Connect with us

Technology

Four Scientists Awarded $3 Million for High-Impact Research to Advance New Answers for Tau-Driven Diseases

Published

on

Investment underscores a shared commitment to advancing the next wave of discoveries for neurodegenerative diseases driven by tau pathology

FORT WORTH, Texas, Aug. 27, 2026 /CNW/ — The Rainwater Charitable Foundation, one of the largest independent funders of neurodegenerative research, in collaboration with the Alzheimer’s Association®, the Aging Mind Foundation, and CurePSP, today announced $3 million in grants to fund four innovative research projects spanning over two years, stemming from the 2026 Tauopathy Challenge Workshop

Tauopathies are a group of devastating neurodegenerative disorders driven by the abnormal accumulation of tau protein, including Progressive Supranuclear Palsy (PSP), Corticobasal Degeneration (CBD), and Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Despite recent scientific advances, effective treatment options remain limited, and many questions remain about the molecular mechanisms that drive disease onset and progression.

To date, the Rainwater Charitable Foundation has invested over $165 million in medical research. This year, four proposals will be funded based on their potential to advance understanding of tau biology and inform future diagnostic strategies using novel tools and approaches:

Carlo Condello, PhD, University of California, San Francisco (Awarded $750,000): This research aims to reveal the molecular heterogeneity of cell type-specific tau conformers in 4-repeat (4R) tauopathies such as PSP and CBD. Dr. Condello and his co-investigators will leverage human brain samples, stem cell models, and animal models combined with a multidisciplinary approach to investigate how neuronal and glial cell environments influence the formation of disease-associated tau strains. The goal is to elucidate novel mechanisms and biomarkers, potentially providing new directions for more precise molecular therapeutics.Daniel C. Lee, PhD, University of Kentucky (Awarded $750,000): This research investigates how the tau modification citrullination interacts with phosphorylation to influence tau structure, aggregation, and disease-associated forms of tau. Unlike phosphorylation, citrullination is irreversible, raising the possibility that citrullinated tau may promote distinct and persistent disease-associated protein assemblies. Dr. Lee will measure how citrullination impacts tau aggregation, structure, and oligomer formation to provide a new understanding of how citrullination alters tau behavior and establish innovative tools for investigating protein misfolding.Edward B. Lee, MD, PhD, University of Pennsylvania (Awarded $750,000): This research investigates how tau fibers bundle together and interact with nearby cell structures in PSP with the hope of uncovering whether neurons, astrocytes, and oligodendrocytes generate distinct forms of tau pathology. Leveraging advanced laboratory methods and cutting-edge cryo-electron tomography (cryo-ET), Dr. Lee and his lab aim to reveal why PSP affects certain brain regions and why symptoms may vary between patients to provide new opportunities for precise and effective therapies for related neurodegenerative diseases.Sue-Ann Mok, PhD, University of Alberta (Awarded $750,000): This research examines aggregate structures in de novo and seeded tau aggregation reactions to rapidly identify specific tau modifications that help drive or disrupt the formation of disease-associated aggregate structures. Using limited proteolysis assays, single molecule mass photometry (SMMP), and cryo-EM, Dr. Mok and her team will track how “blueprint” tau molecules interact during the earliest stages of aggregation and explore how specific versions of tau control the formation of disease-associated aggregates. The goal is to identify key mechanisms that influence tau aggregation and support the development of future diagnostic and therapeutic approaches.

“As the burden of neurodegenerative disease continues to grow, it’s paramount we invest in innovative science that can unlock new paths toward diagnosis, treatment, and prevention,” said Jeremy Smith, President of the Rainwater Charitable Foundation. “We are grateful to our partners for helping make these grants possible and are proud to support the progress of these investigators and the insights they may generate for patients and families affected by these debilitating diseases.”

Launched by the Rainwater Charitable Foundation in 2023, the Tauopathy Challenge Workshop is a targeted funding initiative designed to accelerate progress in primary tauopathies by bringing together interdisciplinary experts around a single topic to address unmet needs. This year’s workshop focused on exploring the structural and thermodynamic properties of tau protein and its interactions with other pathologies, with participating investigators challenged to uncover new insights into the molecular mechanisms that drive tau aggregation and disease.

