Healthcare Innovation

New Brunswick, N.J. – September 19, 2026 -- Rutgers University and RWJBarnabas Health launched the Rutgers/RWJBarnabas Health Innovation Hub, powered by Amazon Web Services, creating one of the nation's first technology hubs to unite a medical school, an academic health system and a cloud provider under one roof.

Hub pairs New Jersey's largest health system with AWS cloud and AI tools

The facility combines Rutgers' academic and research capacity, RWJBarnabas Health's clinical reach as New Jersey's largest academic health system, and AWS cloud and artificial intelligence infrastructure to address health care challenges spanning the classroom and hospital bedside.

San Francisco – September 19, 2026 -- Thatch, a health benefits platform enabling employers to replace group health plans with individual employee budgets, has raised $108 million in new funding at a $1 billion valuation. The round was led by The General Partnership, Index Ventures, General Catalyst, and Andreessen Horowitz, with participation from ADP Ventures, Paychex, Eli Lilly and Company, Scale Venture Partners, QuantumLight, SemperVirens, Quiet Capital, and Avid Ventures.

Bloomington – September 19, 2026 -- R3 Continuum, a provider of workplace behavioral health and organizational resilience solutions, has appointed Brett Hart, Ph.D., as Chief Clinical Officer, tasking him with leading clinical strategy, innovation and outcomes measurement as the company scales its workforce behavioral health offerings.

Hart brings 27 years of executive experience across major health insurers

Hart's background spans clinical and executive leadership roles at Humana, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota, Centene and Optum. During his career he directed enterprise behavioral health strategies, integrated behavioral and physical care models, and worked to expand access and quality outcomes across large health systems.

Wooster, Ohio – September 17, 2026 -- PRC-Saltillo has launched its Genesis product line globally, introducing two Windows-based augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) devices for individuals with acquired or long-term complex communication needs, including ALS and cerebral palsy.

Genesis debuts in two screen sizes with expanded access options

The line launches with the 13-inch Genesis 13 and 16-inch Genesis 16, both built on 60 years of engineering, clinical, linguistic, and communicator expertise, according to the company. The devices feature vibrant displays, a three-inch angled partner display, customizable quick-access controls, front- and rear-facing surround audio, a multi-angle kickstand, larger power and volume buttons, extended battery life, and increased storage capacity.

Singapore – September 17, 2026 -- Researchers at the National University of Singapore (NUS) have eradicated tumours in 75 per cent of tested preclinical models using pulsed electromagnetic fields (PEMFs) alone, without chemotherapy, after just four 30-minute sessions. The study, led by Associate Professor Alfredo Franco-Obregón of the NUS Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, was published in the journal Smart Medicine on September 17, 2026.

PEMF device already cleared Phase 1 human safety trials

The same PEMF device used in the study has completed Phase 1 clinical trials, confirming its safety in humans. The NUS team is now seeking partners to fund and conduct Phase 2 efficacy trials to evaluate treatment performance in patients.

Madison, Wis. – September 17, 2026 -- Accuray Incorporated (NASDAQ: ARAY) and RaySearch Laboratories AB (publ) have signed a definitive agreement expanding their collaboration to accelerate adoption of online adaptive radiation therapy, with Accuray committing to purchase RayStation software licenses valued at $8 million.

Accuray commits $8 million to RaySearch software licenses

Under the deal, Accuray will buy specified RayStation licenses to support commercialization of online adaptive radiation therapy solutions, which both companies will jointly market and support. The agreement also brings RaySearch's RayCare technology into the partnership to simplify connectivity between clinical systems and streamline adaptive workflows.

Washington – September 17, 2026 -- Three survivors of the Sept. 11, 2001, Pentagon attack returned to the Burn Center at MedStar Washington Hospital Center 25 years after receiving lifesaving treatment there, marking a milestone for the facility that treated 10 critically injured patients following one of the deadliest terrorist attacks in U.S. history.

Burn Center treated 10 Pentagon patients with severe burns and inhalation injuries in 2001

As the Washington region's only adult Burn Center, the facility mobilized physicians, nurses, therapists and support staff to treat patients requiring multiple reconstructive surgeries, specialized wound care, respiratory support and long-term rehabilitation. President George W. Bush and First Lady Laura Bush visited patients and staff on Sept. 13, 2001, two days after the attack.

New York – September 17, 2026 -- A consensus paper published in Diabetologia establishes the first international framework for population-wide screening of type 1 diabetes (T1D), setting concrete age thresholds and testing protocols for clinical adoption.

Nearly 30 global experts define screening ages and intervals

The guidance, convened by Breakthrough T1D and developed by close to 30 international experts, recommends initial autoantibody screening for children aged 2-4 years. Children who test negative should be rescreened at ages 6-8 and again at 10-15, timed to align with routine preventative healthcare visits. Initial positive results require confirmation with a second test before diagnosis is made.

London – September 17, 2026 -- Hikma Pharmaceuticals PLC said regulators in the United States, Europe, and the UK have accepted for review its investigational epinephrine nasal spray, a needle-free treatment for anaphylaxis, with an additional filing lodged in Canada.

FDA accepts 505(b)(2) application for non-injectable anaphylaxis treatment

The US Food and Drug Administration has taken up a New Drug Application submitted under the 505(b)(2) pathway, which includes the required non-clinical and clinical data package supporting approval of the nasal spray for emergency anaphylaxis treatment.

Boston – September 16, 2026 -- EMD Serono, Inc., the U.S. and Canada healthcare business of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, has acquired two preclinical fertility drug programs from Boston-based biotech PostEra, the companies announced.

EMD Serono takes over two AI-designed oral fertility candidates

The deal covers PostEra's Follicle-Stimulating Hormone Receptor (FSHR) agonist program for ovarian stimulation in IVF and its Luteinizing Hormone/Choriogonadotropin Receptor (LHCGR) agonist program for male infertility and ovulation triggering. Both programs originated from PostEra's proprietary Proton AI platform, developed over the past two years to target small-molecule alternatives in Women's Health and Fertility, markets the company describes as almost entirely dependent on injectable medications.