DEI

New funding to support food security, economic resiliency

Four organizations selected by American Heart Association Social Impact Funds to fill critical resource gaps, further progress toward equitable health using $2M grant from Grubhub Community Fund

American Heart Association

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DALLAS, Feb. 19, 2025 — The conditions in which we are born, live, learn, work, play and age — the social drivers of health — are better predictors of health and life expectancy than our genetic code. In communities nationwide, people living in locations just a handful of miles apart can have a dramatic difference in life expectancy.

To help level the playing field, the Grubhub Community Fund awarded the American Heart Association® Social Impact Funds a $2 million grant to support food security, technology innovation and economic resiliency in New York City and Chicago.

“We are grateful for this generous support, which will help fill a critical resource gap and help communities overcome barriers to high-quality, accessible health care, food security and economic empowerment,” said Regina Benjamin, M.D., MBA, chair of the Social Impact Funds Impact Investment Committee and 18th U.S. Surgeon General. “With support from the Grubhub Community Fund and other generous funding, American Heart Association Ventures offers a unique opportunity to turn philanthropy into action that makes a real and exponential difference in peoples’ lives.”

The American Heart Association Social Impact Funds will use this new support to help up to 12 organizations and entrepreneurs with significant efforts focused in Chicago and New York City through proprietary sourcing, investment and performance management processes. Four focused on Chicago have already been identified:

• CareYaya, based in North Carolina, an on-demand marketplace connecting families with more than 25,000 students in pre-health programs to be caregivers for affordable, flexible in-home care access, while helping to expand the care workforce amidst a critical caregiver shortage;
• Farm Generations Corporation, based in New York, a farmer-owned cooperative that supports farm viability, food access and regenerative agriculture through technological innovation and community building. Its flagship product, GrownBy, is a SNAP-eligible, direct-to-consumer e-commerce platform connecting growers and consumers across America;
• Nectar, based in Chicago, a platform that drives innovation in food security by delivering food as medicine in partnership with charitable food organizations; and
• RiseKit, based in Chicago, a software platform that empowers untapped talent to find jobs and improve their economic well-being and address social drivers of health through community-based organizations and job training programs

“At Grubhub, we are committed to creating meaningful change in the communities where we operate, with a focus on supporting our largest market, New York City, and hometown, Chicago. With the American Heart Association being equally committed as us in advancing food security, technology innovation, and economic resiliency, Grubhub is proud of this ongoing work, made possible by the Grubhub Community Fund, to support organizations advancing equitable health in New York City and Chicago,” said Brianna Morris, senior manager, community impact for Grubhub. “We are excited for the four organizations that have received financial support thus far, and we look forward to seeing how their communities are positively impacted.”

Organizations are selected for funding by the Social Impact Funds based on their promising solutions to address social drivers of health and local barriers to achieving equitable health. The Funds evaluate opportunities to identify innovative, evidence-based candidates that align with the American Heart Association's mission and demonstrate the potential for lasting community impact.

Learn more about the Social Impact Funds at heart.org/socialimpactfunds.

 Additional Resources:

•  What We Do | The Social Impact Funds | American Heart Association

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 About the American Heart Association®

The American Heart Association is a relentless force for a world of longer, healthier lives. Dedicated to ensuring equitable health in all communities, the organization has been a leading source of health information for more than one hundred years. Supported by more than 35 million volunteers globally, we fund groundbreaking research, advocate for the public’s health, and provide critical resources to save and improve lives affected by cardiovascular disease and stroke. By driving breakthroughs and implementing proven solutions in science, policy, and care, we work tirelessly to advance health and transform lives every day. Connect with us on heart.org, Facebook, X or by calling 1-800-AHA-USA1.   

About the American Heart Association Social Impact Funds 

The American Heart Association’s Social Impact Funds, including the Bernard J. Tyson Impact Fund, channel capital to small and medium-sized organizations that know their community best and whose ideas accelerate innovation to address local community and national health challenges. With a focus on improving health equity and expanding access to capital, the Funds support accessible, high quality health care, food security and economic empowerment. Since launching in 2018, the Funds have provided $21.5 million in financial support to more than 130 local enterprises to positively impact the well-being of nearly 5 million people. Learn more about our work at heart.org/socialimpactfunds. 