The upcoming 2027 Tauopathy Challenge Workshop seeks to uncover how biological factors including sex, age, metabolism, and cell identity can shape cellular vulnerability, resilience, and disease processes in primary tauopathies. For more information, please visit www.tauopathychallengeworkshop.com.

About the Rainwater Charitable Foundation’s Medical Research
The Rainwater Charitable Foundation (RCF) was created in the early 1990s by Richard E. Rainwater, the late private equity investor and philanthropist. When Richard was diagnosed with a rare neurodegenerative disease and primary tauopathy called Progressive Supranuclear Palsy (PSP), the RCF expanded its mission to accelerate the development of new diagnostics and treatments for tau-related neurodegenerative disorders. The RCF Medical Research Team supports this focus by managing the Tau Consortium, the Rainwater Prize, and the Tauopathy Challenge Workshop. With over $165 million invested in medical research to date, the RCF has helped to advance eight treatments into human trials. Currently the RCF supports a range of programs, including a focus on family economic security, medical research, and other initiatives that expand opportunity and strengthen communities. For more information, please visit rainwatercharitablefoundation.org.

About the Alzheimer’s Association®
The Alzheimer’s Association is a worldwide voluntary health organization dedicated to Alzheimer’s care, support and research. Our mission is to lead the way to end Alzheimer’s and all other dementia — by accelerating global research, driving risk reduction and early detection, and maximizing quality care and support. Our vision is a world without Alzheimer’s and all other dementia®. Visit alz.org or call +1 800.272.3900.

About the Aging Mind Foundation
The Aging Mind Foundation (AMF) raises money to fund scientific research that seeks the causes of Alzheimer’s disease and other types of dementia. Since 2013, AMF has awarded significant grants to support innovative research. By investing in discovery and innovation, AMF is committed to reducing the devastating impact of dementia on individuals, families, and communities. Aging Mind Foundation is a project of Players Philanthropy Fund, Inc., a Texas nonprofit corporation recognized by IRS as a tax-exempt public charity under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code (Federal Tax ID: 27-6601178). To learn more, visit www.agingmindfoundation.org.

About CurePSP
CurePSP is the leading nonprofit organization dedicated to the awareness, care and cure for three neurodegenerative diseases: progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP), corticobasal degeneration (CBD) and multiple system atrophy (MSA). As a catalyst for new treatments and a cure, CurePSP establishes important partnerships and funds critical research internationally. Through its advocacy and support efforts, CurePSP enhances education, care delivery and quality of life for people living with PSP, CBD and MSA and their families. Science, community and hope are at the heart of CurePSP’s mission and all its services. CurePSP is a registered 501(c)(3) charity within the United States (EIN: 52-1704978).

Corporate Contact
Jordan Brainerd
The Rainwater Charitable Foundation
+1 (817) 820-2708
jbrainerd@rainwatercf.org

Media Contact
Alex Thorson
Spectrum Science
+1 (202) 587-2531
athorson@spectrumscience.com

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/four-scientists-awarded-3-million-for-high-impact-research-to-advance-new-answers-for-tau-driven-diseases-302859489.html

SOURCE The Rainwater Charitable Foundation

Continue Reading
Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Technology

Love Letters to Lettuce? You Read that Right – Little Leaf Farms Fans are Feeling the Love

Published

on

By

Little Leaf Farms Is Spreading the Love, Giving 200 Fans Free Lettuce for a Year

DEVENS, Mass., Aug. 27, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — At a moment of heightened concern around lettuce, Little Leaf Farms, one of the country’s largest1 and fastest-growing packaged salad brands, is receiving something unexpected from consumers: love letters. With the launch of its “Most Loved Lettuce” sweepstakes, the brand is showing its appreciation, giving up to 200 fans a chance to win free lettuce for a year by sharing what they love most about Little Leaf Farms.

