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education 

How a soccer club won a $1.2 million grant from DeVos’s Education Department to open a charter school

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Here’s a new, rather remarkable story about charter school grants recently awarded by the Education Department — including one for more than $1 million that went to a soccer club in Pennsylvania that had no experience running a school.



Betsy DeVos wearing glasses and smiling at the camera: U.S. Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos speaks Thursday at the Phoenix International Academy in Phoenix. (Matt York/AP)

© Matt York/AP
U.S. Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos speaks Thursday at the Phoenix International Academy in Phoenix. (Matt York/AP)

This is one of a number of pieces I have run in recent years about the Federal Charter School Program, which has invested close to $4 billion in these schools since it began giving grants in 1995.

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Charter schools, a key feature of the “school choice” movement, are financed by the public but privately operated. About 6 percent of U.S. schoolchildren attend charter schools, with California having the most charter schools and the most charter students.

Charters had bipartisan support for years, but a growing number of Democrats have pulled back from the movement, citing the fiscal impact on school districts and repeated scandals in the sector.

Charter supporters say the 30-year-old movement offers important alternatives to traditional public schools, which educate the vast majority of U.S. students, and that the movement is still learning. Opponents say there is little public accountability over many charters and that they drain resources from traditional districts.

Research shows student outcomes are, overall, largely the same in charter and traditional public schools, although there are failures and exemplars in both.

This piece, like a number of earlier ones on charters, was written by Carol Burris, a former New York high school principal who serves as executive director of the Network for Public Education, a nonprofit group that advocates for public education.

Burris, who opposes charter schools, was named the 2010 Educator of the Year by the School Administrators Association of New York State, and in 2013, the National Association of Secondary School Principals named her the New York State High School Principal of the Year.

I asked the Education Department to comment on the grant to the soccer club, about which Burris writes, but did not get an immediate response. I will add it if I do.

By Carol Burris

In late September 2020, amid the covid-19 pandemic, the U.S. Department of Education awarded nearly $6 million to five organizations to open new charter schools. One of the five awardees was “The All Football Club, Lancaster Lions Corporation,” located in Lancaster, Pa. The club had no experience running either a private school or a charter school, yet nevertheless pitched the AFCLL Academy Charter School for a grant from the federal Charter School Program (CSP).

The CSP awarded the football club $1,260,750 to be spent within its first five years, even though their submitted application only received 70 of 115 possible points by reviewers — a failing grade of 61 percent. And the club did not have permission from the local school board to actually open the school.

That award of tax dollars to an unauthorized charter school shines a light on how the

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university 

Howard University School of Business Announces $250,000 Gift from Ryder System, Inc.

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The MarketWatch News Department was not involved in the creation of this content.

Howard University School of Business is the proud recipient of a generous multiyear gift of $250,000 from Ryder System, Inc. The gift will support the Center for Excellence in Supply Chain Management (CESCM), as well as scholarships for supply chain majors, paid internships at Ryder, and the development of data analytics curriculum and programming in the supply chain program. The gift is in recognition of Ryder’s partnership with the School of Business over the last 17 years. Howard is ranked 13th among all undergraduate and graduate university supply chain programs in the nation by Gartner, the leading research and advisory company.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20201202005828/en/

“We are very grateful to Ryder for making this investment in the Center for Excellence in Supply Chain Management and in our students,” said Anthony Wilbon, Ph.D., dean of the Howard University School of Business. “For the past 17 years, Ryder has partnered with us to support the growth of the Center for Excellence in Supply Chain Management by developing our curriculum, participating in the classroom and serving as a strong adviser, helping us become one of the top supply chain centers in the country. We look forward to our continued partnership.”

The Center for Excellence in Supply Chain Management supports both the undergraduate and graduate programs at the School of Business by providing students with exposure to the supply chains of Fortune 500 corporations and government entities. The CESCM advisory board and corporate partners play a critical role in supporting supply chain management students by offering internships, classroom lectures, corporate site visits, supply chain conferences and scholarships, and providing input on curriculum to help prepare students for high-performance careers in supply chain management.

Ryder System, Inc. (NYSE: R) is a leading logistics and transportation company. As a member of the CESCM advisory board for 10 years and a partner with the School of Business since 2003, Ryder has contributed to the success of Howard’s supply chain management students and the supply chain program by providing funding, time and talent. Through internships and working with Ryder executives on real world corporate challenges, students gain experience that helps prepare them for successful careers in the industry.

