Technology

Alzheimer’s Drug Discovery Foundation’s Diagnostics Accelerator (DxA) Partners with Siemens Healthineers to License DxA’s SpeechDx Dataset, Gold-Standard Dataset for Alzheimer’s Speech Biomarkers

Published

12 months ago

May 1, 2025

Siemens is the first of many partners to non-exclusively license SpeechDx’s speech and clinical dataset with the goal of developing a speech-based biomarker for Alzheimer’s disease.

NEW YORK, May 1, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — The Alzheimer’s Drug Discovery Foundation (ADDF)‘s Diagnostics Accelerator (DxA) today announced a new partnership with Siemens Healthineers to license the DxA’s SpeechDx dataset. SpeechDx, DxA’s most sizeable investment to date, was launched in 2023 as a study aimed at creating the largest longitudinal dataset consisting of harmonized speech and biomarker data to help accelerate the detection, diagnosis and monitoring of Alzheimer’s disease. Under the agreement, Siemens will license the SpeechDx dataset to develop speech-based biomarkers for Alzheimer’s disease.

“We have long known that Alzheimer’s pathology can appear 20-30 years before symptoms arise, creating an opportunity to detect and intervene earlier on in the disease progression,” said Howard Fillit, MD, Co-Founder and Chief Science Officer at the ADDF. “Previous research suggests subtle changes in speech can be one of the earliest indicators of cognitive decline in Alzheimer’s, and our partnership with Siemens represents the first of many collaborations that will utilize SpeechDx dataset to identify a new class of speech-based biomarkers and digital tools for Alzheimer’s.”

This cutting-edge initiative provides researchers with rigorously collected longitudinal speech, clinical, and biomarker data – allowing scientists to identify speech-based biomarkers and develop novel diagnostic and prognostic tools for Alzheimer’s.

“The earlier we identify the prospect of life-altering degenerative diseases, the greater impact we can potentially have on patients and their families’ lives. Predicting Alzheimer’s disease at the earliest possible stage with speech analysis and laboratory testing is untapped potential. The limitation to achieving this milestone has been access to large cohorts of ethically sourced patient data that might provide clues about how early we may be able to predict patients’ degeneration. Through this collaborative agreement, we can explore what opportunities may be possible for earlier detection,” said Arejas J. Uzgiris, PhD, neurology innovation lead and head of the Center for Innovation in Diagnostics for North America at Siemens Healthineers.

SpeechDx serves as the gold-standard dataset for developing diagnostic and prognostic speech-based biomarkers that may signal Alzheimer’s at its earliest stages. The DxA recognized a critical gap in the data fueling the high-potential field of speech diagnostics for Alzheimer’s, establishing SpeechDx as a unified speech dataset for industry, biotech, and academic leaders to accelerate development of speech biomarkers.

Speech data is collected in a standardized fashion via a custom speech app, while clinical and biomarker data come from different partner clinical sites and are harmonized before they are shared with partners via the AD Data Initiative’s AD Workbench. The SpeechDx dataset may inform new diagnostics, with biomarkers detecting decline as early as possible, or may provide insights into prognostics to predict future cognitive decline.

“The SpeechDx dataset has the potential to transform the fight against Alzheimer’s by harnessing the power of speech and digital voice-based biomarkers, opening up new possibilities for earlier disease detection, and progression monitoring,” said Niranjan Bose, Managing Director, Health and Life Sciences at Gates Ventures. “This partnership with Siemens underscores our shared commitment to accelerating Alzheimer’s screening and diagnostics, and we are excited for the progress we can achieve together in the coming years.”

SpeechDx’s dataset includes approximately 2,000 participants recruited from eight clinical sites, with speech collected in three languages (English, Spanish, and Catalan). Each study participant is deeply characterized, including by medical history and demographic data and by longitudinal Alzheimer’s blood-based biomarker and neuropsychological testing and MRI imaging. SpeechDx collects data from each participant for three years to track potential cognitive decline. While SpeechDx participants range from participants with normal cognition to participants with mild Alzheimer’s, most participants are cognitively normal or at earliest stages of decline. SpeechDx is on track to complete data collection in 2028 and will release data to partners in batches, starting in 2025.

“Validation of speech as a digital biomarker has the potential to transform how we diagnose and predict Alzheimer’s disease,” said Rhoda Au, PhD, MBA, Professor of Anatomy and Neurobiology at the Boston University Chobanian and Avedisian School of Medicine, Principal Investigator of the SpeechDx clinical site at Boston University, and recipient of the 2023 Melvin R. Goodes Prize for Excellence in Alzheimer’s Drug Development. “Speech recordings are easily attainable with the widespread and low-cost use of microphones from everyday sources like cell phones, computers, and other electronic devices – leading to greater accessibility to screenings for Alzheimer’s. Combining cognitive assessments, patient demographic information, and speech data may provide a more comprehensive diagnostic and prognostic method of screening for Alzheimer’s.”

