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Metaverse...have you met AcceleRoute?
The Internet is a testament to the power of evolution. But there's a bigger picture looming. A discontinuity. Driven by a new breed of application environments including the Metaverse, multi-player gaming, VR and more. Will this drive the need for a "new Internet"? Many believe, as a minimum, networking will need a serious upgrade. Moore's Law can cover us for throughput for awhile, but latency is a different story. The speed of light creates the limit. No getting around that. There is only one solution. Park the services closer to the users. And that ushers in a new architectural paradigm in the form of Edge Data Centers. Those facilities will operate in global federations, serving tight geographies while hot-syncing with each other. A tidy solution. Job done, right? Not so fast. If people only cared about what and who is geographically close to them, we might be ok. Remember we need to park the services AND THE DATA close to the users. We're not talking about old slow data like websites, but the fast stuff like fast-twitch gaming, or VR, or avatar movements in the Metaverse. How can a byte in Tokyo stay in "white-hot" sync with a byte in London? Predictive caching, that's how. The new frontier. The geography-buster. Let's say you’re VR-interacting with someone across the planet, there will be a lag. It won't feel real. But what if the application servers use laws of physics to predict far-end movement for local render, with algorithms to reconcile laggy incoming real-position data. Done right, that might feel real. Take that example and scale it in all directions. That's the future. Can incrementally-evolved networks handle that? Its anybody's guess what the future of networking will look like but let's try anyway. Some believe this brave new application world will be the catalyst for significant infrastructure change. Not the " N+1" kind, but the "all-new" kind. The kind we thought we'd never need because incremental upgrades were getting it done. But that was before the Metaverse discontinuity. AcceleRoute is a forward-thinking next-generation network architecture designed for this category of challenge. All-new thinking. Designed from the ground up around a bufferless core architecture, AcceleRoute achieves network throughput and latency on a scale not seen before. Bufferless means no hops. Essentially an endless supply of instantly provisioned virtual direct links, each with as much dynamic bandwidth as needed at any point in time. Incorporating novel paradigms like network fusion and expansion by constellations, AcceleRoute can scale to new orders of magnitude, all while embracing absolute simplicity for network control and management. An infinitely-expandable network, based on new principles, that can glue CPUs/DPUs/GPUs to globalized data with one seamless fabric. Perhaps a full AcceleRoute solution won't be required, but it’s likely the pursuit of network optimizations will be relentless. AcceleRoute represents 2 decades of invention embodied by 36 patents with over 700 claims and more on the way. That's a massive starting position for anyone playing the long game.
IMPROVING PATIENT CARE, ONE COMMUNITY AT THE TIME
The Deep River and District Hospital shared updates in the November 2021 Newsletter The Zinger. RealTime Medical’s platform now supports their radiology department. “On Tuesday, November 9, 2021, the organization transitioned our Diagnostic Imaging Radiology services to a third-party service provider, RealTime Medical (RTM) to support our X-ray and Ultrasound reading. Thank you to everyone who helped make the transition go smoothly. The turnaround time for reports has significantly improved from previous services. At times, patients are still in the Emergency Department when reports are received, which is a significant improvement and benefit to patient care! RTM provides 24-hours a day/ 7 days a week remote Radiology coverage, and a Radiologist is available 24/7. Posters with contact information for RTM have been posted on the Medical and Emergency Department nursing stations, as well as in the Physician room on medical.” Link to the original source.