 

All generic drugs are not equal, study finds

Generics made in India have more ‘severe adverse events’

Ohio State University

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COLUMBUS, Ohio – Generic drugs manufactured in India are linked to significantly more “severe adverse events” for patients who use them than equivalent drugs produced in the United States, a new study finds.

 

These adverse events included hospitalization, disability, and in a few cases, death.  Researchers found that mature generic drugs, those that had been on the market for a relatively long time, were responsible for the finding.

 

The results show that all generic drugs are not equal, even though patients are often told that they are, said John Gray, co-author of the study and professor of operations at The Ohio State University’s Fisher College of Business.

 

“Drug manufacturing regulation, and therefore quality assurance practices, differ between emerging economies like India and advanced economies like the United States,” Gray said.

“Where generic drugs are manufactured can make a significant difference.”

 

“The FDA assures the public that all generics patterned after the same original drug should be equivalently safe and effective, however, this is not necessarily the case when it comes to generic drugs made in India,” added another co-author, George Ball, associate professor of operations and decision technologies at Indiana University’s Kelley School of Business.

 

Published recently in the journal Production and Operations Management, the research was led by In Joon Noh, who received his PhD at Ohio State and is now an assistant professor at Korea University. Other authors include Zachary Wright, who will receive his PhD from Ohio State and is now an assistant professor at Brigham Young University; and Hyunwoo Park, a former assistant professor at Ohio State, now at Seoul National University.

 

Several of the authors on this paper have worked closely with the Food and Drug Administration on federal grants and contracts, though this study was conducted completely independent of the FDA. These authors said working closely with the FDA gave them a deep appreciation for the importance of studying generic drug quality.

 

The study is significant because it is the first to be able to link a large sample of generic drugs to the actual plant where they were manufactured.  The FDA will not release that information through the Freedom of Information Act process. But Gray said Noh figured out how to use what is called the Structured Product Labeling dataset to link drugs to the factory where they were produced.

 

“Overcoming this lack of transparency of drug manufacturing location is one of the major accomplishments of our study,” Gray said.

Another key to the study is that it matched the drugs made in India to the same drugs made in the United States. The drugs had the same active ingredients, the same dosage form and the same route of administration.

 

“That means the drugs are pharmaceutically equivalent and we are comparing apples to apples,” he said.

 

The researchers matched 2,443 drugs made in the United States and in emerging economies.  Although the researchers included other countries in their analysis, 93% of generic drugs from emerging economy countries are made in India, so India data fully explained the results.

 

The researchers compared the frequency with which drugs were associated with adverse event reports for generic drugs made in India versus the matched drugs made in the United States. These adverse event reports are available in the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS).

 

Although the FAERS includes all reported adverse events, in this study the researchers only used those with the most serious outcomes, including hospitalization, disability and death.

 

Results showed that the number of severe adverse events for generic drugs made in India was 54% higher than for equivalent matched generic drugs made in the United States. That was after taking into account a variety of other factors that could have impacted the results, including the volume of drugs sold.

 

The findings were driven by drugs that had been on the market for a longer time.

 

“In the pharmaceutical industry, the older drugs get cheaper and cheaper and the competition gets more intense to hold down costs,” Gray said. “That may result in operations and supply chain issues that can compromise drug quality.”

 

Gray emphasized that the results shouldn’t be taken as a reason to stop overseas production of generic drugs.

 

“There are good manufacturers in India, there are bad manufacturers in the U.S., and we’re not advocating for ending offshore production of drugs or bashing India in any way,” Gray said.

 

“We believe this is a regulatory oversight issue that can be improved.”

 

Gray said one key issue is that when the FDA inspects plants that make generic drugs in the United States, the inspections are unannounced.  But in overseas locations, the inspections are arranged in advance, which may allow manufacturers to hide problems and make it harder for the FDA to find those that do exist. Making all inspections unannounced could make a big difference, he said.