About The Alzheimer’s Drug Discovery Foundation (ADDF)
Founded in 1998 by Leonard A. and Ronald S. Lauder, the Alzheimer’s Drug Discovery Foundation is dedicated to rapidly accelerating the discovery of drugs to prevent, treat and cure Alzheimer’s disease. The ADDF is the only public charity solely focused on funding the development of drugs for Alzheimer’s, employing a venture philanthropy model to support research in academia and the biotech industry. The ADDF’s leadership and contributions to the field have played a pivotal role in bringing the first Alzheimer’s PET scan (Amyvid®) and blood test (PrecivityAD®) to market, as well as fueling the current robust and diverse drug pipeline. Through the generosity of its donors, the ADDF has awarded more than $370 million to fund 765 Alzheimer’s drug discovery programs, biomarker programs and clinical trials in 21 countries. To learn more, please visit: http://www.alzdiscovery.org/.

About the Diagnostics Accelerator (DxA)
The Diagnostics Accelerator, created in July 2018, is a $100 million global research initiative from partners including ADDF Co-Founder Leonard A. Lauder, Bill Gates, Jeff Bezos, MacKenzie Scott, the Dolby family, the Charles and Helen Schwab Foundation, The Association for Frontotemporal Degeneration, among others, to develop novel biomarkers for the early detection of Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias.

This research initiative is dedicated to accelerating the development of affordable and accessible biomarkers to diagnose Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias and advance the clinical development of more targeted treatments. Through translational research awards and access to consulting support from industry experts, this program will challenge, assist and fund the research community in both academia and industry to develop novel peripheral and digital biomarkers.

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SOURCE Alzheimer’s Drug Discovery Foundation

Technology

BrightParent Introduces Personalized Parenting App for Parents of Kids Ages 5 to 17

Published

32 minutes ago

April 19, 2026

BrightParent gives parents personalized support, in-the-moment guidance, and 7-day programs for everyday challenges like bedtime battles, homework conflict, big emotions, and sibling tension.

MONTREAL, April 19, 2026 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ — BrightParent, a new parenting app for iPhone and iPad, is now available on the App Store.

“BrightParent was created as a parenting tool that can not only help in the moment, but also support families as they work through patterns that come up again and again.”

Designed for parents of children ages 5 to 17, BrightParent was created to address a gap many families run into every day: parenting advice often sounds good in theory but can feel too generic, too idealized, or too hard to use when real situations are unfolding at home.

“Parents are often trying to respond well in moments that are messy, emotional, and moving fast,” said Claire Bennett, media contact for BrightParent. “What is missing in a lot of existing advice is something that feels calm, practical, and specific enough to help with the child and situation right in front of you.”

BrightParent focuses on common parenting situations such as bedtime resistance, homework struggles, emotional outbursts, sibling conflict, screen time transitions, difficult mornings, and everyday boundary issues.

The app begins with a detailed onboarding process that helps parents build a fuller picture of their child and family context. That information helps shape the support BrightParent provides, so the guidance reflects the child’s age, the situation the parent describes, and the broader family context.

Parents can type in what is happening and receive practical guidance along with simple, natural scripts they can use with their child. For families working through recurring challenges, BrightParent also offers structured 7-day programs, including custom programs parents can create around the specific issues they want help addressing over time.

“The goal was not to build another general-purpose chatbot,” Bennett said. “BrightParent was created as a parenting tool that can not only help in the moment, but also support families as they work through patterns that come up again and again.”

BrightParent is built specifically for everyday parenting support. It is not a general purpose chatbot and does not provide medical, clinical, therapeutic, diagnostic, or crisis services.

BrightParent is available now on the App Store for iPhone and iPad.

Website: https://www.brightparent.app/

App Store: https://apps.apple.com/app/id6759067566

Media page: https://www.brightparent.app/media /

About BrightParent

BrightParent is a parenting app for iPhone and iPad designed for parents of children ages 5 to 17. It offers age-appropriate guidance, practical scripts, and structured support for everyday parenting situations, with personalization informed by the child and family context shared during setup.

Media Contact

Claire Bennett, BrightParent, 1 514-558-4664, media@brightparent.app, https://www.brightparent.app/

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prweb.com/releases/brightparent-introduces-personalized-parenting-app-for-parents-of-kids-ages-5-to-17-302746332.html

SOURCE BrightParent

Technology

Cloverleaf Analytics Unveils 2026 Insurance Decision Intelligence Platform

Published

32 minutes ago

April 19, 2026

Pearl Holding Group Goes Live, and Company and CEO Earn Industry Accolades

HOLLYWOOD, Fla., April 19, 2026 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ — Cloverleaf Analytics, a leader in insurance intelligence decisioning, today proudly announces the launch of its 2026 Insurance Decision Intelligence Platform. This purpose-built solution is designed to optimize data processing and analytics operations for the insurance industry, delivering an end-to-end automated data pipeline from source ingestion to Snowflake, powered by advanced artificial intelligence (AI) capabilities.