STORY: National Slow Down, Move Over Day: Protect the Protectors
Every year, tow truck operators are injured or killed by passing vehicles. In 2015, CAA advocated for the government to include tow trucks in the Slow Down, Move Over legislation in Ontario. This means that when approaching an emergency vehicle or tow truck with flashing amber lights stopped on the side of the road, drivers must slow down and, where it is safe to do so, change lanes. To raise awareness, CAA National and all clubs across the federation recognizes the second Tuesday of May as National Slow Down, Move Over Day. This day acts as a reminder for drivers to slow down and move over for first responders and stopped tow trucks with flashing amber lights. This year, CAA Club Group has launched a new campaign called, Protect the Protectors. The goal of this campaign is to remind drivers that while tow truck operators are working to protect people stranded at the side of the road, we need to do our part and protect them by slowing down and moving over. Learn more: https://www.caasco.com/advocacy/road-safety/slow-down-move-over
The Centre for Research in Ethnic Minority Entrepreneurship (CREME) has partnered with NatWest for the Time to Change report It sets out ten evidence-based recommendations for advancing the growth potential of ethnic minority businesses (EMBs) including increasing their GVA contribution from the current £25 billion a year to £100 billion The report is being launched at a special event on 10 May at NatWest Conference Centre in London with keynote speaker Sir Trevor Philips OBE. A new report from Aston University has set out a plan for advancing the growth potential of ethnic minority businesses (EMBs) in the UK. The Centre for Research in Ethnic Minority Entrepreneurship (CREME) has partnered with NatWest for the Time to Change report which sets out ten evidence-based recommendations to promote greater success and inclusion of ethnic minority businesses (EMBs) in finance and business support in the UK. Experts say the implementation of the recommendations could help tackle the multiple barriers faced by EMBs, particularly in accessing finance, markets and quality business support, and could increase their GVA contribution from the current £25 billion a year to £100 billion, highlighting the significant potential of EMBs to the UK economy. The report says that to combat racial inequality, there should be a UK-wide support for ethnic led businesses should be a standard feature of all future plans. This includes integrating them into broader policy agendas of inclusive growth, productivity and innovation. A more inclusive approach to enterprise is key to tackling wider social structural barriers such as unequal access to employment opportunities and product markets, and gender and ethnicity pay gaps. Concerted action is needed to support the growth ambitions of EMBs, particularly in light of damaging consequences of the pandemic for ethnic minority communities. The report calls for a strong action to eliminate the longstanding challenge of discouragement of ethnic minority entrepreneurs from seeking finance and business support. It found EMBs have been particularly hit hard by the Covid-19 pandemic due to the sectors in which they tend to operate and recommends recovery support is focussed on the businesses that need it most. The report also highlights the need for greater accountability of organisations across public, private and third sectors, including business support agencies, finance providers and large purchasing organisations, for their business engagement with EMBs. Professor Monder Ram, director of the Centre for Research in Ethnic Minority Entrepreneurship at Aston Business School, said: “This major report sets out an ambitious yet practical agenda to realise the potential of UK’s ethnic minority businesses. “The entrepreneurial ambition of ethnic minorities can play a crucial role in the UK Government’s vision of ‘Levelling Up’ prosperity across regions, promoting trade opportunities of ‘Global Britain’ and creating a more cohesive society. “Drawing on the latest research and examples of international best practice, the report presents a comprehensive approach to tackling the barriers faced by firms owned by ethnic minority communities. “We pinpoint key challenges and present recommendations – informed by extensive consultation with business support practitioners and entrepreneurs – that invite policy-makers, corporations and entrepreneurs to collaborate in a new partnership to advance entrepreneurial activities and the UK’s diverse communities.” The report calls for central government and local decision makers to develop clear objectives for inclusive entrepreneurship, informed by evidence, and ensure that EMBs can access quality business support that helps them grow. Dr Eva Kašperová, a research fellow at CREME, said: “To address the barriers faced by EMBs and help them realise their entrepreneurial potential will require commitment and leadership from the government as well as local business support ecosystem actors. “The current lack of an explicit UK-wide policy on inclusive entrepreneurship could mean that some parts of the country are left behind in terms of tackling structural inequalities and enabling entrepreneurs from ethnic minority communities and other under-represented or disadvantaged groups to access finance, wider markets and quality business support. “If past experience is a guide, ensuring commitment from key stakeholders may be the biggest challenge.” Andrew Harrison, head of Business Banking at NatWest Group, said: “As the UK’s biggest bank for business, we’re committed to championing small businesses and supporting growth, but we know that there are barriers which disproportionately affect Ethnic Minority Businesses (EMBs). “This is why we aim for at least 20% of the places on our 13 nationwide accelerator hubs to be for ethnic minority entrepreneurs. In 2021, 26% of businesses in our hubs were EMBs. “Only close collaboration can deliver meaningful change to ensure EMBs get the support they need to reach their full potential. Now is the time to accelerate action, and at NatWest we commit to playing an integral role in the change that is required.” The Centre for Research in Ethnic Minority Entrepreneurship (CREME) will share this report, inviting policy-makers, corporations and entrepreneurs to come together in a collaborative and strategic partnership to champion enterprise and advance entrepreneurial activities and the UKs diverse communities, further building an inclusive entrepreneurial eco-system supporting businesses to thrive at a launch event at NatWest Conference Centre in London on 10 May.
