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Record Breaking Turnout for NYC Early Voting
Dr. Meena Bose appeared on WNYW-TV Fox 5 to discuss how the record-breaking turnout for early voting in New York City underscored public engagement in the mayoral race. “There is reporting that suggests total turnout on Election Day could approach 2 million. We haven’t seen numbers like that for a mayoral race in more than 30 years,” she said. Dr. Bose is a Hofstra University professor of political science, executive dean of the Public Policy and Public Service program, and director of the Kalikow Center for the Study of the American Presidency.
Do the math: We’re awake roughly 16 hours a day. We spend 10 of those hours staring at screens – phones, tablets, computers, TV, gaming devices. That’s 63% of our waking life. The first platform dedicated entirely to digital balance launching today reveals something even more startling: It's not that we lack willpower to change our behavior. It's that we lack confidence. New proprietary research from Offline.now shows that 8 in 10 people are ready to change their relationship with technology, but more than half are so overwhelmed with their digital habits, they don’t know where to start. “If you don’t learn how to manage the screens in your life, they will manage you,” says Eli Singer, Founder of Offline.now and author of Offline.now: A Practical Guide to Healthy Digital Balance. “When people tell us they feel overwhelmed, it’s not laziness. It’s a crisis of confidence. And confidence is something that can be built.” Digital Wellness Experts Address the Struggles No One Else Will These insights come from digital wellness experts in the Offline.now Digital Wellness Directory – a growing community of licensed professionals across North America specializing in ADHD, relationships, family dynamics, high-achievers, and sustainable behavior change. They’re not offering generic advice. They’re addressing specific digital struggles that define contemporary life. Psychotherapist Harshi Sritharan, who specializes in modern anxiety and ADHD, explains: “The biggest mistake people make is reaching for their phone or turning on their computer first thing in the morning. It injects your dopamine full of uncertainty. You’ve essentially told your brain the most important thing you have to do today is put out fires. I tell clients to delay that first scroll as long as possible and never hit ‘snooze’. You’re fragmenting your REM sleep and making yourself more exhausted. These aren’t willpower issues; they’re about understanding how blue light disrupts your circadian rhythm, especially for those with ADHD who already struggle with sleep regulation.” According to Sritharan, the breakthrough happens when people understand the dopamine cycles driving their dependence and “reframe how they connect with all their screens, whether it’s their phone, gaming console, or streaming TV.” High Achievers Can’t Unplug. The ‘Always-On’ Trap is Killing Productivity, Not Boosting It “A lot of high performers think they need better time management,” says Executive Function Coach, Craig Selinger. “But what they actually need are boundaries. They’ve built empires by being available 24/7, and their phones have become permission slips to say yes to everything.” The difference between old and new technology matters,” he explains. “Back in the day with TV, there was a clear demarcation of beginning and end, right? The episode ends and you move on. Now it’s like Minecraft or TikTok – there’s no ending. And mobility makes it sticky, because you’re physically carrying the drug with you, versus a TV that stayed in one room.” The breakthrough happens when they realize being unavailable on purpose isn’t a weakness. “Things like turning off notifications during deep work, or setting ‘do not disturb’ windows? Those aren’t luxuries. They’re the competitive advantages they’ve been missing.” Digital Dependency as a Third Party in a Relationship Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist Gaea Woods says digital devices are killing interpersonal relationships, not because tech is evil, but because “we use it unconsciously at the moments when connection matters most. When you’re scrolling at dinner, you’re telling your partner ‘my phone is more interesting and important than you’.” The breakthrough happens when couples set explicit agreements: response times, when devices go off-limits – and even what’s it’s OK with AI companions. “We’ve exited the era of meaningful communication without realizing it, and now we must deliberately rebuild it. Nature isn’t ‘Nice to Have’. It’s the Antidote to Screen Fatigue No One is Talking About After running a tech-free camp for 25 years, Personal Development Coach Mark Diamond says he’s seen what happens when kids get genuine face-to-face time interaction outdoors. “Their brains reset. The beauty and physical activity provide perspective that screens can never replicate. Digital dependency has eroded our ability to develop real human connections across all ages, not just teenagers. Screens should not replace the moments that define our wellbeing.” Why This Matters Now The stakes extend beyond personal frustration. Unchecked screen dependency is linked to rising rates of anxiety, deteriorating sleep quality, relationship breakdown, and what mental health experts call “continuous partial attention”, a state where we’re always connected, but never fully present. The Data Reveals When Change is Possible Beyond the confidence divide, Offline.now’s research uncovers the precise moments when users are most open to shifting their digital habits: Evenings from 6 pm-11:59 pm emerge as the “Go Time” window. 