Virginia

University Of Virginia Receives Historic $100 Million Gift For New Biotechnology Institute

Published

1 year ago

January 20, 2023

University Of Virginia Receives Historic $100 Million Gift For New Biotechnology Institute

The College of Virginia has acquired a $100 million non-public reward for a brand new biotechnology analysis … [+] institute. (Photograph by: Joe Sohm/Visions of America/Common Pictures Group through Getty Pictures)

Common Pictures Group through Getty Pictures

The College of Virginia (UVA) has introduced that it’s launching a biotechnology institute, funded in giant measure by a $100 million donation from Charlottesville entrepreneur and investor Paul Manning and his spouse, Diane. The reward is among the largest non-public donations to UVA in its historical past.

Along with the Mannings’ reward, UVA will kick in $150 million, and the state will make an preliminary funding of $50 million for the institute, which shall be named the Paul and Diane Manning Institute of Biotechnology.

The main target of the institute shall be medical analysis that results in new medical remedies, together with mobile and gene therapies, focused drug supply, nanotechnology and immunotherapies. The ability is schedule to open at Fontaine Analysis Park in Charlottesville in about 4 years.

Along with reworking healthcare, the institute is anticipated to have a considerable financial affect on central Virginia and the Commonwealth as a complete. In the end, the Manning Institute is anticipated to make use of a whole lot of scientists, physicians and help employees. It is also more likely to appeal to pharmaceutical and biotech corporations to the realm because it seeks to turn out to be a hub for medical trials, biotech analysis and manufacturing.

Ok. Craig Kent, MD, chief govt officer of UVA Well being and UVA’s govt vice chairman for well being affairs, referred to as the brand new institute a “historic milestone” for UVA that may have a big affect on translational drugs. “This can be a translational analysis program in contrast to any that exists within the Commonwealth of Virginia,” Kent mentioned. “It’s the starting of an thrilling new chapter for UVA Well being that may produce concrete advantages for sufferers right here in Virginia and in every single place.”

“We dwell in an extremely thrilling time of discovery in drugs — and the Manning Institute will guarantee U.Va. stays on the forefront of analysis and affected person care,” U.Va. President James E. Ryan mentioned within the college’s launch. “Paul and Diane Manning’s extraordinary reward will imply new remedies and therapies for the sufferers who want them most, and I’m immensely grateful for his or her generosity and imaginative and prescient. Importantly, this transformational funding in well being look after Virginians was additionally made doable by important help from Gov. Youngkin and key leaders within the Normal Meeting.”

Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin praised the information: “This main funding will assist appeal to pharmaceutical corporations to the commonwealth and additional my administration’s dedication to develop a thriving well being care system. I’m grateful for Paul and Diane Manning’s beneficiant dedication, which can guarantee extra Virginians are capable of obtain the care and therapy proper right here within the commonwealth.”

Paul Manning is the founder, chairman and CEO of PBM Capital, a healthcare-focused agency that invests in corporations within the pharmaceutical and life sciences industries. He has served on the Board of UVA’s Strategic Planning Committee, the Board of UVA Well being Basis, and the Board of the President’s Advisory Committee. Manning graduated from the College of Massachusetts with a B.S. in Microbiology. Ernst and Younger named him the Virginia Entrepreneur of the Yr in 2002.

The Mannings are longtime supporters of UVA and UVA Well being’s analysis efforts, along with their help for different establishments such because the College of Massachusetts. “Our purpose is to have the absolute best drugs – next-generation drugs – for the residents of Virginia and other people across the globe,” Paul Manning mentioned. “We’re constructing a world-class facility that may compete with anyone … by way of analysis, manufacturing and therapy.”

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Virginia

Bicyclist Killed in Crash on North Virginia Street Near Panther Drive

Published

2 hours ago

May 16, 2024

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Bicyclist Killed in Crash on North Virginia Street Near Panther Drive

A bicyclist has died in a major crash that has closed all lanes of North Virginia Street near Panther Drive.

A spokesperson for the Reno Police Department confirmed the death of the cyclist.

The intersection of North Virginia Street and Panther Drive will be closed until around 7:30 or 8 p.m. according to the spokesperson.

It is recommended to avoid the area.

We are working to gather additional details, including information about the vehicle that struck the cyclist. We will update this story as more information becomes available.