#Expert Insight: Practice sound business practices, especially amid high inflation
Understanding your market is of the utmost importance in a time with high inflation. Dr. Richard Franza, dean of the Hull College of Business at Augusta University, said business owners should always be examining processes to make sure they are as cost-effective as possible. But also, make sure to keep the customer in mind. “You have to understand where your price fits in with all the other components of your products,” said Franza. “You mustn’t spend money on elements that are not important to your customer. Cut your costs in a way that doesn’t affect the customer experience.” Being aware of everything when business is on an uptick is as important when times aren’t the best. “If you look at the processes when times are good, then you have a lot more flexibility with your margins. Understanding your market is important. Understand how you compete – is it through cost, quality, speed or customization? Understand where you’re better or worse than your competitors." When it comes to the service industry, businesses need to pay special attention to those dealing with the customers. “Understand that while you have to run your back room efficiently, you have to concentrate on your front room where you do interact with customers. Be focused on the experience of the customer. You may want to spend a little extra on the people you hire to interact with your customers; they’re your ‘face,’” added Franza. While inflation may be affecting everyone and every business, it’s important to remember one thing. “Be true to your brand. Your loyal customers are coming to you because of that.” If you're looking to know more about this important topic, then let us help. Franza is available to speak with media about trending issues like inflation, small business and the economy – simply click on his icon now to arrange an interview today.
How should we measure faculty expertise? This week the UK provides its answer to this question via its highly significant and formal (government-directed) assessment of academic research - which grades academic teams on a scale of 1* to 4* for their ability to deliver, share and create impact globally outstanding research. This process is known as the REF (the Research Excellence Framework) - and the results will be publicly released this Thursday (12th May) with universities themselves finding out how they’ve performed in advance today (Monday 9th May). The process was last carried out 8 years ago and has been delayed by a year due to the pandemic. Why is the Research Excellence Framework (REF) Significant? The Research Excellence Framework steers the level of UK public funds - allocated via research councils - that will be invested in research for each academic department (or so-called “Unit of Assessment”) for the next few years. It is also a way of comparing performance against other universities that are offering similar research expertise, and of strengthening (or weakening) global research reputations. During the next three days, UK universities will be digging into the detail of their REF gradings and the accompanying feedback. There will be some very nervous university leaders and research heads delving into why this peer-assessed review of their research has not gone as well as they expected and why their percentages in each of the four grade areas have dropped - or even been given the “unclassified” career-damaging stamp. How are the REF Scores for Universities Determined? The measurement process is based on three aspects: Quality of outputs (such as: publications, performances, and exhibitions), Impact beyond academia The environment that supports research The preparation, participation, and assessment process takes a massive amount of time, attention and energy. Last time (2014) there were 1,911 submissions to review. Research teams, designated REF leaders and senior staff will have spent long hours across many months preparing their submissions and making sure they are presenting hard evidence and the best case possible to meet the above criteria at the highest possible level. There are 34 subject areas that are covered in the latest REF - and three tiers of expert panels (some with about 20 or more senior academics, international subject leaders, and research users) will have reviewed each submission and compared notes to come to decisions. How do these Key Categories within the REF Contribute to the Rating for a University? The Research Excellence Framework is actually an intensive and highly important approach to expert assessment. These are the key factors and their definitions (with the assigned weighting of each of the criteria in steering final grades): Outputs (60%): the quality of submitted research outputs in terms of their ‘originality, significance and rigour’, with reference to international research quality standards. This element will carry a weighting of 60 per cent in the overall outcome awarded to each submission. Impact (25%): the ‘reach and significance’ of impacts on the economy, society, culture, public policy or services, health, the environment or quality of life that were underpinned by excellent research conducted in the submitted unit. This element carries a weighting of 25 per cent. Environment (15%): the research environment in terms of its ‘vitality and sustainability’, including the approach to enabling impact from its research, and its contribution to the vitality and sustainability of the wider discipline or research base. This element accounts for 15 per cent. Taking a Closer Look at the Categories - Are We Focusing Enough on Research Impact? In 2014 a formal review was carried out in order to improve and evolve the REF process which made a number of recommendations. Most notably the weighting for “impact” was increased by five percent, with “outputs” being reduced by the same percentage. This is certainly a recognition that the external contribution difference that research makes is more important - but is it enough? Should there be greater emphasis on the return on investment from a beneficiaries and user experience perspective? Many argue that academic research should retain a strong element of ‘”blue sky” experimentation - where outright evidence of impact may take several years (even decades) and so can’t demonstrate such immediate value. A particularly notable benefit of the timing of the COVID-19 pandemic and the effect of this in REF deadlines has allowed the extended assessment period for ‘proof of impact’ from 1 August 2013 to 31 December 2020. This is an extension from the previous end date of 31 July 2020. The extension has been put in place to enable case studies affected by, or focusing on the response to, COVID-19 to be assessed in REF 2021. Going back to the original question: how should we measure faculty expertise? It will be interesting to monitor the views and responses of university leaders and faculty members at the end of this week as to whether they feel that - standing back from it all - this UK-centric method of measurement is the best that can be done, a neat compromise or isn’t really what we really need. For more information on the Research Excellence Framework visit www.ref.ac.uk/ Justin Shaw Justin is UK and Ireland Development Director for ExpertFile and Chief Higher Education Consultant at Communications Management. An authority on University strategy and communications, he has worked in and with leadership teams at UK universities for over 30 years. In his role he has advised universities on how to promote their expertise and on communications strategies related to the REF.