 

“A key recommendation we make in this study is for the FDA to make drug manufacturing location, such as the country of manufacture, and drug quality, transparent for consumers,” Ball added. “This can help create a market in which drug quality is incentivized more than it is today”

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Journal

Production and Operations Management

DOI

10.1177/10591478251319691 

Method of Research

Data/statistical analysis

Subject of Research

People

Article Title

EXPRESS: Are All Generic Drugs Created Equal? An Empirical Analysis of Generic Drug Manufacturing Location and Serious Drug Adverse Events

Article Publication Date

16-Feb-2025

 

Novel carbon-based materials to remove hazardous “forever chemicals” in water

Utilizing lignin and glucose as carbon sources to develop novel materials can remove harmful chemicals in water

Institute of Science Tokyo

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Membrane distillation method can effectively reduce PFAS concentration with implications in water purification

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Credit: Science Tokyo

Perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), a diverse group of synthetic chemicals, are commonly used in numerous products such as semiconductors, fire-extinguishing foams, heat-resistant, and non-stick cookware. PFAS possess remarkable resistance to heat, oil, grease, and water that can be attributed to the strong chemical bonds between the atoms. However, the major drawback of the exceptional resistance is that PFAS are highly persistent in the environment, earning the nickname “forever chemicals.”

The use of PFAS has been prohibited by international conventions due to their harmful effects on human health and environment. While recent scientific reports indicate that soils and rivers are contaminated with PFAS, there is a lack of effective and sustainable technologies to remove PFAS. In pursuit of United Nations sustainable development goal 6–clean water and sanitation for all, a team of researchers from Institute of Science Tokyo (Science Tokyo), Japan, led by Associate Professor Toshihiro Isobe from the Department of Materials Science, have turned their attention to carbon-based materials to remove PFAS from water.

The research team, led by Associate Professor Manabu Fujii from the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at Science Tokyo, synthesized a novel adsorbent-substance that can trap chemicals on its surface and developed a membrane distillation (MD) method to purify water contaminated with PFAS. Their research findings were presented as an invited lecture at the 23rd International Symposium on Eco-Materials Processing and Design, held from January 13 to 16, 2025.

Sharing insights on the novelty of the research, Isobe commented, “By utilizing lignin—a byproduct produced in the pulp and paper industry—and glucose-a common sugar molecule, as carbon sources, our research group has employed sustainable materials for the development of PFAS-removal technologies. Moreover, the MD method used in our study, combining both distillation and membrane separation, offers an innovative strategy to remove PFAS from water.”

The researchers leveraged the difference in the boiling points between water and PFAS to purify water contaminated with PFAS using the MD method. Additionally, the hydrophobic (lacking affinity for water), porous carbon-based separation membrane effectively rejected PFAS, allowing only water vapor to pass through it. In-depth experimental analysis showed that simulated contaminated water, containing perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS) at a concentration of around 500 ng/L after MD treatment, had a PFOS concentration of around 3 ng/L, which was below the global environmental standards.

Isobe concludes by outlining future plans to improve the MD purification method, “At present, the evaporation of simulated PFAS-contaminated water is achieved using heaters and depends on vacuum pumps to enhance the flow of water vapor. However, in the future, we aim to switch to a solar heating method to develop an electricity-free system that does not rely on heaters.”

In addition to developing the novel MD method to purify PFAS-contaminated water, the research team conducted a series of experiments involving lignin-derived adsorbents. They found that minimal amounts of activated carbon (treated with zinc chloride at a 1:3 ratio) could remove up to 99% of PFAS within 10 minutes.

Overall, this study presents novel and sustainable carbon-based materials that could drive the development of future purification technologies to solve critical and persistent environmental issues.

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Conference Name: The 23rd International Symposium on Eco-materials Processing and Design (ISEPD2025)

Date and Venue: January 13 to 16, 2025, Osaka

Presentation Session: Environmental protection materials

Presentation Time: January 15, 10:40 AM (local time, JST)

Presentation Title: Carbon materials for PFAS removal from water

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About Institute of Science Tokyo (Science Tokyo)

Institute of Science Tokyo (Science Tokyo) was established on October 1, 2024, following the merger between Tokyo Medical and Dental University (TMDU) and Tokyo Institute of Technology (Tokyo Tech), with the mission of “Advancing science and human wellbeing to create value for and with society.”

https://www.isct.ac.jp/en

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Method of Research

Experimental study

Subject of Research

Not applicable

Disclaimer: AAAS an

 

Taking vitamin E during pregnancy may decrease peanut allergy in children

American Association of Immunologists Inc

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New research found that supplementing maternal diet with α-tocopherol, a form of vitamin E, can reduce the development of food allergy and anaphylaxis in newborn mice.  

The prevalence of food allergy in children increased 50% from 2007 to 2021 in the United States (US), with the incidence of peanut allergy tripling in that time. This new study, published in The Journal of Immunology, shows the potential for α-tocopherol in prenatal vitamins during pregnancy and lactation to address this alarming increase and reduce development of food allergy early in life. 