“Its implementation will free up our team to focus on strategic initiatives and better customer interactions rather than antiquated technology and business operations,” said Mike Mobley, VP of Operations at Pearl Holding Group.

This product announcement represents a significant advancement in insurance technology, transforming processes that previously took days to generate meaningful insights into mere minutes.

In addition to the platform launch, Cloverleaf Analytics has been recognized as one of the Top 50 Insurtech Providers by Everest Group, solidifying its position as an industry leader. Furthermore, Cloverleaf’s Founder and CEO, Robert Clark, has been named a finalist for Thought Leader of the Year in the PropertyCasualty360 Insurance Luminaries awards in the vendor category, highlighting his contributions to advancing the insurance industry.

“Cloverleaf Analytics has been listed in Everest Group’s Top 50™ Property and Casualty (P&C) Insurance Technology Providers 2026 research. This recognition is attributed to its coverage across major P&C lines of business and key value-chain functions, along with its continued growth in North America,” says Aurindum Mukherjee, Practice Director at Everest Group. “Its strategic investments in GenBI, conversational analytics, and AI-driven data integration within its Intelligent Insurance Platform, supported by an expanding partner ecosystem, underscore its focus on AI-led decision intelligence for P&C insurers.”

After recently announcing Oklahoma Farm Bureau Insurance as its newest customer, Cloverleaf continues to build momentum with Pearl Holding Group now live on Cloverleaf Analytics for Guidewire InsuranceNow claims. Cloverleaf is also supporting Pearl’s transition from legacy systems, with Policy operations currently being implemented.

This phased approach enables Pearl Holding Group to modernize its data infrastructure while laying the foundation for broader adoption of Cloverleaf’s Insurance Decision Intelligence capabilities.

“We are excited to benefit from the streamlined claims operations and enhanced data integrity that Cloverleaf Analytics provides,” said Mike Mobley, VP of Operations at Pearl Holding Group. “Its implementation will free up our team to focus on strategic initiatives and better customer interactions rather than antiquated technology and business operations.”

More About the 2026 Platform Launch

The Cloverleaf Analytics Insurance Decision Intelligence Platform is designed to transform how insurance organizations handle data and decision-making processes. With built-in features such as intelligent field matching, a visual rule builder, and automated ETL script generation, the platform allows companies to reduce mapping time from hours to minutes, reducing human error and standardizing transformation logic across operations.

Benefits for Customers:

Reduced Time and Resources: Transforms data processing tasks that previously took days into minutes.Enhanced Data Quality: Built-in business rules and validation mechanisms protect data integrity from the start.Increased Autonomy: Business users can manage validation logic without relying solely on IT.

Additional Key Features of the Cloverleaf Analytics Platform:

AI-Powered Transformation Suggestions: Automatically generates SQL expressions for improved data manipulation.Visual Canvas for Multi-Source Joins: Intuitive drag-and-drop interface for merging various data sources.Automated Glue Script Generation: Seamlessly create production-ready ETL scripts, removing the burden from data engineers.

“The 2026 edition of our Insurance Decision Intelligence Platform isn’t just an upgrade, it’s a paradigm shift for how the insurance industry leverages data,” said Michael Schwabrow, EVP of Sales and Marketing of Cloverleaf Analytics. “We’re moving beyond basic analytics to empower carriers with real-time, actionable intelligence that transforms decision-making, significantly reduces operational burden, and ultimately builds greater trust and efficiency across the ecosystem. This is about delivering unprecedented clarity and agility to our customers.”

Cloverleaf Analytics is proud to be a Gold and Wi-Fi sponsor at the AAIS Main Event conference taking place from April 19-21 at the Margaritaville Hollywood Beach Resort. Insurers interested in seeing how they can make better, faster decisions using Cloverleaf’s Insurance Decision Intelligence platform can sign up for a 10-minute demo in advance of the event here. Cloverleaf Founder and CEO Robert Clark will also speak on April 21 in a session titled “Advancing the Industry Through Data Contribution and openIDS,” alongside Josh Hershman of the Connecticut Insurance Department and Michael Payne of AAIS.

About Cloverleaf Analytics

Cloverleaf Analytics is a leader in Insurance Decision Intelligence for P&C insurers, helping mid-to-large carriers turn complex insurance data into faster, better underwriting, claims, and operational decisions. The Cloverleaf Insurance Decision Intelligence platform is purpose-built to help carriers easily migrate disparate data from legacy, multi-core, Guidewire and other sources into an Insurance Decisioning Intelligence data lake, regardless of where the data lives. All insurance data in Cloverleaf supports the openIDS standard format. Learn more at www.cloverleafanalytics.com.