MEDIA RELEASE: Driven by Good™: CAA South Central Ontario announces brand platform, new tagline
It’s a brand platform and tagline that tells the story of who we are and what we stand for as an organization. CAA South Central Ontario (CAA SCO) today announced a new tagline – Driven by Good™. Accompanied by a new brand platform, this will create a sustained and consistent approach for marketing the CAA club brand moving forward. It will also help to express CAA values and a commitment to always doing the right thing as an organization. The new brand platform was created in partnership with BIMM and reinforces why CAA was named the most trusted brand in Canada for the third year in a row in the annual Gustavson Brand Trust Index, released last week. “This new marketing approach will help CAA Members create a deeper, more emotional connection to our brand,” said Rhonda English, chief marketing officer, CAA Club Group of Companies. “For over 115 years, we have been helping people through advocacy and roadside assistance and for decades with travel and insurance. CAA has been approaching business in a positive and impactful way since its inception and it is time to align our marketing and communications accordingly.” Driven by Good™ was inspired by the people who work at CAA SCO and how they strive to do the right thing for Members and customers every day. It was inspired by a vision of a world where people who, when faced with a choice to do the easy thing, the reactionary thing, the thing that best serves them, pause, and make a choice to do good. As the platform and tagline were developed, CAA collected more than 250 stories of Associates going above and beyond to do the right thing in their day-to-day lives. Stories like the colleague who cleared all the vehicles of snow in her apartment parking lot after a nasty snowfall. Or the Associate, an amateur photographer, who set up his garage like a photo studio so he could take photos of his neighbour's ill child and her father. Or the co-worker who scrambled to find a coat and warm clothing to help someone in distress. “All of these stories, big and small, show how CAA is made up of Associates who are truly driven by doing good in the world. We are proud that our Associates bring this same approach to their work, showing that as an organization we aren’t driven by profit, we are focused on keeping Members safe and adding value to their day-to-day lives,” continued English. “We are inspired by these kind and courageous acts, which represent a world that we want to be a part of and contribute to.” The first campaign that is part of the new brand platform launches today, to begin to tell CAA's story in this new way. It is focused on inviting our audience into the ‘World of Good’ that we all want to live in. It showcases the good choices that people make that we at CAA are inspired by every day. It also draws on stories and experiences from Associates across the organization focused on how we are Driven by Good™. For more information and to see CAA’s newest brand spot, go to https://www.caasco.com/campaigns/brand/driven-by-good.
