LONDON, UK: The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust, a world-leading specialist cancer center, has today announced a pioneering partnership with NTT DATA, a global leader in digital business and technology services, and CARPL.ai, a leading enterprise imaging artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning operations (MLOps) platform. Together, they have designed and built an advanced AI-powered radiology analysis service for the development and evaluation of AI in medical imaging, designed to transform cancer research and, ultimately, improve patient outcomes.

AI’s potential to enhance the speed and accuracy of identifying imaging biomarkers has long been recognized. Funded by a three-year grant from the UK’s National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR), the service will be used for research at The Royal Marsden and the Institute of Cancer Research (ICR), including projects in collaboration with other research teams. This research initiative will focus on developing and evaluating AI algorithms to improve the accuracy of cancer evaluation, including sarcoma, lung, breast, brain, and prostate cancers. This will lead to faster response times, more accurate diagnoses, and better-targeted treatments.

The service runs on an MLOps clinical imaging platform, built and operated by NTT DATA. To enable this, NTT DATA developed a bespoke AI computing solution leveraging high-performance Dell servers and utilizing the latest GPU processing capacity orchestrated by the CARPL.ai platform, which helps test and manage AI algorithms and includes a large collection of radiology AI models.

NTT DATA is also providing specialist imaging AI consulting services, helping researchers at The Royal Marsden test and evaluate emerging AI tools in real clinical settings, while extracting maximum insight and value from both in-house and commercial algorithms.

“AI has immense potential to support clinicians in diagnosing and treating cancer earlier and more precisely,” said Professor Dow-Mu Koh, Professor in Functional Cancer Imaging and Consultant Radiologist in Functional Imaging at The Royal Marsden. “By working with NTT DATA and CARPL.ai, we’ve created a scalable research environment that allows us to explore the full potential of AI safely and in a way that could one day transform cancer diagnosis and treatment across the NHS.”

Minister of State for Health, Karin Smyth, said: “Our 10-Year Health Plan will modernize the NHS, replacing outdated systems with cutting-edge digital solutions. While this trial is in its early stages, it represents exactly the kind of collaboration between the NHS, industry, and academia that will help build a health service fit for the future. Early detection saves lives, and innovations like AI will transform how cancer is diagnosed and treated – helping patients receive faster and more effective care.”

Professor Mike Lewis, NIHR Scientific Director for Innovation, said: “Cancer is one of the biggest killers in the UK. That must change. This three-year grant will help researchers push the boundaries of AI-driven technology for cancer detection and diagnosis.

This AI-powered service represents the cutting edge of cancer research, and it is going to transform treatment, better support NHS staff, and ultimately change patients’ lives. It is another great example of how NIHR-funded and supported research will ensure the best care is there when patients need it.”

Tom Winstanley, Chief Technology Officer at NTT DATA UK & Ireland, commented: “This service is a great example of responsible innovation in practice, showing the ethical, secure use of AI in healthcare. We are very proud to support The Royal Marsden in pushing the boundaries of cancer research.”

Once the service is live, research teams at The Royal Marsden will be able to evaluate a range of AI models across several cancer types. These studies will generate critical insights into how AI can support clinical decision-making and shape future approaches to diagnosis and treatment. Through CARPL.ai’s centralized interface and built-in monitoring tools, the research teams will also be able to track model performance over time, enabling faster feedback loops between development and deployment – a crucial step towards clinical translation. NTT DATA will continue to work closely with The Royal Marsden to support this next phase of research, which will ultimately improve cancer care and patient outcomes.

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The blood donation drive kicked off at the MultiFit Kalyani Nagar Annexe on June 15, followed by MultiFit Kharadi on June 16, MultiFit Baner on June 17, and concluded at MultiFit Dhanori on June 18. The event witnessed enthusiastic participation from fitness enthusiasts, residents, and the MultiFit community, showcasing the spirit of solidarity and community service.

Deepti Sharma, Director of MultiFit, expressed her gratitude and pride in the success of the event. She said, “We are thrilled with the overwhelming response we received at all our locations. The success of this blood donation drive underscores the commitment of our members and the local community toward societal well-being. At MultiFit, we believe in not only fostering physical fitness but also in making a positive impact on society. This drive is a testament to our core values of health, community, and responsibility.”

MultiFit, founded in 2015, has rapidly grown to become a renowned name in the fitness industry with over 35 centers across India and the UK. Known for its holistic and functional approach to fitness, MultiFit blends conventional training with advanced functional training, offering a diverse range of fitness programs. These include HIIT, strength training, yoga, Pilates, and combat sports, catering to various fitness needs and levels. The brand is committed to promoting a balanced and healthy lifestyle, encouraging members to pursue fitness engagingly and enjoyably.

The blood donation drive collected a significant amount of blood, which will be instrumental in saving lives and supporting medical treatments. The event also raised awareness about the importance of regular blood donation and its impact on public health.

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NEW DELHI: The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN), the nonprofit organization that coordinates the Domain Name System (DNS), announced today the ICANN Grant Program, which will make millions of dollars in funding available to develop projects that support the growth of a single, open and globally interoperable Internet. ICANN is opening an application cycle for the first $10 million in grants in March 2024.

Internet connectivity continues to increase worldwide, particularly in developing countries. According to the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), an estimated 5.3 billion of the world’s population use the Internet as of 2022, a growth rate of 6.1% over 2021. The Grant Program will support this next phase of global Internet growth by fostering an inclusive and transparent approach to developing stable, secure Internet infrastructure solutions that support the Internet’s unique identifier systems.