40% of self-assessment responders peak readiness to act. Sunday is “Reset Day, when 43% want to set boundaries for the week ahead. Saturdays offer natural opportunities for self-compassion and rest. Afternoons become the “Overwhelm Window”, with 57% feeling consumed by their screens. Critically, Fridays – despite having the highest overwhelm factor – are the worst time for interventions. Users are depleted and change rarely sticks. The Framework That Powers the Platform At the platform’s core is the Offline.now Matrix, a behavioral framework that maps the confidence and motivation levels of users to reveal their starting point: Overwhelmed, Ready, Stuck, or Unconcerned. Based on Singer’s book, Offline.now: A Practical Guide to Healthy Digital Balance, the approach replaces willpower-based advice with microlearning strategies – each taking 20 minutes or less – that track emotional triggers rather than just screen time totals. It offers 100 real-world alternatives to scrolling, from reorganizing a drawer to visiting a thrift shop, and reframes slip-ups as data, not disasters. “The books shows that lasting change doesn’t require deleting Instagram or TikTok tomorrow,” says Singer. “You need to win one personal victory today, and then another tomorrow. That’s how confidence rebuilds.” Propelled by University of Toronto’s Innovation Ecosystem Offline.now is a University of Toronto-affiliated startup, leveraging one of the world’s most powerful innovation networks. U of T is ranked among the top five university-managed business incubators globally and has helped create more than 1,500 venture-backed companies and secured more than CAD$14 billion in investment over the past decade. How Offline.now Works For individuals and families: Take the free self-assessment quiz using the Offline.now Matrix to map your motivation and confidence levels in under three minutes. Receive instant access to practical strategies, curated resources, and a searchable directory of digital wellness experts organized by specialty, location, and insurance coverage. For digital wellness professionals: Join a growing community of licensed mental health practitioners, certified behaviorial coaches, and registered social workers by creating your profile at Offline.now. The platform provides new client leads, professional development opportunities, and visibility in a rapidly expanding market. About Offline.now Offline.now is the first global platform dedicated entirely to achieving digital balance. Founder and author Eli Singer built one of North America’s first social media agencies before seeing technology shift from community-building to attention-harvesting. As a parent, he experienced firsthand the struggle to maintain digital balance. The platform combines proprietary behavioral research, expert guidance and counselling from licensed professionals, and science-backed strategies to help individuals and families build healthier relationships with their screens. Visit Offline.now at https://offline.now Expert Interview Availability Offline.now can arrange interviews with: Eli Singer, Founder – Vision for digital wellness; behavioral data insights Harshi Sritharan, Psychotherapist – Dopamine cycles, ADHD, anxiety and intentional tech use Craig Selinger, Executive Function Coach – Digital distraction in high achievers, family dynamics, ADHD Mark Diamond, Personal Development Coach – Outdoor wellness, sustainable behavior change, happiness, connection Gaea Woods, Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist – Communication, digital third-party relationships, phubbing Additional Resources Free self-assessment quiz - The Offline.now Matrix: https://offline.now/quiz Expert directory and booking: https://offline.now/experts/ Join the directory: https://offline.now/join/ Order Offline.now: A Practical Guide to Healthy Digital Balance: https://offline.now/book/
Acing AI interviews: Career expert on strategies for job seekers
AI-conducted interviews are becoming a standard step in the hiring process, but many job seekers still aren’t sure how to handle them. University of Delaware career expert Jill Gugino Panté says candidates should treat these algorithm-driven interviews with the same seriousness as traditional ones and details how this can be done. Panté, director of UD’s Lerner College Career Services Center, can discuss what today’s AI interview platforms really measure – from confidence and tone to eye contact and facial expressions – and how job seekers can stand out. She can also explain what recruiters are looking for in the AI-generated summaries that often determine who moves to the next round. Panté’s expert tips include: • Check equipment to make sure everything is working and the software is updated; turn off all notifications to avoid distractions and set up the space with good lighting, a neutral background. • Smile and maintain your energy, as some AI software will assess your tone and engagement. • Prepare as you would for any other interview - review the job description, research the organization, use the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) when providing examples. • Be sure to look at the camera and not the screen. It might feel awkward but that’s technically where the "eye contact" will be. • Some platforms will allow you to review your recording before submitting. Use this opportunity to take notes about your body language, pacing and clarity. To contact Panté directly and arrange an interview, visit her profile and click on the connect button. Interested journalists can also send an email to MediaRelations@udel.edu.