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Virginia

Level 3 Predatory Offender moves back to Virginia

Published

9 hours ago

May 16, 2024

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Level 3 Predatory Offender moves back to Virginia

According to the Virginia Police Department, Dustin Joshua Cousins is moving to the 100th block of 5th Street South in Virginia. Cousins, 39, is registered as a Level 3 Predatory Offender.

Cousins is described as a white male, who is 5′ 6″ tall and 214 pounds. He has brown eyes and brown hair. He has a history of sexual contact with known teenage females. According to the police report, ‘Cousins used his established relationship to of trust to attain and exploit access.’

Cousins has served his sentence and is transitioning into the community.

Per Minnesota Statute 244.052, the Virginia Police Department is releasing this information to notify the public. The individual who appears on this notification has been convicted of Criminal Sexual Conduct or another offense that requires registration with law enforcement pursuant to Minnesota Statues 243.166 or 243.167.

With the passage of the Community Notification Act law enforcement may now share information about many of these individuals with the public. Abuse of this information to threaten, harass or intimidate a registered individual is unacceptable and such acts could be charged as a crime. Such abuses could potentially end the ability of law enforcement to provide these notifications.

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Virginia

Foster parent inquiries down 40% in Virginia, but you can help

Published

16 hours ago

May 16, 2024

Press Room

Foster parent inquiries down 40% in Virginia, but you can help

LYNCHBURG, Va. (WDBJ) – May is National Foster Care Month. As interest in fostering declines across the commonwealth, United Methodist Family Services of Virginia is spreading knowledge about the process of becoming a foster parent.

UMFS is a nonprofit that provides community-based services for kinship families, foster care, adoption and independent living for kids aging out of foster care.

“We like to keep children close to their birth families, so they don’t have to move far, or they don’t have to be separated from siblings. So, we get a call, we get an email or an online referral from a local Department of Social Services (DSS) that says we need a placement and here are the needs. So, then it’s our job to then match and identify families for those children to best suit their needs,” said Regional Director of UMFS South & West Region, Holly Coates.

Currently, there are nearly 5,400 children in Virginia’s foster care system and nearly 600 children in foster care in Southwest Virginia. The state is ranked one of the worst for the number of youths aging out of the system at 18 years old.

“We need more homes so that we can serve more children. There are more children coming into care at different times and we don’t like to say no that we don’t have an option for a child because that leaves children sleeping in hospitals or DSS’s or in group homes where they don’t need to be. They need to be in homes with families that care about them, nurture them and allow them to be kids,” said Coates.

A need Deb Lowe wanted to fulfill and learn more about. Since 2018, she has fostered 8 children with UMFS in Lynchburg.

“I was a little leery because I am a single parent with no other biological kids. But I like to find out the things that they like and that’s where I start. Of course, there are challenges when you’re getting to know somebody new that you haven’t lived with before. To have that change very suddenly for both the parent and the child takes some adjustments. To have good support is very crucial,” said Foster Parent, Deb Lowe.

Lowe’s foster son Lukas, who she has since adopted, said when he first started living with her, he was not happy. But over time things have changed for the better.

“I’ve gotten good grades and my attitude towards my mom is really, really good. It made me feel really special and made me feel like God really wanted me here. He made a miracle for me and changed my life,” said Lukas.

UMFS data reveals foster care inquiries by prospective parents continues to trend downward. In fact, the nonprofit is seeing a 40% decline in interested caregivers since 2020. The decrease follows national trends. More than half of U.S. states experienced reductions in licensed foster homes in 2023.

“I think some of the barriers include myths about the children in general. I also think that there are a lot of misunderstandings about what it takes to become a foster parent. That’s there’s no support, or that you have to be wealthy, or you have to own your own home, or you have to be married and none of those things are accurate. It’s just a matter of being able to develop a relationship with the child,” said Coates.

Becoming a foster parent through UMFS takes roughly 3-6 months, and most of the training takes place online. Coates said the average stay in foster care is 6 to 18 months.

For more information about becoming a foster parent or to register for a virtual information session visit https://www.umfs.org/get-involved/become-a-foster-parent-virginia/

Coates said UMFS and the state is also moving towards a focus on kinship care. Working to support birth families, next of kin and friends to care for the child or be a support, rather than the child going into foster care.

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