“Our partnership with Howard is one of our longest with any university,” said Ryder Chairman and CEO Robert Sanchez. “We’re excited about taking it to a new level. There are a lot of exciting things happening in the industry, like e-commerce, electrification and green energy, that will change the way supply chains operate over the next 10 to 20 years. Getting the next generation ready to excel in that environment is what we’re about and what Howard is about.”

Ryder wanted to celebrate the long-standing partnership by supporting Howard’s work to train the next generation of supply chain leaders and increase diversity in the industry. The coronavirus pandemic made this effort more critical. The company recognized

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university 

University of Houston Charter school may be closing for good

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HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) — The University of Houston Charter School may soon be closing its doors for good.

In an email sent to parents, the school’s principal said a resolution to close will be presented to the board of regents on Thursday afternoon during their meeting.

“I think a lot of parents are lost,” said Sara Martinez, a mom of two of the school’s students. “They don’t know what the next step is. HISD has its own failure to students at the moment.”

Martinez’s 7-year-old son, Nicolas, and 9-year-old daughter, Nadia, have been attending the charter school since they were three months old.

“There is a children’s learning center that is a day care/pre-school and they have been there since they were babies,” she said.

Meanwhile, parents like Veronica Bagley are hoping the close won’t happen.

“I was really upset, [it] really broke my heart,” she said. “My son loves this school. I’d appreciate it if it stays open.”

Parents hope to be heard, and with only a few months’ notice, they are in full panic mode and unsure of their children’s future.

“There really aren’t any options [in the area] and even now some deadlines to testing into magnet school are already over, so it really cuts your options down significantly,” said parent Sheila Pineda.

Eyewitness News reached out to the charter school but were told the person to speak with was not available to comment until Thursday.

Meanwhile, the university directed ABC13 to the online agenda for the board of regents meeting Thursday and issued a copy of the charter amendment resolution.

“We want a fighting chance,” said Martinez. “Maybe [we can] save the school.”

Follow Mayra Moreno on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Copyright © 2020 KTRK-TV. All Rights Reserved.

Source Article …

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Competition that increases depth has been crucial for third-seeded University in Division II | High School Sports

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No one questions the importance of competition in an LHSAA football playoff game. However, University High coach Andy Martin said competition within his own team is just as important.

Case in point? The return of the Cubs’ top rusher Derrick Graham to the lineup last week and what transpired before that.

Graham ran for 73 yards and two touchdowns in a 55-12 win over Evangel Christian to open the Division II select playoffs. Third-seeded U-High (7-1) hosts No. 6 Vandebilt Catholic (6-1) for a quarterfinal game set for 7 p.m. Friday.

If you did not notice Graham missed a few games with bruised chest/collar bone, including a District 7-3A showdown with Madison Prep, you are not alone. Brian Beck rushed for 339 yards and three TDs and now is the complement to Graham, who has 367 rushing yards and eight TDs.

“No matter how good you are, competition makes you better,” Martin said. “When Derrick got hurt, Brian Beck came on and played well. Now they push each other in practice every day and for us, I think that is a good thing.

“Really, guys stepping in to play when another player goes down has been a big part of this season for us. We have had guys step into starting roles or on special teams who have responded when they are called on.”

Martin said his team did two things that impressed him last week. First, they played through a stormy night instead of being played by the elements. Most importantly, they found ways to improve while winning their seventh straight game.

“I tell them every week, I want to be able to turn in the film and see that we got better as a team,” Martin said. “Even though we pulled our starters early, I saw that.”

Broncos can extend streak

Third-seeded Zachary hosts No. 14 New Iberia (7-2) at 7 p.m. Friday with a notable streak on the line. A win would put the Broncos in the Class 5A quarterfinals for the eighth straight season.

Zachary advanced to the quarterfinals in 2013 under Neil Weiner, now the head coach at Dunham. David Brewerton took over in 2014 and has coached the Broncos to three Class 5A titles and to six consecutive semifinal berths.

Johnson’s big-game numbers

Eighth-seeded Donaldsonville showed no letdown coming off two weeks of COVID-19 quarantine in last week’s 46-0 win over Loranger in large part to running back Rae’land Johnson.

Johnson, who ran for 246 yards and three TDs, has 439 yards and six TDs in the Class 3A Tigers’ most significant games this season. He rushed for 193 yards and three TDs in a 50-28 victory over St. James earlier in the season. The Tigers (5-2) host No. 9 Madison Prep (6-2) Friday night.

Other numbers

Passing numbers can be deceptive, but St. James’ Marquell Bergeron (1,379 yards in nine games) and Zachary’s Eli Holstein (1,262 yards in six games) have been impressive in an abbreviated season.