Mosquito-borne disease research featured ahead of climate conference
University of Florida medical geographer Sadie Ryan, Ph.D. is among the international scientists whose work is featured in the forthcoming “10 New Insights in Climate Science” report, which will be presented at the United Nations COP30 Climate Conference on Nov. 10. Ryan’s research, which examines how climate change influences the spread of mosquito-borne diseases such as dengue, contributed to a newly generated global map illustrating where shifting temperatures and rainfall patterns are making conditions increasingly suitable for disease transmission. “A lot of my research is about how vector-borne diseases are going to move as the climate changes, and what that means for where and when transmission can happen,” Ryan said. “Climate change isn’t the only driver of dengue’s spread, but we are seeing the bleeding edge of climate shifting those distributions, where it’s warm enough for long enough and wet enough at the right times for outbreaks to take off.” According to Ryan, the map included in the report is based on the most recent generation of climate models and directly illustrates how climate suitability for dengue is changing around the world. Produced annually by Future Earth, the Earth League and the World Climate Research Programme, the report synthesizes the most important developments in climate research at the intersection of climate, health and policy on the world stage.
Generative AI may help turn consumers into active collaborators and creators, study finds
In the advertising world, generative AI is transforming the way brands connect with consumers, turning audiences from passive viewers into active creators who can shape and personalize campaign content. A recent study in the International Journal of Advertising, conducted by researchers at the University of Florida’s College of Journalism and Communications, determined that by letting people use AI tools to create images that fit a brand’s style, companies can invite customers to take part in their campaigns. This hands-on approach makes consumers feel more empowered, which can lead to more positive feelings about the brand and a higher likelihood of buying its products. “I came across the Coca-Cola and Heinz campaigns and was amazed by how AI can be used to transform and empower consumers,” said Yang Feng, Ph.D., an associate professor in artificial intelligence in the UF Department of Advertising, who co-conducted the study with assistant professor Yuan Sun, Ph.D. “This inspired me to reach out to Yuan to explore a potential collaboration.” The project began in 2023 following the success of Coca-Cola’s “Create Real Magic” campaign and Heinz’s “AI Ketchup” campaign, both of which allowed customers to engage directly with the brands using generative AI. To test the effectiveness of these types of campaigns, Feng and Sun set up two surveys. The first was given to participants to evaluate their familiarity with generative AI tools and the ways participants used them. This survey illuminated three areas that users felt were enhanced by generative AI: collaboration, creation and communication, which Feng and Sun refer to as the 3C framework. For the second survey, Feng and Sun mocked up a website for Harbor Haven Coffee, a fictional coffee brand committed to sustainability and ethical coffee bean sourcing. “We wanted a company that resonated with as many people as possible,” Sun said. “One of the other goals of the first survey was to find what participants cared about most, which is how we came up with the brand’s eco-friendly mission.” Along with the company’s description and mission statement, a generative AI tool was added to the homepage, encouraging participants to utilize it to produce images using prompts that fell within the brand’s guidelines. While participants were free to put whatever they wanted into the prompt box, each participant got back the same pre-generated image in order to reduce confounding factors. Participants were then asked a final round of questions to get a sense of how participating in this campaign made them feel. Findings from the surveys showed that incorporating generative AI into advertising campaigns increased the chances of turning potential customers into empowered consumers, or individuals who actively participate in brand development rather than passively receive ad content. Feng and Sun found that the reasons behind this empowerment were tied to their 3C framework. First, the collaborative nature of these campaigns fosters a sense of agency in the advertising process. Second, the reciprocal nature of human-generative AI communications boosts consumer confidence by making people feel more in control. Finally, directly engaging consumers and facilitating their creativity through AI builds stronger consumer relationships and reinforces positive brand associations. “This sense of empowerment can be further strengthened with a user interface that facilitates seamless human-generative AI interaction, which is my specialty,” Sun said. “It should prioritize user-friendly features, clear instructions for prompting GenAI and intuitive navigation to enhance the user experience.” However, among the benefits, the researchers also found a potential downside that could limit the success of these kinds of campaigns in the future. “Once AI’s creation capacity surpasses a certain point, consumers may start to feel overwhelmed and no longer view the output as their own creation but rather as the work of the AI, which ultimately diminishes their sense of empowerment,” Feng said. To this end, Feng intends to continue researching the 3C framework. Generative AI could play a big role in advertising going forward, and she hopes to explore its interpretive power in new contexts.