School to provide increased access to preventative health services for young students so they can learn, grow and thrive To address health issues at the earliest and most preventable stages, provide whole child health, and advance health equity in the community, ChristianaCare opened a new school-based health center at Kuumba Academy Charter School in Wilmington on Friday, May 6th. The creation of the center, made possible through ChristianaCare’s partnership with the Community Education Building (CEB), which houses Kuumba Academy, means that students at the kindergarten-through-8th grade school will have increased access to an array of health services. “At ChristianaCare, we recognize the comprehensive health needs of adolescents in our community and are committed to partnering and using our resources wisely and effectively to expand our school-based health centers,” said Bettina Tweardy Riveros, J.D., chief health equity officer and senior vice president of Government Affairs and Community Engagement at ChristianaCare. “We know that childhood trauma adversely affects the ability of children to learn and build healthy relationships and it increases their risk of mental health issues and lifelong chronic disease. The opening of our school-based health center at Kuumba Academy means that ChristianaCare can support medical and behavioral health services and wraparound social care our children need, so we can positively influence their health, their education and their futures.” With the latest opening, ChristianaCare now operates 21 school-based health centers throughout the First State, in partnership with the Delaware Department of Health & Social Services, the Delaware Division of Public Health and several school districts. Kuumba Academy students, who spoke at an event Friday to celebrate the grand opening, will have access through its school-based health center to the following: Comprehensive behavioral health services. Crisis intervention and suicide prevention. Substance use disorder treatment. Tobacco cessation. Nutrition and weight management. Physical examinations. Health screenings. Treatment for minor illnesses and injuries. Reproductive health. In addition, Kuumba Academy students also will have access to resources that help their families surmount obstacles such as transportation, challenging appointment times, and worries about cost and confidentiality. “Kuumba Academy remains committed to meeting the needs of the whole child and family,” said Sally Maldonado, head of school at Kuumba Academy, the mission of which is to provide an innovative learning environment for the whole child from kindergarten through eighth grade. “The opening of this school-based health center means that our students and families will have daily access to the high-quality behavior and health services that they deserve, and we are grateful to ChristianaCare and CEB for their partnership. We are beginning to see ourselves on the other side of this pandemic and we are energized to emerge with these newfound partnerships focused on health and wellness for our village.” ChristianaCare has partnered with CEB and Kuumba Academy on community-focused health initiatives in the past. In February 2021, ChristianaCare provided more than 800 vaccinations to community members and staff at CEB. On February 7th of this year, ChristianaCare vaccinated 38 people, including 19 children, against COVID-19. This added to the more than 6,000 vaccinations that ChristianaCare Community Health has administered since 2021. “At CEB, we understand the importance that health plays on a child’s ability to learn and succeed,” said Linda Jennings, CEO at CEB. “We are beyond excited to partner with Kuumba and ChristianaCare to launch the Kuumba Academy School-Based Health Center at CEB and add to the list of holistic and integrated support we provide to students and their families.” Today’s event coincides with Better World Day, an annual, national event on the first Friday in May. During Better World Day, students showcase their learning about initiatives that they believe will have a positive impact on their community and the world. Through collaboration and acts of service, students learn the power of their voice to make change. About ChristianaCare Headquartered in Wilmington, Delaware, ChristianaCare is one of the country’s most dynamic health care organizations, centered on improving health outcomes, making high-quality care more accessible and lowering health care costs. ChristianaCare includes an extensive network of primary care and outpatient services, home health care, urgent care centers, three hospitals (1,299 beds), a freestanding emergency department, a Level I trauma center and a Level III neonatal intensive care unit, a comprehensive stroke center and regional centers of excellence in heart and vascular care, cancer care and women’s health. It also includes the pioneering Gene Editing Institute. ChristianaCare is nationally recognized as a great place to work, rated by Forbes as the 2nd best health system for diversity and inclusion, and the 29th best health system to work for in the United States, and by IDG Computerworld as one of the nation’s Best Places to Work in IT. ChristianaCare is rated by Healthgrades as one of America’s 50 Best Hospitals and continually ranked among the nation’s best by U.S. News & World Report, Newsweek and other national quality ratings. ChristianaCare is a nonprofit teaching health system with more than 260 residents and fellows. With its groundbreaking Center for Virtual Health and a focus on population health and value-based care, ChristianaCare is shaping the future of health care. About Kuumba Academy Charter School Kuumba Academy Charter School’s mission is to provide an innovative learning environment for the whole child from kindergarten through eighth grade. Our directors, staff, and families share the core belief that parents are children’s primary educators. KACS parents, in partnership with teachers and administrators, believe that every child can maximize his or her learning potential given the opportunity to do so. In response to the outcry from Wilmington parents looking for a high-quality public education and increased access to arts education for their children, Christina Cultural Arts Center leaders, parents, and community supporters took action and were granted a Department of Education charter to create Kuumba Academy Charter School (KACS) in 2001. KACS was the first school model in the state that partnered a public charter school with a nonprofit community organization. Christina Cultural Arts Center (CCAC) and KACS form a unique nonprofit/public school partnership committed to educational excellence. Through the innovative union of academics, arts, technology, and family engagement, each KACS student’s individual learning style is nurtured—resulting in creative learners who are agents of positive change in the community. The CCAC/KACS model is regarded by many as the single most significant achievement in Wilmington’s post public school desegregation history. About the Community Education Building (CEB) CEB was established in 2012 after Bank of America donated the former MBNA Bracebridge IV building to The Longwood Foundation. Living up to its commitment of increasing access to education, the Longwood Foundation created CEB as an independent entity, and transformed the space into an ecosystem to support the social, emotional, physical, and academic development of Wilmington’s youth. CEB is an innovative co-location and shared services model. Focused on supporting the entire family, CEB offers vibrant programs and support systems that provide a sound foundation for each student. It serves as a hub for families by offering services such as healthy meals, life coaches, and mental health services. This model leads to deeper family engagement in their child’s learning and allows schools to focus on teaching and learning, not operations and overhead. CEB is an educational ecosystem that holistically integrates programs and resources for students and their families, ensuring that every student has an equitable opportunity to succeed.