The study found that pups born to mice fed a diet supplemented with α-tocopherol during pregnancy and nursing showed reduced development of IgE antibodies to the food allergen and reduced peanut induced anaphylaxis. This sweeping improvement in outcomes was attributed to increased α-tocopherol levels in the pups of mothers taking the supplement, compared to those who were not. 

To reach these findings, the researchers used a mouse model to mimic the real-world conditions that contribute to allergy development in infants. They studied mouse pups predisposed for eczema and food allergies because children at highest risk of peanut allergy tend to also develop eczema.  

Pups were sensitized by skin exposure to known food allergens, household dust, and detergent to imitate common childhood exposures. After 2.5 weeks, pups were exposed to the allergen by oral consumption to test their allergic response. This was done to replicate how early exposures to allergens often sensitize the immune system to react to secondary oral exposures later. The researchers found that pups born to mothers fed a diet supplemented with α-tocopherol displayed reduced development of allergies. 

Dr. Joan Cook-Mills, Professor of Microbiology and Immunology at Indiana University School of Medicine, who led the study, shared it may not be as easy as it sounds for mothers in the US to benefit from α-tocopherol. “The potential of α-tocopherol to reduce allergic reactions in children will likely be dampened by high levels of γ-tocopherol due to its prevalence in common cooking oils (soybean oil, corn oil, and canola oil) and supplements in the US,” said Dr. Cook-Mills. Dr. Cook-Mills has previously reported that γ-tocopherol counteracts the benefits of α-tocopherol. “Currently, α-tocopherol supplementation may have a greater benefit in European countries, where common cooking oils (sunflower oil, safflower oil, and olive oil) are high in α-tocopherol and relatively low in γ-tocopherol,” suggested Dr. Cook-Mills.  

According to Dr. Cook-Mills, partnering with commercial companies to achieve a healthy balance of α-tocopherol and γ-tocopherol in cooking oil and other products in the US is a long-term goal of their research. “The benefit of these research findings is limited in the US unless an individual changes their cooking habits, but moreover unless commercial production practices change,” emphasizes Dr. Cook-Mills. 

To reduce the development of peanut allergy in children, the guidance on when to introduce peanuts to children has been updated to earlier introductions. However, some children are already positive for peanut allergies, before solid food can be introduced, highlighting the need to develop interventions beyond early introduction of peanuts. These results show a potential way to decrease the development of food allergy in higher risk children.  

The research article is available on The Journal of Immunology website. 

Requests for interviews with authors, The Journal of Immunology or the American Association of Immunologists can be made to mlam@aai.org. 

About The American Association of Immunologists 

The American Association of Immunologists (AAI) is one of the world’s largest organizations of immunologists and scientists in related disciplines. Our mission is to improve global health and well-being by advancing immunology and elevating public understanding of the immune system. AAI members are responsible for some of the most significant biomedical discoveries of the past century, including the development of life-saving cancer immunotherapies, antibody therapies, transplant technologies, and vaccines. We support scientists across the field of immunology through knowledge dissemination, community building, advocacy, and public outreach. 

About The Journal of Immunology 

The Journal of Immunology (The JI) publishes peer-reviewed manuscripts describing novel findings in all areas of experimental immunology, including both basic and clinical studies. The JI is owned by the American Association of Immunologists and published in partnership with Oxford University Press. 

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Journal

The Journal of Immunology

DOI

10.1093/jimmun/vkae041 

 

AI in retail: how to spark creativity and improve job satisfaction

Study explores how AI enhances employee service innovation, job fit and job satisfaction

Florida Atlantic University

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A researcher from FAU's College of Education and collaborators, examined how perceived AI service quality influences retail employees’ innovation, job fit and job satisfaction.

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Credit: Alex Dolce, Florida Atlantic University

Artificial intelligence (AI) is reshaping workplaces by streamlining routine tasks and boosting efficiency, particularly in retail, where innovation is essential for maintaining a competitive edge. Beyond automation, AI supports employee creativity by offering valuable insights and allowing them to focus on innovative tasks. However, research is limited on how AI service quality impacts employees in retail industries, making this an important area to explore.

Researchers from Florida Atlantic University and Hanyang University in Seoul, South Korea, examined how perceived AI service quality influences retail employees’ innovation, job fit and job satisfaction. The study looked at system-related factors such as reliability and transparency, as well as interaction-related aspects such as responsiveness and empathy. Researchers also explored the moderating role of AI adaptability, a key feature that allows AI systems to adjust their behavior based on user needs, for its potential to enhance service quality.

Results of the study, published in the Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, suggest that employees are more likely to engage in innovation when they perceive benefits from AI interactions. When AI systems demonstrate reliability and empathy, employees reciprocate with innovative behaviors. The study highlights AI’s role in service innovation, particularly in management’s strategic decision-making and operational scaling across retail industries.

Reliability strongly supports service innovation, emphasizing the need for consistent AI performance, whereas transparency does not significantly influence innovation. Surprisingly, responsiveness had an insignificant effect on service innovative behavior, challenging prior studies in which responsiveness is considered vital for enhancing customer engagement and real-time problem-solving.

In contrast, empathy had a strong and significant positive effect on service innovative behavior. Hence, AI systems capable of understanding and addressing users’ emotional and psychological needs can foster a more engaging work environment.

“Empathy in AI fosters trust and deeper connections, encouraging employees to engage in innovative behavior by making them feel supported,” said Sangbeak Ye, Ph.D., co-author and an associate professor in the Department of Educational Leadership and Research Methodology within FAU’s College of Education. “In retail, empathetic AI enhances job fit by aligning personal attributes with job expectations, leading to higher job satisfaction, reduced turnover and increased employee involvement. Employees who actively engage in innovative behavior feel more aligned with their roles because they can tailor their tasks to match their strengths and aspirations.”

Researchers also found that AI adaptability weakens the impact of system-related attributes (transparency and reliability) on service innovation, revealing complex interactions between system and interaction-related factors.

“Our research highlights the importance for managers to create work environments that promote innovation by enhancing AI service quality,” said Ye. “Focusing on reliability ensures AI can dependably assist with daily tasks, while boosting empathy in AI systems leads to more personalized and emotionally resonant experiences, inspiring employees to pursue new ideas. Furthermore, in dynamic AI-driven environments, attributes like empathy become even more vital in fostering employee engagement and creativity. Organizations that strategically integrate AI to support job customization and innovation can increase job satisfaction, making employees feel more connected to their work while improving service quality.”

For the study, researchers analyzed data from 290 retail employees, which spanned online retail and     e-commerce (28.6%), grocery and food retail (26.9%), apparel and fashion retail (14.8%), health and beauty retail (14.5%), electronics and appliances retail (11.0%), and finance retail (4.1%). Management-level employees comprised 62.8% of the sample, while 37.2% were in frontline roles.

Study co-authors are Suhyoung Ahn, Ph.D.; and JungKun Park, Ph.D., School of Business, Hanyang University.

- FAU -

About the College of Education:

In 1964, Florida Atlantic University’s College of Education became South Florida’s first provider of education professionals. Dedicated to advancing research and educational excellence, the College is nationally recognized for its innovative programs, evidence-based training, and professional practice. The College spans five departments: Curriculum and Instruction, Educational Leadership and Research Methodology, Special Education, Counselor Education, and Communication Sciences and Disorders, to prepare highly skilled teachers, school leaders, counselors, and speech pathologists. Faculty engage in cutting-edge research supported by prestigious organizations, including the National Science Foundation, the U.S. Department of Education, and the State of Florida.

 

About Florida Atlantic University:
Florida Atlantic University, established in 1961, officially opened its doors in 1964 as the fifth public university in Florida. Today, Florida Atlantic serves more than 30,000 undergraduate and graduate students across six campuses located along the Southeast Florida coast. In recent years, the University has doubled its research expenditures and outpaced its peers in student achievement rates. Through the coexistence of access and excellence, Florida Atlantic embodies an innovative model where traditional achievement gaps vanish. Florida Atlantic is designated as a Hispanic-serving institution, ranked as a top public university by U.S. News & World Report, and holds the designation of “R1: Very High Research Spending and Doctorate Production” by the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education. Florida Atlantic shares this status with less than 5% of the nearly 4,000 universities in the United States. For more information, visit www.fau.edu.

 

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Journal

Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services

DOI

10.1016/j.jretconser.2024.104207 

Method of Research

Data/statistical analysis

Subject of Research

People

Article Title

How AI enhances employee service innovation in retail: Social exchange theory perspectives and the impact of AI adaptability