Aston University’s approach to a global challenge Across industries, companies face mounting pressure to cut carbon, improve resource efficiency, and contribute to the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Yet many firms still struggle to move from vision statements to measurable action. At Aston Business School, Dr Breno Nunes, reader in sustainable operations management, is developing practical frameworks that help organisations embed sustainability at their core. His concept of 'sustainability fitness' captures how firms can build the capabilities they need to adapt, compete, and thrive in the transition to a net zero economy. “Many organisations want to be sustainable but struggle to operationalise what that means. My work is about bridging that gap — helping businesses translate strategies into practice.” — Dr Breno Nunes The sustainability fitness concept involves both meeting human needs and respecting environmental limits. While it can also be applied at the societal and individual level, Dr Nunes focuses on organisations, where capability building delivers the fastest, measurable change. Corporate sustainability fitness examines how a firm is able to survive and meet its own needs, while aligning itself to wider essential needs of society and operating within limits imposed by its surrounding natural environment. From research to real-world action Dr Nunes’ research examines how organisations design, implement, and monitor sustainability strategies across operations, supply chains, facilities, and product development. He is the main author of the book Sustainable Operations Management: Key practices and cases, which applies the issues of sustainability to all strategic decisions of operations. His work is already making a tangible difference, including international partnerships in Brazil, Canada, and the US, bringing cross-cultural insights into organisational transformation, as well as for various companies and organisations. In an Innovate UK Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP) with automotive supplier Metal Assemblies, Dr Nunes and Professor Alexeis Garcia Perez, professor of digital business and society at Aston University, are working to calculate and report the carbon cost of metal components used in car production, tackling one of the industry’s biggest sustainability challenges. The digitalisation of processes will allow Metal Assemblies to meet customers' requirements and position itself as a trusted and transparent supplier of low-carbon components. In another KTP with Brockhouse Group, a forging manufacturer in the West Midlands, Dr Nunes worked with Aston colleague Dr Muhammad Imran, reader in mechanical, biomedical and design engineering. Together they developed a sustainable manufacturing strategy centred on carbon reduction and process improvement. The work involved the development of an energy dashboard, allowing analysis of data on gas and electricity consumption. The project also included analysis of alternatives for energy recovery systems, and development of routines and procedures to improve the manufacturing process. As a result, Brockhouse group is more competitive to supply in non-captive markets. Dr Nunes has also been involved with a collaboration with Birmingham Botanical Gardens to integrate sustainability into policy and practice, expanding the use of business sustainability theories to nonprofit sectors. Sustainability can be embedded across different areas of organisations while seeking financial stability. As an environmental education charity, it is important to for Birmingham Botanical Gardens to 'practise what it preaches'. It was recently awarded almost £20m from various grants (including Heritage Lottery) in a capital project, thanks to having sustainability at the core of renovation plans. These projects highlight Aston University’s role in bridging academia, industry, and policy — ensuring research findings reach the boardroom as well as the factory floor. Key insights from the research Dr Nunes’ studies highlight several critical factors for turning sustainability from intention into measurable results: • Organisational capabilities are central to embedding sustainability. These include empowering sustainability “champions” (institutional entrepreneurs), supportive structures, superior technologies, and the ability to learn and balance economic, environmental, and social performance. • The tensions in implementing sustainability vary not just by function (supply chains, governance, innovation) but also by an organisation’s maturity level. • Start with the low-hanging fruit: tools like self-assessments, capability diagnostics, and learning games allow