As data breaches soar, how will security evolve?
Awareness of data breaches is growing but not nearly at the pace of the problem itself. Indeed, the total number of data compromises jumped 68% in 2021 to an all-time high, impacting more than 293 million people, according to the Identity Theft Resource Center. Also, as more people work from home and embrace Internet of Things devices, individuals can be as vulnerable to hacks and phishing as big corporations and governments, perhaps more so, given that the top three breached data attributes in 2021 were name, social security number and date of birth, the center reported. Bringing a multifaceted perspective to data security challenges is NJIT’s Kurt Rohloff, an academic researcher and entrepreneur who conducts research for the federal government. Rohloff, director of NJIT’s Cybersecurity Research Center, is co-founder and chief technology officer of Duality Technologies, a startup offering data security through homomorphic encryption. His government work includes projects for the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency of the U.S. Department of Defense and the National Security Agency. Questions that Rohloff can answer include: How has data security evolved? Which tactics fail and why? What’s the economic impact of data breaches? What’s the future of data security? To reach Kurt, simply click on the button below.
Does medical marijuana work? Florida consortium seeks answers
By Emma Richards A consortium of nine universities in Florida, led by faculty at the University of Florida, is in the early stages of investigating the effectiveness of marijuana as a medical treatment. Almut Winterstein, a professor at the University of Florida who also serves as the director of the Consortium for Medical Marijuana Outcomes Research, says there is promising data on pain therapy and epilepsy but much still to learn about cannabis as a medical treatment. The Consortium for Medical Marijuana Outcomes Research is assessing the drug’s risks and benefits for different medical conditions and its safety and side effects when used alone or in conjunction with other prescription medications. “What I can tell you is that right now there is promising and fairly solid data that supports the use of medical marijuana as an adjuvant for pain therapy,” said Almut Winterstein, a professor in the College of Pharmacy at UF who also serves as the director of the consortium. “And there’s also evidence that supports the use for certain types of epilepsy.” As for other conditions, the impacts of medical marijuana are still unknown. The Florida State Legislature created the consortium in 2019, four years after enacting legislation that permits use of marijuana for certain clinical conditions. Currently, 37 states have a medical marijuana program, though the programs vary as far as how and to whom cannabis can be prescribed. But, Winterstein said, little is known about marijuana’s clinical safety and effectiveness. “I think that the Legislature was really forward looking in creating something that supplements the research that is currently not sufficient,” she said in an episode of the From Florida Podcast. The consortium will also gauge who is using and able to access medical marijuana and determine the benefits and drawbacks of different dosages. To do so, the group is working on three primary branches of research. The first area is a competitive grants program that funds researchers across all participating universities. The second branch is M3, or Medical Marijuana and Me, a new study that will track patients from their first use of medical marijuana for a year to assess their experiences. “That will give us ideas about what type of dosage, form and product do patients eventually end up on,” Winterstein said. “That is a very empirical approach because we have no head-to-head comparison of what works better or worse, but we can capture patients’ experiences, what they think works, what doesn't, what kind of side effects they might experience and so on.” Finally, what Winterstein calls the consortium’s “biggest baby and most important baby” is the Medical Marijuana Outcomes Research Repository, known as MEMORY. The repository will allow researchers to use de-identified dispensing data from the Department of Health to monitor health outcomes of the large population of 700,000 registered medical marijuana patients. These data will give researchers insight on cannabis safety and effects, whether positive or negative, linking to healthcare utilization, such as hospitalization or emergency department visits. The consortium is hosting the second annual Cannabis Clinical Outcomes Research Conference May, 19-20 in Orlando, where researchers will discuss the latest research on medical marijuana. “We are really trying to get people interested in this topic,” Winterstein said. “And in particular making sure that they have access to objective information that really allows them to make the right decision with respect to the use of medical marijuana.” To hear more about the consortium’s medical marijuana research, listen to the episode on From Florida at this link. Listen to other episodes in the From Florida podcast here. Read a recent article quoting Professor Winterstein here:
