CXO AI Summit, two days of main conference plenary and parallel tracks, an exhibition, curated hospital visits and executive networking to create an unparalleled environment for peer exchange, strategic insight and high-value connections.

“Health systems across Asia-Pacific have focused ambition and investment in the deployment of AI tools and capabilities. The global challenge is translating momentum into scalable, system-wide impact,” said Hal Wolf, HIMSS President and CEO. “HIMSS26 APAC will bring together leaders, frameworks and real-world evidence to guide health systems through measurable transformation. We are proud to develop this program in close partnership with our APAC Steering committee, comprised of senior healthcare executives and digital health leaders from APAC markets, to deliver the best insights at the conference.”

A Strategic Partnership with SingHealth

HIMSS26 APAC is co-hosted with SingHealth, Singapore’s largest public healthcare cluster. The partnership reflects Singapore’s position as the APAC hub for digital health innovation. Additionally, this partnership connects HIMSS26 APAC delegates directly to the team leading Singapore’s national health data strategy, AI governance frameworks and digital maturity programs.

Benedict Tan, Group Chief Digital Strategy Officer and Chief Data Officer at SingHealth and Board Member of HIMSS, will deliver keynotes at both the CXO AI Summit and the main conference opening ceremony. This reflects SingHealth’s commitment to inspire other healthcare systems to use AI with trust, transparency and measurable impact.

Three Days of High-Stakes Dialogue

The programme is built around the questions that matter most to health system leaders right now: Is AI ROI the wrong metric? What does a smart hospital look like in the age of AI? And what separates the systems that are scaling innovation from those still experimenting?

The conference opens on 23 August with an invitation-only CXO AI Summit, an executive forum challenging the conventional wisdom on AI return on investment, governance and the foundations of enterprise-scale adoption. The Summit will be anchored by keynotes from Hal Wolf and Benedict Tan, with panel discussions moderated by Dr Anne Snowdon, Chief Scientific Officer of HIMSS, and Tom Leary, HIMSS Senior Vice President and Head of Government Relations. International speakers from health systems from across the Asia-Pacific region will be announced soon.

The main conference on 24–25 August opens with a showcase of excellence in digital maturity before moving into two days of plenary keynotes, executive addresses, government perspectives from across APAC and deep-dive parallel tracks spanning AI digital foundation, clinical AI, operational AI and smart hospitals and intelligent health systems. Senior perspectives from health ministries and leading digital health organisations across South Korea, Australia, Singapore and the broader Asia-Pacific region will be featured throughout.

The programme closes with a cross-industry panel asking what healthcare can learn from other sectors already reshaped by AI, bringing together voices from health technology, clinical leadership and beyond.

Members of the press, potential media partners and podcasters interested in participating in HIMSS26 APAC are invited to email the HIMSS Communications team at press@himss.org for more information.

About HIMSS

HIMSS (the Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society) is a mission-driven independent society, a global thought leader, and an advisor dedicated to creating an informed and empowered community of providers, innovators, and individuals. HIMSS stands apart by bridging strategic and visionary ideas with practical execution, empowering health systems and governments globally to achieve measurable impact for the future of health and care.

About SingHealth

SingHealth is Singapore’s largest group of healthcare institutions, comprising an integrated network of hospitals, specialty centres, and polyclinics committed to providing quality, accessible healthcare. As a regional leader in integrated digital health, SingHealth serves as both co-host and a real-world model of how policy, infrastructure, and innovation align to support system-wide transformation.

 

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SOURCE HIMSS-HEALTHCARE INFORMATION AND MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS SOCIETY

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NAVC Named to Inc.’s 2026 Best Workplaces List

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Annual list recognizes the businesses that set the standard for workplace success and awards excellence in company culture

ORLANDO, Fla., June 2, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — NAVC has been named one of Inc.’s 2026 Best Workplaces. This annual award honors American companies with exceptional workplaces and vibrant cultures that support their teams and businesses, whether in-person, remote or hybrid.

“A happy team is a high-performing one, and at NAVC, we believe in creating environments where everyone can thrive,” said Gene O’Neill, NAVC CEO. “Our culture is centered on the team, which naturally unlocks potential. We host open forums where employees share ideas and feedback, and we prioritize investing in professional development for all staff. The result? An incredible group of passionate and talented individuals. NAVC is a special place to work for one reason – the people.”

Who is NAVC?

NAVC is a nonprofit organization with a mission to support and advance veterinary professionals across the globe. As the leading provider of veterinary continuing education, NAVC delivers essential training and resources that keep the veterinary community informed of the latest advances in animal medicine. NAVC’s diverse portfolio of products and services includes:

In-person and virtual educational events like VMX, HiVE, SkillShop and LevelUPVetfolio – a robust virtual learning platformEducational podcastsFour award-winning, peer-reviewed publicationsAdvocacy work in the animal health space

Best Workplaces Award Methodology

The award is the result of a comprehensive measurement and evaluation of hundreds of applicants. The process involved a detailed employee survey conducted by Quantum Workplace, covering critical elements such as management effectiveness, perks, professional development and overall company culture. Each company’s benefits were also audited to determine the overall score. NAVC is honored to be included among the 507 companies recognized this year.

“This year’s Best Workplaces list goes beyond great company culture–it highlights companies making meaningful and sustained investment in their employees,” says Bonny Ghosh, editorial director at Inc. “Even in a labor market that favors employers, these companies understand that an intentional and authentic commitment to their teams drives stronger employee retention, engagement, and ultimately, a stronger business overall.”

To view the full list of winners, visit Inc.com.

About NAVC

The North American Veterinary Community (NAVC) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting and advancing veterinary professionals worldwide. The world’s leading provider of veterinary continuing education, the NAVC delivers essential training, tools and resources for veterinary professionals to stay abreast of advances in animal medicine and provide the best medical care for animals everywhere. Through its commitment to innovation and excellence, the NAVC has developed a diverse portfolio of products and services, including: educational events, headlined by VMX, the world’s largest, most comprehensive continuing education conference and launchpad for new products and innovations within the veterinary industry; a robust digital platform for virtual learning and engagement; the veterinary industry’s largest and award-winning portfolio of trade publications; and an advocacy arm which unites the veterinary community and pet lovers. The NAVC was founded in 1982 and is headquartered in Orlando, FL. Since 2017, the NAVC has been recognized annually as one of the Top Workplaces by the Orlando Sentinel. To learn more about the NAVC’s products and brands, visit https://navc.com/. To see our schedule of upcoming events, visit https://navc.com/calendar/.

About Inc.

Inc. is the leading media brand and playbook for entrepreneurs and business. Through its journalism, Inc. aims to inform, educate, and elevate the profile of its community: the risk-takers, the innovators, and the ultra-driven go-getters who are creating the future of business. Inc. is published by Mansueto Ventures LLC, along with fellow leading business publication Fast Company. For more information, visit www.inc.com.

About Quantum Workplace

Quantum Workplace, based in Omaha, Nebraska, is an HR technology company that serves organizations through employee-engagement surveys, action-planning tools, exit surveys, peer-to-peer recognition, performance evaluations, goal tracking, and leadership assessment. For more information, visit QuantumWorkplace.com.

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SOURCE North American Veterinary Community (NAVC)

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