JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY

The RAVENS study found no delay in disease progression with the addition of radium-223 (Ra223) to stereotactic ablative radiotherapy (SABR) for bone-metastatic oligometastatic hormone-sensitive prostate cancer, contrary to the hypothesis. Median progression-free survival (PFS) was 11.8 months in the SABR arm vs 10.5 months in the SABR/Ra223 arm. Ra223's mechanism of action may be less effective when bone lesions are eradicated by SABR, suggesting potential benefits in higher volume disease.

RAVENS phase 2 trial results show no benefit of adding radium-223 to stereotactic ablative radiotherapy for oligometastatic prostate cancer, with similar progression-free survival rates. The study highlights the need for biomarker research in this field.

The Katz School of Science and Health has added new faculty experts in AI, biotech, computer science, and digital marketing, enhancing its leadership in STEM education and research.

A workshop on disability trends among U.S. working-age populations (25-64) will be held Oct 15-16, 2024, focusing on measurement, social/economic factors, and COVID-19 implications. It aims to identify research and data priorities, considering labor force participation and public programs, and will discuss interventions and social safety net policies.

Sept. 28: 2000 - U.S. approves abortion pill RU-486; 1781 - American forces siege Yorktown; 1924 - First round-the-world flight; 1928 - Fleming discovers penicillin; 1941 - Ted Williams hits .406; 1962 - Barnett blocks Meredith's admission; 1995 - Rabin-Arafat accord; 2020 - COVID-19 death toll reaches 1 million; 2022 - Hurricane Ian hits Florida.

Lockheed Martin awarded $3.2B for JASSM, $358M for LRASM; Gov Zone Inc. gets $999M for Pathfinder - CyberWorx; Range Generation Next LLC receives $199M for launch and test range support; Omitron Inc. awarded $46M for space command and control; Boeing Co. awarded $34.9M for ground-based space capabilities; Smart Munitions Expert Solutions Inc. awarded $31M for engineering services; Anduril Industries Inc. awarded $25M for space surveillance network integration; GE Edison Works awarded $15.7M for thermal protection systems; Stellant Systems Inc. awarded $14M for AN/ALQ-161 repair; Lockheed Martin Corp. awarded $13.3M for Space-Based Infrared System support; Sierra Nevada Corp. awarded $11.4M for A-29 fleet sustainment; Pono Aina Management LLC awarded $10.9M for Child Development Center design and build; Northrop Grumman Systems Corp. awarded $10.7M for F-16 radar modification; Robotic Construction Technologies Inc. awarded $9.5M for additive manufacturing; Space Exploration Technologies Corp. awarded $8.8M for thermal protection systems; Assent Advisory Group awarded $8.4M for financial operations quality assurance; Thalle Construction Co. Inc. awarded $2.9B for dam construction; Arkel International LLC and others awarded $495M for design-build construction services; J&J Worldwide Services and others awarded $249M for design-build construction projects; Teledyne Flir Defense Inc. awarded $168M for Stryker NBCRV Sensor Suite upgrade; Alzchem Trostberg GMBH awarded $150M for propellant procurement; Northrop Grumman Systems Corp. awarded $136M for special ammunition; Systems Innovation Engineering awarded $117M for directed energy supplier resiliency; Northrop Grumman Systems Corp. awarded $94.7M for special ammunition; Alliant Techsystems Operations LLC awarded $80.6M for M1147 HEMPT cartridges; Brantley Construction Services LLC and others awarded $80M for design-build and general construction; Consigli Construction Co. Inc. awarded $65.1M for building repair; Korte Construction Co. awarded $61.5M for building renovation; Roundhouse PBN-Tepa EC 2 JV awarded $45.4M for barracks repair; Lockheed Martin Corp. awarded $31.7M for Hellfire M299 launchers; Cottrell Contracting Corp. awarded $31.5M for maintenance dredging; MEB General Contractors Inc. awarded $30.3M for POL complex; BAE Systems Ordnance Systems Inc. awarded $29.2M for energy conservation project; Diversified awarded $27.4M for aircraft shop construction; L.S. Black Constructors LLC awarded $23.9M for building maintenance and repair; Bio Response Solutions Inc. awarded $23.4M for effluent decontamination system; CMS Corp. awarded $21.5M for design-build construction services; Nichols Contracting Inc. awarded $20.8M for elevator modernization; Technica LLC awarded $20.1M for logistics support services; American Ordnance LLC awarded $16.2M for wastewater treatment facility; Waterfront Property Services LLC awarded $15.3M for maintenance dredging; Sigmatech Inc. awarded $14.8M for technical support services; CAE USA Inc. awarded $14.6M for advanced helicopter flight training; Kaman Aerospace Corp. awarded $14M for HAWK Missile System support; MVL USA Inc. awarded $13.8M for maintenance and storage building; Aptim Federal Services LLC awarded $12.9M for petroleum facility maintenance; BAE Systems Land & Armaments LP awarded $12M for Bradley M2A2 conversion; Southwest Shipyard LP awarded $11.9M for revetment barges; Hasen Global LLC awarded $11.7M for corrosion control facility; Seatrax Inc. awarded $9.5M for floating crane; Archetype I LLC awarded $9.1M for financial, real estate support services; Thoma-Sea Marine Constructors LLC awarded $8.3M for dredge Hurley repower; Seiler Instrument and Manufacturing Co. Inc. awarded $8.2M for Optical Fire Control Kits; QA Engineering LLC awarded $7.8M for mission operations center renovation; Universal Technical Resource Services Inc. awarded $7.7M for weapons systems support; Raytheon Co. awarded $736.6M for AIM-9X production; Raytheon Co. awarded $525.5M for Evolved Seasparrow Missile; Raytheon Co. awarded $254.5M for Standard Missile depot; Raytheon Co. awarded $192M for Next Generation Jammer Mid-Band; Nova Nacap JV awarded $129.2M for bomber apron construction; Canadian Commercial Corp. awarded $110.7M for OK-410 Handling and Stowage Group systems; The Boeing Co. awarded $76.8M for F/A-18E/F and EA-18G weapons integration; The Boeing Co. awarded $63.1M for Columbia Class Submarine hardware; Raytheon Co. awarded $54M for CIWS spares and repairs; Bell Boeing Joint Project Office awarded $36.9M for V-22 retrofit kits; Curtiss-Wright Controls Electronic Systems Inc. awarded $31.6M for AMP procurement and repair; Chesapeake Technology International Corp. awarded $24.5M for electronic warfare software; Raytheon Co. awarded $22.6M for CIWS provisioned item spares; Lockheed Martin Rotary and Missions Systems awarded $21.4M for Digital Magnetic Anomaly Detection Sensor B kits; Johns Hopkins University awarded $18M for polytrauma patient resuscitation; Synergy Partners LLC awarded $17.9M for 74SC support craft; Bell Boeing Joint Program Office awarded $17.6M for V-22 tactical software suite support; Raytheon Missiles & Defense awarded $16.2M for AN/SPY-6(V) spares; General Dynamics Information Technology Inc. awarded $16.2M for MK 41 VLS components; General Dynamics Mission Systems Inc. awarded $16M for Mining Expendable Delivery Unmanned Submarine Asset System; Lockheed Martin Rotary and Missions Systems awarded $15.2M for SEWIP AN/SLQ-32(V)6 spares; L3 Technologies Inc. awarded $14.6M for CEC stock point; Raytheon Co. awarded $14.3M for JMEWS; The Boeing Co. awarded $14.2M for F/A-18 ECS Software update; Rockwell Collins Inc. awarded $13.8M for TCTS II FRP II; The Boeing Co. awarded $13.4M for MQ-25A Stingray spares; Edenred Benefits LLC awarded $12.7M for Transportation Incentive Program support; Sargent Aerospace & Defense LLC awarded $11.1M for Virginia-class submarine valves; Advanced Acoustic Concepts LLC awarded $10.8M for LCS mission package computers; Hansome Energy Systems Inc. awarded $10.5M for Virginia-class submarine fans; Special Psychological Applications Corp. awarded $10M for behavioral analysis support; Alloy Crane and Machinery awarded $9M for improved Navy Lighterage Side Connector overhaul; The Boeing Co. awarded $8.5M for Extra Large Unmanned Undersea Vehicle support; Intramicron Inc. awarded $7.6M for high-power battery modules; Lockheed Martin Corp. awarded $7.6M for LCS-29 PSA; The Boeing Co. awarded $14.2M for V-22 avionics and flight control systems software corrections.