firms to act at lower cost before committing to full environmental impact assessments or formal reporting. • Collaboration between academia, industry, and policymakers accelerates real-world impact. Why this matters The stakes are high. Businesses worldwide are expected to reduce carbon emissions, demonstrate social responsibility, and remain competitive in a rapidly changing global economy. Aston University’s research shows that strengthening sustainability capabilities not only improves environmental outcomes but also boosts resilience and cost savings. In pilot projects, teams working with Dr Nunes have achieved up to 30% reductions in both cost and carbon emissions — proof that sustainability can drive operational performance as well as compliance. Looking ahead: expanding the Sustainable Growth Hub The next phase of Dr Nunes’ work centres on Aston’s Sustainable Growth Hub, which is being developed as a reference point for SMEs seeking sustainability solutions. In 2025, the Hub will: • Launch its first industry club cohort and expand its team. • Roll out new self-assessment tools to size sustainability needs and decarbonisation goals. • Introduce new learning formats and follow-up courses to Aston’s Green Advantage programme, alongside sessions to play a new corporate sustainability game. • Host events to bring together businesses, policymakers, and the wider sustainability management community. • Attract new research grants and publish results to share knowledge across both academic and practitioner circles. These initiatives aim to equip organisations not only to meet today’s challenges, but to anticipate tomorrow’s. Get involved Follow Dr Nunes via his profile below, and soon through the Sustainability Fitness website. Businesses can also attend Aston Business School events to explore workshops, tools, and courses first-hand. About Dr Breno Nunes Dr Breno Nunes is reader in sustainable operations management at Aston Business School and president of the International Association for Management of Technology (IAMOT). He serves as associate editor of the IEEE Engineering Management Review and has published widely on sustainability strategy execution and innovation. Aston University’s work in sustainable operations — shaped by researchers like Dr Nunes — is helping organisations worldwide move from ambition to action, building the 'sustainability fitness' needed for a net zero future.
The Hidden Risks of Sports Betting
In a recent release from Cedarville University, Dr. Jared A. Pincin, Associate Professor of Economics, emerges as a prominent voice warning students about the hidden risks of sports betting. Pincin underscores that modern betting apps are intentionally designed to mimic mobile video games—fast, rewarding, and highly addictive—which makes them especially appealing to young adults and students. He emphasizes that while the appeal of quick wins is strong, the reality is that these platforms can erode both personal finances and educational opportunities. “The dark reality is that gambling is very addictive and can bankrupt people, strain marriages and destroy futures,” Dr. Pincin explains when describing the slippery slope that many young gamblers face. Grounded in his economic research and Christian ethics framework, Pincin adds another layer of concern: from a faith perspective, gambling exploits the desire for instant gain and distracts individuals from a more grounded trust in provision and purpose. He argues that with legalization expanding and betting apps readily available on smartphones, college students—not just athletes—are increasingly vulnerable to behaviors that can derail their academic trajectory and long-term goals. “Gambling preys on our desire for quick gain and distracts us from trusting God’s provision,” Dr. Pincin notes, bringing into focus the moral as well as the practical implications of sports gambling in a university setting. Dr. Jared Pincin's research interests explore the intersection of public choice economics with foreign aid as well as issues in sports economics. Pincin has published in popular publications such as The Hill, Real Clear Markets, Foxnews.com, and USA Today and scholarly journals such as Oxford Development Studies, Applied Economic Letters, and the Journal of Sport and Social Issues. View his profile here The release garnered a lot of attention - and substantial media coverage from outlets like ABC News and others. Gambling is emerging as a serious issue across America - and if you're a reporter looking to know more about this topic - then let us help. Cedarville's Jared Pincin is available to speak with media - simply click on his icon now to arrange an interview today.
Motor vehicle crashes remain one of the leading causes of death among teenagers. For the youngest drivers, getting behind the wheel marks freedom but also comes with measurable risk. At the University of California, Irvine, Dr. Federico Vaca, professor and executive vice chair of emergency medicine, is determined to change that trajectory. “Driving licensure among our youngest drivers remains a major life milestone, and it allows for newfound freedom and opportunity for not only youth but their parents as well. At the same time, learning to drive and licensure come at a time when youth are rapidly moving through life with new transitions in school, with friends, and likely exposure to alcohol and drugs,” he says. “Our priority … is to examine the complexities of young driver behavior and to thoroughly understand crash injury risk and crash prevention among this special group of drivers.” Vaca’s work is at the intersection of health, transportation science and policy. A fellow of the Association for the Advancement of Automotive Medicine and a researcher at UC Irvine’s Institute of Transportation Studies, he previously served as a medical fellow at the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration in Washington, D.C. His long-standing goal is to prevent the injuries he has seen and treated in emergency departments and trauma centers through rigorous research, using the findings to inform and advance evidence-based programs and policies that save lives on the road. Innovating safety science UC Irvine is home to a new hub for understanding and preventing crash injuries among young drivers, the Brain, Body & Behavior Driving Simulation Lab, founded by Vaca and his interdisciplinary team. At the heart of the B3DrivSim Lab is a high-fidelity, half-cab driving simulator capable of replicating real-world conditions with precision. It uses advanced software to design customized driving scenarios – from complex roadway environments to the inclusion of such human elements as distraction and fatigue – all while capturing real-time video and driving behavior as well as vehicle control metrics. This integration of medicine, behavioral science and engineering enables researchers to measure how developmental and socioecological factors shape driver decisions in unique and consequential ways. The B3DrivSim Lab also represents a growing mentorship ecosystem at UC Irvine. In mid-June, the facility welcomed Siwei Hu, a postdoctoral scholar who earned a Ph.D. in civil and environmental engineering, with a focus on transportation studies, at UC Irvine. Hu works closely with Vaca to combine engineering and modeling analytics with behavioral and crash risk insights. The half-cab driving simulator uses advanced software to replicate real-world conditions and design customized driving scenarios – from complex roadway environments to the inclusion of such human elements as distraction and fatigue – all while capturing real-time video and driving behavior as well as vehicle control metrics. Steve Zylius / UC Irvine From the lab to policy Beyond simulation, Vaca’s latest National Institutes of Health-funded study, separate from his lab’s work, takes this philosophy to the national level. His project, “Modeling a National Graduated-BAC Policy for 21- to 24-Year-Old Drivers,” explores whether lowering the legal blood alcohol limit for young adults could reduce alcohol-related crashes and deaths. “When you turn 21, at that very moment, the application of several alcohol-related prevention laws changes in the blink of an eye,” Vaca says. “Before that, the minimum legal drinking age and zero-tolerance laws are in place to protect young drivers from alcohol-impaired driving. Effectively, the second you turn 21, those prevention policies don’t apply, and you’re suddenly allowed to have a much higher blood alcohol concentration in your body that’s intimately tied to serious and fatal crash risk. It’s a very dangerous disconnect.” The study will use national crash data, behavioral surveys and system dynamics modeling to examine how a “graduated BAC policy” might bridge that gap, giving young adult drivers a safer transition into full legal responsibility and saving many more lives. Bridging science, education and prevention Earlier this year, Vaca and his B3DrivSim team joined prevention program educators, policymakers, engineers and law enforcement professionals in Anaheim at a Ford Driving Skills for Life event, part of a Ford Philanthropy-sponsored national effort teaching teens hands-on safe driving techniques – from hazard recognition to impaired-driving awareness. Speaking to more than 130 high school students and their parents from local and distant communities, Vaca emphasized the connection among driving, independence, opportunity and responsibility. That message aligns with his broader initiative, Youth Thriving in Life Transitions with Transportation, which introduces high school students to traffic safety and transportation science and their role in promoting health, education and employment in early adulthood. By linking research and real-world experience, the project empowers youth to see mobility as a foundation for opportunity with safety as its cornerstone. With overall young driver crash fatalities rising 25 percent nationally over the last decade and a 46 percent increase in fatal crashes where a young driver had a BAC of ≥ .01/dL, Vaca’s work represents a crucial step toward reversing that trend. Through a combination of clinical insight and prevention, transportation and data science underscored by community collaboration, he and his team are redefining how researchers and policymakers think about youth driver safety.