Media Contact

Michael Schwabrow, Cloverleaf Analytics, 1 (512) 361-7173 2121, mschwabrow@cloverleafanalytics.com, www.cloverleafanalytics.com

View original content:https://www.prweb.com/releases/cloverleaf-analytics-unveils-2026-insurance-decision-intelligence-platform-302740205.html

SOURCE Cloverleaf Analytics

Technology

SIRUI Wins “Best of Show”, Unveils New Cine Lenses at NAB Show 2026

Published

3 hours ago

April 19, 2026

LAS VEGAS, April 19, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — SIRUI today received a “Best of Show” award for its Vision Prime T1.4 Full-Frame Cine Lens Series, while also introducing new focal lengths for both the Vision Prime and IronStar lens families at the 2026 NAB Show. The expanded lineups give filmmakers a more complete range of creative options, from ultra-wide to telephoto, backed by flexible mount systems.

“Winning the ‘Best of Show’ award is a strong recognition of our commitment to optical innovation,” said Lijie, CEO of SIRUI. The Vision Prime Series is SIRUI’s first cine lens lineup featuring an interchangeable mount system. This design delivers outstanding compatibility, allowing users to effortlessly switch between different camera mounts as needed and seamlessly adapt to various systems.

Enhancing cost-effectiveness and shooting flexibility

Vision Prime Series – 15mm, 75mm, and 150mm

The Vision Prime Series is a full-frame, large-aperture, compact cine lens lineup. Following the existing 24mm, 35mm, and 50mm focal lengths, the series now adds a 15mm wide-angle, along with 75mm and 150mm medium-telephoto lenses, delivering a more complete focal range. With exceptional bokeh, outstanding low-light performance, and superior optical quality, the Vision Prime Series is ideal for both content creation and professional cinematography.

The Vision Prime Series come with a variety of interchangeable mount modules, allowing one lens to work across multiple camera systems — significantly enhancing cost-effectiveness and operational flexibility.

15mm – Optimized for wide-angle imaging, perfect for landscape photography.75mm – Delivers natural compression and pleasing subject‑background separation, perfect for portraits and medium telephoto shots.150mm – Designed for close-up and telephoto shooting, ideal for detailed and macro-style photography.

Cinematic widescreen, made simple.

IronStar Series – 75mm, 100mm, and 135mm

The IronStar series delivers widescreen imagery with vintage characters and modern optical performance. With a constant 1.5X squeeze ratio, it offers filmmakers consistent, high-value tools for films, ads, documentaries, and more.

The initial set includes three lenses—35mm, 45mm, and 60mm—covering wide-angle to medium focal lengths to meet essential framing needs. The introduction of 75mm, 100mm, and 135mm lenses completes the system, forming a fully expanded ecosystem that provides comprehensive support for both commercial and artistic cinematography.

75mm – Suitable for dialogue scenes and storytelling shots, offering a natural and balanced perspective. Ideal for portraits and close-ups with pleasing compression100mm – Ideal for macro and close-up shots, capturing fine details, textures, and product features with strong subject isolation. Suited for food, jewelry and product commercials, combining close-focus capability with a cinematic perspective.135mm – Ideal for tight portraits and close-ups, delivering strong compression and excellent subject separation. Suited for isolating details and subjects from busy backgrounds in narrative films.

The new Vision Prime and IronStar focal length lenses are expected to be officially available in the second half of 2026. For further details, please stay tuned to SIRUI’s official store.

Capture Your Imagination

The NAB Show runs through April 22. SIRUI will host a series of speeches and live social media streams with filmmaking experts and talented content creators at booth C4539. The new Vision Prime and IronStar focal lengths empower filmmakers with greater creative freedom — and SIRUI continues to drive professional lens innovation for creators worldwide.

About SIRUI

SIRUI, the world’s leading anamorphic lens, lighting equipment, and camera support brand, has long been dedicated to providing filmmakers with the ultimate shooting experience. SIRUI products, known for their high performance at an affordable price, have been widely recognized and highly commended by budding filmmakers and professionals worldwide. So far, SIRUI has established an impressive customer service network around the world, as well as over 300 sales outlets and terminal showrooms.

For more information, please visit:
Official Website: store.sirui.com
Instagram: @siruiimaging
YouTube: @SIRUIImaging
TikTok: @sirui.optical
Facebook: SIRUIImaging

Contacts:
marketing@sirui.com

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/sirui-wins-best-of-show-unveils-new-cine-lenses-at-nab-show-2026-302745623.html

SOURCE SIRUI