The campaign follows a surge in consumer engagement with Little Leaf Farms, as shoppers pay closer attention to where their leafy greens come from and how they are grown. In recent weeks, the brand’s social following has nearly doubled, generating tens of millions of social media impressions and views as consumers share why they trust Little Leaf Farms and its greenhouse-grown approach.

That same consumer enthusiasm is also showing up at grocery store shelves. Over the four weeks ending August 8, the brand reached a record 6.1% share of the national packaged salad category, up from 4% a year ago. Little Leaf Farms sales grew 6% year-over-year during the same period, while the broader category declined 31%2.

Little Leaf Farms is turning the outpouring of support into an opportunity to recognize both new and long-time fans of the brand as they look for a lettuce they can feel good about bringing home.

Beginning August 27, consumers can visit littleleaffarms.com/loveletters to submit a one-sentence love letter, sharing what they love most about Little Leaf Farms, and be entered for a chance to win free lettuce for a year. Fifty winners per week will be selected through September 30.

“Lettuce hasn’t traditionally inspired a lot of love, but our fans have been vocal and enthusiastic about their love for Little Leaf since day one,” said Jeannie Hannigan, Marketing Director at Little Leaf Farms. “Some of our fans have enjoyed and trusted Little Leaf Farms for years, while others are just falling for us now. Whether it’s the crunch, freshness, or the way we grow, we think there’s a lot to love, so we’re inviting fans to tell us why Little Leaf Farms has earned a place not just in their fridge – but in their hearts.”

A “Clean from the Start” Growing Process

Little Leaf Farms grows in state-of-the-art greenhouses designed to deliver consistent quality and freshness 365 days per year. This controlled environment enables Little Leaf Farms to grow with no pesticides and ensures that every drop of water entering the greenhouse is fully purified to eliminate any potential pathogens. Little Leaf Farms’ automated growing system allows its greens to be seeded, grown, harvested, and packaged without ever being touched by human hands, which in combination with water management, is a key component of the company’s “Clean From the Start” growing approach.

“We made the decision from the beginning to grow lettuce differently because we’ve always believed consumers shouldn’t have to settle when it comes to their leafy greens,” said Paul Sellew, Founder and CEO of Little Leaf Farms. “Our growing process is built around precision and control at every stage, creating the conditions for our lettuce to thrive and allowing us to deliver the quality and freshness consumers deserve with every harvest.”

For more on Little Leaf Farms and to find it at a store near you, visit littleleaffarms.com.

1)  Nielsen Pre-Packaged Salad Category Total U.S xAOC 26 weeks through 8/8/26

2)  Nielsen Pre-Packaged Salad Category Total U.S. xAOC, 4 weeks through 8/8/26

About Little Leaf Farms
Little Leaf Farms is on a mission to transform the food system by growing better food in a better way. Using advanced greenhouse technologies, Little Leaf Farms is growing fresh, sustainably farmed lettuce 365 days per year. Little Leaf Farms utilizes purified rainwater, natural sunlight, and high-tech automation to grow better leafy greens via soil-less hydroponic farming. The fresh, long-lasting baby greens are harvested without ever touching human hands and are free from harmful pesticides, herbicides, or fungicides. For more information, visit littleleaffarms.com or @littleleaffarms.

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/love-letters-to-lettuce-you-read-that-right—little-leaf-farms-fans-are-feeling-the-love-302861170.html

SOURCE Little Leaf Farms

Continue Reading

Technology

iHire Expands Analytics Suite With New Candidate & Hiring Market Insights

Published

on

By

Analytics tools combine job seeker sentiment and labor market data to help employers make smarter, more informed recruiting decisions

FREDERICK, Md., Aug. 27, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — iHire has expanded its suite of recruitment analytics and insights tools, giving employers and recruiters easy access to actionable, real-time data on candidate availability, hiring demand, and job seeker sentiment. With its Hiring Market Insights and Candidate Insights dashboards, iHire’s analytics tools empower organizations to make smarter, more informed hiring decisions as they connect with industry-focused talent.

Hiring Market Insights

iHire’s Hiring Market Insights feature helps employers understand the supply and demand of candidates in their target markets by pulling information from iHire’s active candidate and job databases into a digestible view. Employers can analyze specific skills and job titles and filter results at the metro, state, or nationwide level.

The dashboard provides three metrics:

Candidate Supply Percentage: The percentage of active candidates in a selected market who include a particular skill or job title in their iHire profile.Job Demand Percentage: The percentage of active jobs in the selected market that mention the job title or required skill.Hiring Opportunity: These metrics compare candidate availability to job demand within your selected market, based on iHire’s data. Higher values suggest more available talent relative to demand.

In addition, the Hiring Market Insights feature advises users on how to put their data into action – based on the patterns they uncover, hiring teams can identify opportunities to adjust their job postings, targeting, and recruiting strategies.

Candidate Insights

iHire’s Candidate Insights tool gives employers an inside look at the priorities, preferences, and perspectives of today’s job seekers. The data is shared from iHire’s on-site surveys that poll actual candidates on topics such as job search challenges, employment dealbreakers, AI, talent pipelining, and more.

Interactive visualizations allow employers to review candidate responses and, when sufficient data is available, analyze industry-specific metrics from their preferred iHire talent community. Employers can also compare industry-level results with benchmark data from candidates across iHire’s network. With these metrics, hiring managers and recruiters can improve their job postings and better align their messaging with candidate expectations. For example, if candidates said a job posting that mentions flexible schedules influences their decision to apply, employers who offer that benefit can be sure it’s included in their ad.

“By bringing candidate perspectives and hiring market trends together, our expanded analytics suite gives employers a clear picture of the talent landscape,” said Kyle Gamble, iHire’s VP of Product. “With that knowledge, they can make more strategic decisions about how and where they recruit to stay competitive and keep their businesses moving forward.”

Registered employers can access both Hiring Market and Candidate Insights by signing in to their iHire account and visiting the “Analytics” tab on their dashboard, while anyone can view iHire’s Hiring Market Insights at www.ihire.com/employers/tools/hiringmarketinsights.

About iHire

iHire is a leading employment platform that powers a family of 57 industry-focused talent networks, including WorkInSports, iHireVeterinary, iHireDental, iHireConstruction, and iHireChefs. For more than 20 years, iHire has combined advanced job matching technology with our expertise in the talent acquisition space to connect job seekers with employers in their desired sector. With an industry-specific, candidate-centric, and data-driven approach to recruitment, iHire helps candidates find meaningful work and employers find unique, high-quality talent – faster, easier, and more effectively than a general job board. Visit www.iHire.com for more information.

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/ihire-expands-analytics-suite-with-new-candidate–hiring-market-insights-302861260.html

SOURCE iHire LLC

Continue Reading

Technology

Kulicke & Soffa Declares Quarterly Dividend of $0.205

Published

on

By

SINGAPORE, Aug. 27, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Kulicke and Soffa Industries, Inc. (NASDAQ: KLIC) (“Kulicke & Soffa,” “K&S” or the “Company”), today announced that its Board of Directors has approved a quarterly dividend of $0.205 per share of common stock. The dividend will be payable on October 7, 2026, to shareholders of record as of September 17, 2026.

About Kulicke & Soffa

Kulicke & Soffa is a global leader in semiconductor assembly technology, advancing device performance across automotive, compute, industrial, memory and communications markets. Founded on innovation in 1951, K&S is uniquely positioned to overcome increasingly dynamic process challenges – creating and delivering long-term value by aligning technology with opportunity.

Contacts:

Kulicke & Soffa    
Marilyn Sim    
Public Relations    
P: +65-6880-9309    
msim@kns.com

Kulicke & Soffa    
Joseph Elgindy    
Finance    
P: +1-215-784-7500    
investor@kns.com

 

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/kulicke–soffa-declares-quarterly-dividend-of-0-205–302861466.html

SOURCE Kulicke & Soffa Industries, Inc.

Continue Reading

Trending