Heart valve developed at UC Irvine shines in early-stage preclinical testing
UC Irvine researchers designed and developed a minimally invasive replacement pulmonary heart valve. Created for pediatric patients, the device can be expanded as children grow, eliminating the need for multiple surgeries. The team successfully conducted laboratory and early-stage animal feasibility testing of the implant, crucial steps toward approval for human use. Irvine, Calif., June 23, 2025 — Researchers at the University of California, Irvine have successfully performed preclinical laboratory testing of a replacement heart valve intended for toddlers and young children with congenital cardiac defects, a key step toward obtaining approval for human use. The results of their study were published recently in the Journal of the American Heart Association. The management of patients with congenital heart disease who require surgical pulmonary valve replacement typically occurs between the ages of 2 and 10. To be eligible for a minimally invasive transcatheter pulmonary valve procedure, patients currently must weigh at least 45 pounds. For children to receive minimally invasive treatment, they must be large enough so that their veins can accommodate the size of a crimped replacement valve. The Iris Valve designed and developed by the UC Irvine team can be implanted in children weighing as little as 17 to 22 pounds and gradually expanded to an adult diameter as they grow. Research and development of the Iris Valve has been supported by the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development; the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute; and the National Science Foundation. This funding has enabled benchtop fracture testing, which demonstrated the valve’s ability to be crimped down to a 3-millimeter diameter for transcatheter delivery and subsequently enlarged to 20 millimeters without damage, as well as six-month animal studies that confirmed successful device integration within the pulmonary valve annulus, showing valve integrity and a favorable tissue response. “We are pleased to see the Iris Valve performing as we expected in laboratory bench tests and as implants in Yucatan mini pigs, a crucial measure of the device’s feasibility,” said lead author Arash Kheradvar, UC Irvine professor of biomedical engineering. “This work represents the result of longstanding collaboration between our team at UC Irvine and Dr. Michael Recto at Children’s Hospital of Orange County built over several years of joint research and development.” Congenital heart defects affect about 1 percent of children born in the United States and Europe, with over 1 million cases in the U.S. alone. These conditions often necessitate surgical interventions early in life, with additional procedures required to address a leaky pulmonary valve and prevent right ventricular failure as children grow. The Iris Valve can be implanted via a minimally invasive catheter through the patient’s femoral vein. The Kheradvar group employed origami folding techniques to compress the device into a 12-French transcatheter system, reducing its diameter to no more than 3 millimeters. Over time, the valve can be balloon-expanded up to its full 20-millimeter diameter. This implantation method, along with the ability to begin treatment earlier in very young patients, helps mitigate the risk of complications from delayed care and reduces the need for multiple surgeries in this vulnerable population. “Once the Iris Valve comes to fruition, it will save hundreds of children at least one operation – if not two – throughout the course of their lives,” said Recto, an interventional pediatric cardiologist at CHOC who’s also a clinical professor of pediatrics at UC Irvine. “It will save them from having to undergo surgical pulmonary valve placement, as the Iris Valve is delivered via a small catheter in the vein and can be serially dilated to an adult diameter and also facilitate the future placement of larger transcatheter pulmonary valves – with sizes greater than 20 millimeters, like the Melody, Harmony and Sapien devices – if needed.” Kheradvar said that the next phase of preclinical testing of the Iris Valve is funded by the Brett Boyer Foundation, which is committed to supporting research into treatments for congenital heart disease. “We are actively engaged with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to define and carry out the required experiments and documentation for first-in-human authorization of the Iris Valve,” Kheradvar said. “Our team is urgently advancing the Iris Valve through preclinical studies to enable its clearance for first-in-human use. This is a critical step toward providing toddlers – who currently have no viable minimally invasive treatment until they reach the 45-pound threshold – with a much-needed option.” First co-author Nnaoma Agwu, a biomedical engineering Ph.D. candidate at UC Irvine, said: “The development of the Iris Valve required a strong and knowledgeable team that understood the clinical and mechanical design requirements. This accomplishment would not have been possible without the collaboration of talented clinicians, veterinarians and engineers. With this milestone reached, we are rigorously advancing the Iris Valve’s development, setting our sights on human clinical trials.” Joining Kheradvar, Recto and Agwu as co-authors of the article in Journal of the American Heart Association were Daryl Chau, a recent UC Irvine master’s graduate; Gregory Kelley and Tanya Burney, both research specialists at UC Irvine, with Burney also affiliated with the Beckman Laser Institute; Ekaterina Perminov, a clinical veterinarian with UC Irvine’s University Laboratory Animal Resources; and Christopher Alcantara, a radiology technician at CHOC. About UC Irvine’s Brilliant Future campaign: Publicly launched on Oct. 4, 2019, the Brilliant Future campaign aims to raise awareness and support for the university. By engaging 75,000 alumni and garnering $2 billion in philanthropic investment, UC Irvine seeks to reach new heights of excellence in student success, health and wellness, research and more. The Samueli School of Engineering plays a vital role in the success of the campaign. Learn more by visiting https://brilliantfuture.UC Irvine.edu/the-henry-samueli-school-of-engineering About the University of California, Irvine: Founded in 1965, UC Irvine is a member of the prestigious Association of American Universities and is ranked among the nation’s top 10 public universities by U.S. News & World Report. The campus has produced five Nobel laureates and is known for its academic achievement, premier research, innovation and anteater mascot. Led by Chancellor Howard Gillman, UC Irvine has more than 36,000 students and offers 224 degree programs. It’s located in one of the world’s safest and most economically vibrant communities and is Orange County’s second-largest employer, contributing $7 billion annually to the local economy and $8 billion statewide. For more on UC Irvine, visit www.uci.edu. Media access: Radio programs/stations may, for a fee, use an on-campus studio with a Comrex IP audio codec to interview UC Irvine faculty and experts, subject to availability and university approval. For more UC Irvine news, visit news.uci.edu. Additional resources for journalists may be found at https://news.uci.edu/media-resources.
From classrooms to communities: Rethinking civic engagement in K–12 education
When national headlines focus on school board battles and political polarization, James Bridgeforth, assistant professor of educational leadership at the University of Delaware, is focused on what’s possible instead: building a more inclusive, participatory model of democracy through public education. His research in UD's College of Education and Human Development explores how community voice, equity and local leadership intersect to shape education policy – and how school boards can serve as vital engines for rebuilding public trust in government. "Despite the often sensationalized stories of chaotic school board meetings and the influence of more national "culture war" issues, I still believe that it's possible for people from different backgrounds, experiences, and points of view to come together to figure out how to best serve the needs of all of our children." – Bridgeforth Bridgeforth’s work centers on education governance, policy and leadership, with particular attention to how racism and anti-Blackness manifest in schools and policymaking spaces. His scholarship highlights the importance of inclusive decision-making, arguing that effective education policy must be representative of the diverse communities it serves. He recently published the report "Navigating Democracy in Divided Times" with co-authors on this topic. As part of his work with the Getting Down to Facts III project at Stanford University, Bridgeforth collaborates with researchers studying how to improve California’s TK–12 system and inform the next governor’s education policy agenda. His work documents the complex realities faced by local school board members – often minimally paid community leaders navigating contentious public discourse, social media pressure and limited resources. He notes that this research can be applied to school boards around the country. The next frontier: Youth civic engagement Over the next several years, Bridgeforth aims to deepen understanding of how schools can nurture young people’s civic skills and leadership capacity through participation in governance. One proposed project – "Strengthening Opportunities for Youth Civic Engagement and Student Voice in Educational Governance" – uses participatory action research to explore how student board member policies and engagement practices foster civic agency and democratic mindsets. This collaborative work brings together youth-led community organizations and education researchers to study how these experiences shape long-term civic behavior – from voting to public service. Why it matters Bridgeforth’s research arrives at a pivotal time for American democracy. As trust in public institutions erodes, local school boards remain one of the spaces where citizens can directly shape policy. His work points to a hopeful truth: democracy’s renewal may begin in classrooms, communities and the local school board meetings shaping them. For journalists covering education, race or civic engagement, Bridgeforth offers data-driven insight, lived experience and policy expertise – helping make sense of one of the most pressing questions of our time: How can we build systems that truly serve all students and communities? This work collectively demonstrates a number of promising opportunities to foster more inclusive, community-connected forms of governance, particularly in a time of eroding trust in government institutions." – Bridgeforth ABOUT JAMES BRIDGEFORTH Assistant Professor, College of Education and Human Development James Bridgeforth is an educator, researcher and policy advocate whose work focuses on community voice in education policy and the politics of educational leadership. His scholarship has appeared in top journals including Journal of School Leadership, Education Policy Analysis Archives, Educational Evaluation and Policy Analysis and Educational Administration Quarterly, and he has contributed to Education Week and The Washington Post. A recipient of the National Academy of Education/Spencer Foundation Dissertation Fellowship, Bridgeforth holds a Ph.D. in Urban Education Policy from the University of Southern California, an M.Ed. in Educational Administration and Policy from the University of Georgia, and a B.A. in Political Science and Sociology from Georgia College & State University. Expert available for: Interviews on K–12 school governance, education policy and democracy Commentary on community voice and equity in education decision-making Analysis of youth civic engagement and participatory leadership To contact Bridgeforth, email mediarelations@udel.edu.