Neuralink's Blindsight, a visual prosthesis, has been designated a breakthrough device by the FDA, potentially expediting its approval. The technology aims to restore vision by directly stimulating neurons in the visual cortex, though it faces challenges and skepticism from experts. Elon Musk's ambitious claims about Blindsight's capabilities have raised expectations, but experts caution that the device is more likely to provide assistive technology rather than restore natural vision. The device's success hinges on completing full clinical trials and overcoming financial and technical hurdles.

Vaccine manufacturing is critical for future pandemic preparedness, requiring global collaboration and optimized processes. Inequitable distribution of COVID-19 vaccines highlights the need for manufacturing in low- and middle-income countries. Challenges include diverse vaccine platforms and regional infrastructure differences, necessitating significant process optimization. Collaborative efforts like BioNTech/CEPI in Rwanda aim to address these issues.

Johns Hopkins University ranked No. 6 in the U.S. News & World Report's national universities list, tied with Caltech, Duke, and Northwestern. Hopkins has been in the top 10 since 2019 and top 20 since the 1980s rankings began. The university also ranked No. 1 in biomedical engineering, No. 5 in biocomputer/bioinformatics/biotechnology, and No. 18 in artificial intelligence among undergraduate programs.

Immunotherapy benefits 20% of cancer patients, with 'hot' tumors (melanoma, non-small cell lung cancer) responding better than 'cold' ones (pancreatic, brain, prostate). Strategies to convert cold to hot tumors include bispecific antibodies and adoptive cell therapy, showing potential in refractory cases like melanoma and small cell lung cancer.