“With the rapid evolution of emerging technologies, businesses, and security models, the Internet’s unique identifier systems must continue to evolve,” said Samiran Gupta, Vice President, of Government and IGO Engagement APAC, ICANN. “The ICANN Grant Program offers a new avenue to further those efforts by investing in projects that are committed to and support ICANN’s vision of a single, open, and globally interoperable Internet that fosters inclusion amongst a broad, global community of users.”

ICANN expects to begin accepting grant applications on 25 March 2024. The application window will remain open until 24 May 2024. A complete list of eligibility criteria can be found at: https://icann.org/grant-program.

Once the application window closes, all applications are subject to admissibility and eligibility checks. An Independent Application Assessment Panel will review admissible and eligible applications and the tentative timeline to announce the grantees of the first cycle is in January 2025.

Potential applicants will have several opportunities to learn more about the Call for Proposals and ask ICANN Grant Program staff members questions through question-and-answer webinar sessions in the coming months. For more information on the program, including eligibility and submission requirements, the ICANN Grant Program Applicant Guide is available at 

https://icann.org/grant-program.

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The program aims to strengthen budget sustainability by improving tax revenue collection and governance in the public sector, including state-owned enterprises (SOEs), and strengthening the anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism (AML/CFT) financing framework. It will also help to create greater and better quality opportunities for the population of Seychelles by supporting budgetary consolidation efforts and contributing to reducing debt vulnerability.

The program plans to upgrade the Automated System for Customs Data (ASYCUDA), which involves Express Courier, e-Manifest (for Express Courier), and Excise Tax Modules. It will also enable staff training to help them use the new modules.

In addition, the program will support measures aimed at strengthening Seychelles’ response to climate change and the transition to clean energy. This will include cabinet approval of the regulations on decentralized energy production systems and independent energy producers to encourage the development of renewable energy installations by using standalone generator units.

The population of Seychelles will be the program’s primary beneficiary based on the scale of the reform program and its impact on public administration, economic growth, and environmental and climate resilience.

The loan from the African Development Bank Group will help Seychelles remove constraints associated with the business environment and allow local microbusinesses and SMEs to participate more effectively in international trade while encouraging renewable energy production and better waste management practices.

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USCIS focused this year on reaching remote, underserved, and vulnerable communities per Executive Order 14012, Restoring Faith in Our Legal Immigration Systems and Strengthening Integration and Inclusion Efforts for New Americans. This fiscal year (FY), the grant program received an increase of $5 million from FY 2022., Restoring Faith in Our Legal Immigration Systems and Strengthening Integration and Inclusion Efforts for New Americans, and the corresponding Interagency Strategy on Promoting Naturalization. The grant program received an increase of $5 million from FY 2022.

The Citizenship and Integration Grants provide funding to organizations that prepare immigrants for naturalization and promote civic integration through increased knowledge of English, U.S. history, and civics. In addition to the traditional programs that fund citizenship and English acquisition classes, FY 2023 grants include opportunities for creative and innovative approaches to preparing immigrants for naturalization.

“USCIS is committed to making the United States a stronger, more inclusive, and welcoming nation. We encourage naturalization by educating remote, underserved, and vulnerable populations about the benefits of citizenship and the naturalization process,” said USCIS Director Ur M. Jaddou.

The Citizenship and Integration Grant Program has awarded nearly $155 million through 644 competitive grants to immigrant-serving organizations in 41 states and the District of Columbia since it began in 2009. Now in its 15th year, the program has helped more than 300,000 LPRs prepare for citizenship.

USCIS awarded the grants through three competitive funding opportunities: Citizenship Instruction and Naturalization Application Services (CINAS), Community and Regional Integration Network Grant (CARING), and Innovations in Citizenship Preparation Program.

In making final award decisions, USCIS considered, in part, grantees’ past performance, when applicable. For additional information on the FY 2023 Citizenship and Integration Grant Program, visit www.uscis.gov/grants or email the USCIS Office of Citizenship, Partnership and Engagement at citizenshipgrantprogram@uscis.dhs.gov.

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The grant is to improve access to quality education across selected geographies in South Asia and Africa through impact-linked financing. This initiative would be funded by the State Secretariat for Economic Affairs SECO, the Swiss Development Cooperation Agency SDC, the UBS Optimus Foundation, and the Credit Suisse Foundation.

The consortium of Varthana, Kaizenvest, IDP Foundation, and Global Schools Forum, proposes to set up a Global Finance for Education Fund to provide USD 35 million of catalytic and investment capital to financial institutions and intermediaries serving private ECD (Early Childhood Development), LCPS (Low-Cost Private Schools) and skill development providers, across 6 countries in South Asia, Africa, and potentially South America.

The consortium’s impact finance design idea was selected alongside six other winners from 76 applications for its potential to make a meaningful difference in the lives of underprivileged children aged between 0-18 years. The final winners were chosen by a team from Convergence and SDG Impact Finance after reviewing impact finance design ideas from the four UN Sustainable Goals: SDG 4 (Quality Education), SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth), SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production), and SDG 13 (Climate Action).

The consortium’s solution is designed to support Low-fee Private Schools to improve learning outcomes and equity in almost 520,000 low-middle-income learners enrolled in schools across the 6 identified countries (India, Pakistan, Kenya, Ghana, Uganda, and Nigeria).

It also aims to accelerate progress toward learning recovery by facilitating access to more and better financial instruments through:

1. Increasing the amount of debt capital and equity investments available for on-lending to LCPS;
2. Scaling up and improving the pilot conducted by Varthana of tying financial loans for LCPS to clear rewards for improving access and learning outcomes for girls and marginalized groups, and for improving access to finance for women proprietors or LCPS

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