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We launch our new series highlighting companies supported by the NIH SEED program at the NIH Innovation Zone at BIO 2024—today, meet a company using AI to help clinicians assess the effectiveness of neurological and psychiatric therapies. Plus, BIO joins the SAF Coalition and a lot more news. (604 words, 3 minutes, 1 second) |
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Modality.AI enables remote neurological and psychiatric assessment |
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We’re launching a new series highlighting companies supported by the NIH SEED program at the NIH Innovation Zone Stage at the 2024 BIO International Convention. Today, meet Modality.AI, which is using AI to help clinicians assess the effectiveness of neurological and psychiatric therapies.
The science: The system analyzes “multiple types of data inputs, such as text, images, video, audio, and sensor data,” Modality.AI told Bio.News. “It is modeled on the standard-of-care clinical practice of observing and listening to patients, as well as analyzing what they say and how they say it.”
Why it matters: “Traditional in-clinic assessments limit the frequency of evaluations,” the company said. “Modality.AI’s multimodal system enables remote assessments, making frequent monitoring accessible from the patient’s home through a computer, tablet, or phone.”
How it’s used: “In clinical trials of new treatments for neurodegenerative conditions such as Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) and Parkinson’s. We’re also working with academic and non-profit organizations on natural history studies in autism, schizophrenia, and mild cognitive impairment,” Modality.AI said.
What’s next: “By expanding into healthcare in the future, Modality.AI will help address the urgent need for better neurological and psychiatric care combined with precision medicine,” Modality.AI said.
Read more at Bio.News.
Watch an interview with Dr. David Suendermann-Oeft, Founder and CEO of Modality.AI: |
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More Health News: Bloomberg: Gilead shot prevents all HIV cases in trial of African women
“HIV newly infects about 1.3 million people a year worldwide, and while current drug treatment is effective, researchers are seeking better ways to prevent the potentially lethal disease. While a vaccine hasn’t been developed, Gilead’s latest drug prevention regimen presents a potential option.” FDA: FDA expands approval of gene therapy for patients with Duchenne muscular dystrophy
“Today’s approval broadens the spectrum of patients with Duchenne muscular dystrophy eligible for this therapy, helping to address the ongoing, urgent treatment need for patients with this devastating and life-threatening disease,” said Peter Marks, M.D., Ph.D., director of the FDA’s Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research. “We remain steadfast in our commitment to help advance safe and effective treatments for patients who desperately need them.”
The New York Times: The opaque industry secretly inflating prices on prescription drugs
“The job of the PBMs is to reduce drug costs. Instead, they frequently do the opposite. They steer patients toward pricier drugs, charge steep markups on what would otherwise be inexpensive medicines and extract billions of dollars in hidden fees, a New York Times investigation found.” (P.S. You heard it here first.) |
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The SAF Coalition, which seeks to promote sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), yesterday announced 10 new members—including BIO.
Established in April and now 50+ members strong, the SAF Coalition advocates for policies to improve U.S. competitiveness in the SAF marketplace and increase domestic production of SAF.
Why it matters: Made from renewable feedstocks, SAF can be dropped into existing commercial airline engines, and can reduce carbon emissions by 70% compared to conventional fossil fuels. SAF offers an immediate-term solution to slash the impact of air travel on climate change.
What’s being done so far: The Inflation Reduction Act included incentives for SAF production, while the SAF Grand Challenge is a government-wide initiative to promote SAF use. The new bipartisan Congressional Sustainable Aviation Caucus seeks to enable new technologies including SAF.
What BIO’s been doing: Promoting policy to support SAFs through legislation like the Farm Bill. “We think the Farm Bill could be a great vehicle to add some incentives around the airline industry’s adoption of biofuels,” said John Torres, BIO’s Senior Director, Federal Government Relations, Agriculture & Environment.
How the SAF Coalition can help: “Comprised of airlines and aircraft operators, agricultural enterprises, aircraft and aircraft equipment manufacturers, airports, technology developers, labor unions, and biofuel producers,” the SAF Coalition leverages “the collective strength of the SAF value chain” to advocate for further policy improvement.
What they’re saying: “The expansion of our membership shows the deep and growing support that SAF enjoys across many stakeholders,” said Alison Graab, Executive Director of the SAF Coalition. |
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President Biden’s Friday: No official events scheduled.
What’s Happening on Capitol Hill: Enjoy the weekend.
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