Though his team is

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education 

Houston area ISD law enforcement and education experts discuss the role of school police

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After the deaths of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Elijah McClain and other individuals killed by police officers in 2020 — along with the protests that followed — the national conversation surrounding police brutality and the role of law enforcement has come to a head.



a group of people sitting in front of a crowd: In this photo from before the pandemic, Klein ISD Police Officer Christi Haggard sits with a group of students for the Leadership Academy program.

© Provided

In this photo from before the pandemic, Klein ISD Police Officer Christi Haggard sits with a group of students for the Leadership Academy program.


Virginia Rangel, assistant professor for the department of educational leadership and policy studies at University of Houston, said the conversation is causing smaller communities to analyze and question the presence of their own local law enforcement, including police within school districts.

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On HoustonChronicle.com: Social justice groups call for disbanding HISD school police

According to the American Civil Liberties Union, in 2019, 14 million students nationwide were attending schools with police but no counselors, nurses, psychologists or social workers; while an additional 10 million students were in schools with no social workers.

“Nationwide there are more school resource officers, or police officers, in schools than there are counselors,” Rangel said.

Social justice groups, including ONE Houston, Texas Appleseed and Children’s Defense Fund Texas advocate for less school policing and more counselors and mental health specialists in schools. According to the American Civil Liberties Union, Texas schools have an average of 434 students per one counselor compared to the U.S. Department of Education’s recommended 250 students per one counselor and one social worker.

Rangel said that nationwide, ISD police originally had the same role in schools as they do in society — preventing crime and keeping students in check; and individuals’ perception of armed uniformed police in public spaces carries over to school campuses.

However, ISD police chiefs in the northwest Houston area said they are implementing proactive practices, such as trust-building with students, in order to avoid the escalation of situations. Klein ISD Police Chief David Kimberly said his force is trained, and trains other ISD police departments, to foster better relationships between officers and students.

“We’re just a highly specialized type of law enforcement and it takes a very special officer to work here,” Kimberly said. “We don’t just hire anyone. We’re very, very careful in who we’re hiring to make sure that their heart is pure.”

Origins of the ISD police

The Klein ISD Police Department was the first ISD police department in Texas, established and operating as of September 1982. Since its inception, and especially within the last decade, Kimberly said the ISD police department has evolved to take a relational, rapport-building relationship with students.

Spring, Klein school notebook: Doug James to remain on Klein school board

“It really takes it back to the safety side of it because we know that in previous serious acts of violence that have occurred on campuses, too often the conversation is, ‘I didn’t know anybody, I didn’t trust anybody,’ so we make sure that our guys are ready, open and available to talk with students,” Kimberly said. “The idea

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college 

Thanksgiving weekend: How former Oregon high school players are faring in Division 1 college football

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In October we posted a list of the nearly 100 athletes we found on Division I FBS college football rosters in 2020.

This week and throughout this strange, coronavirus-altered college football season, we’ll focus on the former Oregon high school football players logging stats at the Division 1 FBS level this season.

Oregon-Oregon State on the day after Thanksgiving was the marquee matchup, with the Beavers scoring a 41-38 upset of the Ducks.

Read on to find out which local kids played in Thanksgiving weekend’s FBS games.

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Cody Anderson, Oregon State

Junior

Defensive lineman

Thurston High School

Anderson has played in all four of the Beavers’ games but hasn’t recorded any stats.

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Trevon Bradford, Oregon State

Senior

Wide receiver

Oregon City High School

Bradford had his best game of the season in the Beavers’ 41-38 win over the Ducks, making eight catches for 93 yards and adding two carries for 14 yards along with a 23-yard punt return. Bradford leads the Pac-12 with 21 catches and is fifth in receiving yards with 219.

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Chase Cota, UCLA

Junior

Wide receiver

South Medford High School

Cota has played in all four games for the Bruins this season, but Saturday’s 27-10 win was the first in which he made no catches.

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MJ Cunningham, Oregon

Sophomore

Linebacker

Madison High School

Cunningham played in Oregon’s 41-38 loss Friday at Oregon State but didn’t record any stats. He’s played in three games this season and made one tackle.

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Casey Filkins, Stanford

Freshman

Running back

Lake Oswego High School

Filkins played in Stanford’s 24-23 win Friday over Cal but didn’t record any stats. He’s played in three games this season and has one catch for minus-6 yards.

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Alex Forsyth, Oregon

Junior

Offensive lineman

West Linn High School

Forsyth started at center again for the Ducks, who rushed for 183 yards in their loss to the Beavers.

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Anthony Gould, Oregon State

Redshirt freshman

Wide receiver

West Salem

Gould got in his first game of the season in Friday’s win over Oregon, as he started at wide receiver but didn’t record any stats.

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Jaydon Grant, Oregon State

Junior

Defensive back

West Linn High School

Grant continued to be one of the Beavers’ best defensive players this season, as he made four tackles and grabbed his second interception of the season.

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Daniel Green, Kansas State

Sophomore

Linebacker

Madison High School

Green had a career game Saturday at Baylor, making 13 tackles (2.5 for loss) and getting 1.5 sacks and a pass breakup in the Wildcats’ crushing 32-31 loss. Green has 38 tackles (4.5 for loss) and 2.5 sacks this season.

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Jordan Happle, Oregon

Senior

Safety

Jesuit High School

Happle followed up his week as Pac-12 defensive player of the week with another solid game Friday at Oregon State, making seven tackles to give him 24 on the season.

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Nate Heaukulani, Oregon

Senior

Linebacker

Jesuit High School

Heaukulani got in his second game of the season in Friday’s loss at

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college 

How former Oregon high school stars are faring at the Division 1 level

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The college basketball season is officially underway, and the Beavers are off to a hot start while the Ducks will finally tip off their season tonight.



a group of people posing for the camera: Oregon State's Zach Reichle is introduced before the Oregon State Beavers take on the California Golden Bears in a Pac-12 men's basketball game at Gill Coliseum in Corvallis, Oregon, on Wednesday, Nov. 25, 2020. Oregon State won 71-63.

© Leon Neuschwander for The Oregonian/OregonLive/Leon Neuschwander for The Oregonian/OregonLive/oregon…
Oregon State’s Zach Reichle is introduced before the Oregon State Beavers take on the California Golden Bears in a Pac-12 men’s basketball game at Gill Coliseum in Corvallis, Oregon, on Wednesday, Nov. 25, 2020. Oregon State won 71-63.

Portland State will start its season against the University of Portland on Saturday after Gov. Kate Brown granted the team an exemption.

Last week we posted a list of the 33 former Oregon high school standouts we found on Division 1 college basketball rosters this season.

This week and every week throughout the season, we’ll keep you posted on how those players are faring.

Read on for a list of who played in Week 1 and how they did.

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Immanuel Allen, Lakeridge

Abilene Christian

6-4 sophomore guard

Allen is off to a solid start with Abilene Christian, shooting 60% from the field and making both of his three-point attempts through three games. He’s averaging 7.3 points per game off the bench.

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Nolan Bertain, West Linn

Texas A&M-Corpus Christi

6-4 senior guard

Bertain has come off the bench in Texas A&M-Corpus Christi’s first three games and is averaging 5.3 points and 1.7 rebounds per game.

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Isaac Bonton, Parkrose

Washington State

6-3 senior guard

Bonton is Washington State’s leading scorer through two games at 19.5 points per game, but he’s struggled with his shot. He’s shooting just 24.4% from the field and 25% from three-point range in the Cougars’ two narrow victories to open the season.

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Robert Ford III, Jefferson

Idaho State

6-0 junior guard

Ford has started all three of Idaho State’s games, averaging 9.3 points and three assists in his first season playing Division 1 basketball.

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Will Graves, South Eugene

Gonzaga

6-5 junior guard

Graves played one minute in Gonzaga’s blowout win over Auburn and grabbed a rebound for the No. 1-ranked Bulldogs.

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Matthew Lang, Jesuit

Gonzaga

6-3 junior guard

Lang also logged one minute in Gonzaga’s 90-67 win over Auburn, but he didn’t record any stats.

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Wilfried Likayi, Parkrose

New Mexico State

6-9 junior forward

Likayi had nine points and five rebounds in his debut with New Mexico State. He played 18 minutes in the Aggies’ 83-77 win over Arizona Christian.

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Cameron Parker, Jesuit

Montana

6-2 junior guard

Parker started at point guard in the Grizzlies’ 76-62 season-opening loss to USC. Parker had four points, two assists and two steals while playing in foul trouble.

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Zach Reichle, Wilsonville

Oregon State

6-5 senior guard

Reichle has enjoyed a solid start to the year for the 2-0 Beavers, scoring 11 points with four assists against Cal and 12 points with five assists against Northwest University. He’s shooting 75% from the field and 60% from three-point range.

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Marcus Tsohonis, Jefferson

Washington

6-3 sophomore guard

Tsohonis finished his freshman

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university 

Gain Therapeutics and University of Maryland School of Medicine Announce Research Collaboration

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BETHESDA, Md. and BALTIMORE, Nov. 30, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Gain Therapeutics, Inc. (“Gain”), today announced a research collaboration with the University of Maryland School of Medicine (UMSOM), to investigate Gain’s structurally targeted allosteric regulators (STARs) in cellular models of neuronopathic Gaucher disease (nGD) and Parkinson’s disease (PD). STARs are proprietary small molecules targeting novel allosteric binding sites on enzymes. These small molecule drug candidates are designed to cross the blood brain barrier and penetrate other hard to treat organs such as bone and cartilage, stabilize the effective enzyme to restore function and reduce toxic substrate. Research will be led by Ricardo A. Feldman, Ph.D., Associate Professor, of Microbiology and Immunology in UMSOM.

Under the terms of the collaboration, UMSOM will investigate Gain’s STAR candidates in macrophage and neuronal models of nGD and GBA -associated PD. These diseases are characterized by mutations in the GBA gene, where misfolding of the enzyme encoded by GBA (beta-glucocerebrosidase (GCase)) interferes with its normal transport to the lysosome. The research program will aim to further elucidate the mechanism of action of Gain’s STAR candidates by studying their effect on GCase, including GCase’s enzyme activity and transport to the lysosome. Additionally, other effects such as prevention of alpha-synuclein aggregation in PD dopaminergic neurons will be evaluated.

“We are exceedingly proud to be advancing our work in nGD and Parkinson’s in close collaboration with the University of Maryland School of Medicine,” said Eric Richman, Chief Executive Officer at Gain. “The expertise and experience of UMSOM and Dr. Feldman will be instrumental as we work to further validate the exciting potential of Gain’s STAR candidate for these devastating diseases. I am confident these foundational studies will bring us closer to a potential new treatment option for those with these disorders.”

Dr. Feldman added, “Our laboratory has used human induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) models of GD and GBA -associated PD to uncover the molecular mechanisms leading to these diseases. We have also developed very sensitive assays to evaluate the therapeutic efficacy of small molecules in reversing the phenotypic abnormalities caused by mutant GBA in the cell types affected by these diseases, including macrophages and neuronal cells. I have been impressed by Gain’s initial results evaluating the potential of STARs in correcting enzyme misfolding and restoring function, and look forward to working with Gain’s team to further advance its program to treat these diseases.”

Gain and UMSOM intend to report initial data from the collaboration in the first half of 2021.

About Gain Therapeutics, Inc.
Gain Therapeutics is redefining drug discovery with its SEE-Tx™ target identification platform. By identifying and optimizing allosteric binding sites that have never before been targeted, Gain is unlocking new treatment options for difficult-to-treat disorders characterized by protein misfolding. Gain was originally established in 2017 with the support of its founders and institutional investors such as TiVenture, 3B Future Health Fund (previously known as Helsinn Investment Fund) and VitaTech. It has been awarded funding support from The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research

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university 

Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine Partners With MANRRS to Increase Diversity in Veterinary Profession

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BASSETERRE, St. Kitts–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Nov 30, 2020–

Pet owners represent a much more diverse population than the veterinary professionals who care for them and their animals, a gap the American Veterinary Medicine Association (AVMA) 1 and the Association of American Veterinary Colleges (AAVMC) 2 are working hard to fill. Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine (RUSVM) is committed to being part of the solution and is proud to announce a new partnership with Minorities in Agriculture, Natural Resources and Related Sciences (MANRRS). This collaboration will further RUSVM’s long-term commitment to increase diversity in the veterinary profession and strengthen the pipeline of highly qualified, diverse students pursuing an education in veterinary medicine.

The partnership will introduce RUSVM to MANRRS chapters across the U.S. with MANRRS members gaining access to exclusive webinars and virtual workshops from RUSVM to increase exposure to the profession. Additionally, qualified students may apply for a newly launched MANRRS scholarship. The partnership will also help establish a professional chapter of MANRRS at RUSVM that will create mentoring opportunities for current RUSVM students and enhanced networking opportunities. To learn more about this partnership, click here.

“It is vitally important that the field of veterinary medicine is representative of the communities that we serve, and Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine is thrilled to take this important step toward increasing diversity in the field,” said Sean Callanan, MVB, CERTVR, MRCVS, PHD, FRCPATH, DIPLECVP, dean of Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine. “As one of the most ethnically diverse AVMA-accredited veterinary schools, the partnership with MANRRS will provide new opportunities for prospective, current and former students, and pave the way for a more diverse workforce.”

According to an American Veterinary Medicine Association (AVMA) report, more than one-third of African Americans surveyed own a pet. However, the vast majority of practicing veterinarians in the U.S. are white 3, highlighting a disparity in the diversity of the profession and the people that they serve.

“While facing the dismal reality that more than 85% of Veterinarians are white, MANRRS is committed to partnering with RUSVM to provide underrepresented students access to pursue a career in veterinary medicine,” said Ebony Webber, chief operating officer for MANRRS. “Provided that MANRRS is one of the only and largest organizations focused on diverse talent in agriculture, our student and professional members expect MANRRS to advocate for diversity, equity, and inclusion in areas where minorities are needed to help solve the world’s biggest challenges relating to animal health.”

RUSVM, supported by its parent company, Adtalem Global Education, is committed to cultivating a culture of diversity and inclusivity and creating a diverse global workforce that reflects that culture. To learn more about Adtalem’s commitment to diversity and inclusion, click here.

About Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine

Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine (RUSVM) is an institution of Adtalem Global Education (NYSE: ATGE; member S&P MidCap 400 Index). Founded in 1982, RUSVM is committed to preparing students to become members and leaders of the worldwide public and professional healthcare team and

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university 

Marinomed announces trial of Carragelose in COVID-19 at Swansea University Medical School

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Vienna, Austria, Swansea UK, November 30, 2020 – Marinomed Biotech AG (VSE:MARI), a globally operating biopharmaceutical company, is pleased to announce today that the Swansea University Medical School plans a clinical trial with Iota-/kappa-carrageenan nasal spray as a COVID-19 Prophylaxis for Healthcare Professionals (ICE-COVID).

The investigator-initiated trial at Swansea will be recruiting 480 healthcare professionals managing COVID-19 patients during the pandemic. Objective of the study is to assess the efficacy of Carragelose nasal and throat spray in reducing the rate, severity, and duration of COVID-19 infections. Further endpoints include infection with other respiratory viruses, usability of the spray for prophylaxis and the effects on quality adjusted life years (QALYs). The ongoing clinical trial is supported by Marinomed Biotech AG, the originator and licensor of Carragelose and Boots UK; the Carragelose nasal spray used in the study is marketed as Boots Dual Defence in the United Kingdom.

The design of the double-blind trial is finalized and planned to start shortly. The study population will be equally randomized into a treatment group (0.12 mg/ml iota-carrageenan / 0.4 mg/ml kappa-carrageenan in 0.5% saline) and a placebo group (0.5% saline) and will apply this study regime three times a day, one dose into each nostril and three throat sprays, over the course of eight weeks .

“With the world in the devastating grip of this SARS-CoV2 pandemic and nurses and doctors especially exposed, we are looking forward this very important clinical data from the Swansea trial. Our pivotal clinical data for Carragelose demonstrated alleviation of different coronavirus infections. Marinomed has been able to show neutralizing activity towards the new coronavirus in vitro earlier this year.” said Dr. Eva Prieschl-Grassauer, Chief Scientific Officer at Marinomed. Adding, “We have very good reason to expect and hope that the trial will confirm our in vitro findings and contribute to validating Carragelose nasal spray as a COVID-19 prophylaxis for the vulnerable community of healthcare professionals, protecting them from contracting COVID-19 infections.”

“After seeing the effects of this pandemic on colleagues caring for patients with COVID-19, we wanted to find a way for research to help protect frontline NHS staff,” said Dr. Zita Jessop, Principal Investigator for the clinical trial and clinician scientist at Swansea University. “Previous studies highlighted the effectiveness of iota-carrageenan-based nasal sprays against coronaviruses, indicating promise against SARS-CoV-2. If the results of this randomised placebo-controlled clinical trial are positive as we expect, this has the potential to add an extra prevention strategy in the fight against COVID-19,” she added.

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About Carragelose®:

Carragelose® is a sulfated polymer from red seaweed and a unique, broadly active anti-viral compound. It is known as a gentle yet effective and safe prevention and treatment against respiratory infections. Several clinical and preclinical studies have shown that Carragelose® forms a layer on the mucosa wrapping entering viruses, thereby inactivating them, and preventing them from infecting cells. Marinomed is holder of the IP rights and has licensed Carragelose® for marketing in Europe, parts of Asia, Canada, and Australia. For a full list

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