Community Health Strategies

What if oncology leadership is about to face a shift it was never structurally designed for? Not a new drug. Not an incremental improvement. But a new operating logic for metastasis. What if metastasis is no longer something we only chase after it spreads but something we can intercept in real time? In the Netherlands, engineers and oncologists have developed an artificial lymph node that challenges decades of oncology thinking: a 2-centimeter implant designed not to observe cancer progression, but to actively intercept it. LymphoFilter. Implanted into subcutaneous tissue and connected to the venous system, it turns blood flow into a biological interception point. Circulating tumor cells are captured via antibody-functionalized surfaces and then neutralized using localized photonic activation. No systemic toxicity. No broad immune suppression. No waiting for metastatic spread. Just interception at the point of escape. Early clinical data in stage III melanoma patients showed a 94% reduction in circulating tumor cells within four weeks, and nearly doubled metastasis-free survival at 18 months versus controls. Now step back. This is not just a device. It is a reframing of oncology. From detecting late and treating systemically to intercepting early and containing biologically. From episodic intervention to continuous disease control. From reactive oncology to embedded therapeutic systems. And this raises a strategic question for healthcare leadership: Are our current commercialization, reimbursement, and market access models built for continuous interception therapies, or still optimized for episodic treatment? After 20+ years in global healthcare commercialization, I see a clear pattern: Science is shifting from treating disease states to redesigning disease trajectories. But most systems are still catching up. The real competitive advantage in the next decade will not only be innovation. It will be translation into scalable, reimbursable, adoptable healthcare systems. Curious to hear perspectives from fellow leaders: What breaks first if oncology becomes interception-based rather than treatment-based? And who is already preparing for that shift? #HealthcareInnovation #Oncology #MedTech #Biotech #Immunotherapy #MarketAccess #HealthcareStrategy #FutureOfMedicine #LifeSciences #DigitalHealth #Pharma #Healthcare #Health

How aspirin stops cancer from spreading Metastasis is the spread of cancer cells from primary tumours to distant organs and is the cause of 90% of cancer deaths globally. Metastasizing cancer cells are uniquely vulnerable to immune attack, as they are initially deprived of the immunosuppressive #microenvironment found within established tumours. There is interest in therapeutically exploiting this immune vulnerability to prevent recurrence in patients with early cancer at risk of metastasis. Research has shown that inhibitors of cyclooxygenase 1 (COX-1), including aspirin, enhance immunity to cancer metastasis by releasing T cells from suppression by platelet-derived thromboxane A2 (TXA2). In other words, #Aspirin prevents platelets from producing a substance that disrupts the function of T cells, freeing the #immune cells to hunt down and kill metastatic cancer cells. Study has shown that in mice, aspirin reduced the rate of metastasis by restricting the availability of platelet-derived #thromboxane A2. Aspirin can cause internal bleeding and strokes, so more research is needed to explore its use in #cancer prevention. These findings reveal a novel #immunosuppressive pathway that limits T cell immunity to cancer #metastasis, providing mechanistic insights into the anti-metastatic activity of aspirin and paving the way for more effective anti-metastatic #immunotherapies. References: [1] https://lnkd.in/gPx4fugJ; [2] https://lnkd.in/gjYd4AjF [3] https://lnkd.in/gUar_G2V; [4] https://lnkd.in/gsYcNSru

Aspirin: More Than Just Pain Relief – A Possible Ally Against Cancer Metastasis. Aspirin, one of the most widely used medicines today, has its origins in ancient remedies. For centuries, people used willow bark to ease pain & reduce fever, unaware that it contained salicin, a natural anti-inflammatory compound. In 1897, German chemist Felix Hoffmann, successfully synthesized a more stable and less irritating form of the compound—acetylsalicylic acid—creating what we now know as aspirin. This discovery not only revolutionized pain relief but also paved the way for aspirin's modern use in preventing heart attacks, strokes, and, as emerging research suggests, even cancer spread. A recent 2025 study published in Nature explained how aspirin might reduce cancer metastasis. The study found aspirin blocks a compound called thromboxane A2 (TXA2), produced by platelets, which usually suppresses immune T cells. These T cells are essential for detecting and attacking cancer cells that are trying to spread to other parts of the body. By reducing TXA2, aspirin helps T cells stay active and ready to fight, reducing the spread of cancer to organs like the lungs and liver. This isn’t the first time aspirin has been linked to cancer prevention. Previous research has shown promising results: A 2021 meta-analyses in Ecancermedicalscience found aspirin to be associated with a reduction of around 20% in cancer deaths A 2012 study in The Lancet found that daily low-dose aspirin reduced the risk of cancer spread and related deaths. The 2013 Women's Health Study revealed that consistent aspirin use over time was associated with a 42% lower risk of colon cancer. Given that over 90% of cancer-related deaths are caused by metastasis, these findings along with a healthy diet and lifestyle could have significant implications for long-term cancer care and prevention. Importantly aspirin isn't suitable for everyone. Long-term use can lead to side effects like gastrointestinal bleeding. Anyone considering aspirin for cancer prevention should consult their doctor first. While more research is needed, understanding the TXA2 pathway opens the door to new approaches in preventing cancer spread. References 2. Yang J, Yamashita-Kanemaru Y, Morris BI, et al. Nature. 2025. https://lnkd.in/g8RbsUpQ 2. Rothwell PM, et al. The Lancet. 2012. https://lnkd.in/gZnMG5mp 3. Cook NR, et al. Ann Intern Med. 2013. https://lnkd.in/gutJhKUR 4. Ecancermedicalscience. 2021 Jul 2;15:1258. https://lnkd.in/gMwii5Xf #Aspirin #CancerPrevention #Metastasis #Immunotherapy #HealthResearch #MedicalScience #CancerAwareness

Scientists at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai have reported a striking new #immunotherapy approach that challenges how we think about treating metastatic solid #cancers. Rather than targeting cancer cells directly, the team focused on dismantling the #tumor’s immune shield, namely the supportive cells that protect cancer from immune attack. ▫️ Published in Cancer Cell, the study tested this strategy in aggressive preclinical models of metastatic #lungcancer and #ovariancancer, two diseases that have historically been resistant to existing immunotherapies. The key obstacle, the researchers note, is the tumor microenvironment, a highly immunosuppressive “fortress” built largely by tumor-associated macrophages. ▫️Led by Jaime Mateus-Tique, PhD and senior author Brian Brown, PhD, the team engineered #CARTcells to target these tumor macrophages instead of cancer cells themselves. Crucially, the CAR-T cells were further armored to locally release interleukin-12 (IL-12), a potent immune-activating cytokine. ▫️The result was elimination or reprogramming of tumor macrophages, reversal of immune suppression, and recruitment of endogenous killer T cells into the tumor. In mouse models, this led to durable tumor control, prolonged survival, and complete cures in many cases. Advanced spatial genomics confirmed a fundamental reshaping of the tumor microenvironment from immune-silent to immune-active. ▫️The authors emphasize that this is proof of concept rather than a clinical cure, and that human studies are needed to establish safety and efficacy. Ongoing work is focused on refining control of IL-12 delivery to maximize benefit while minimizing toxicity. 💡 This work opens a new path for CAR-T therapies by dismantling the defenses that allow tumors to survive. 🗃️ See comments section for reference

Do data centers pose a threat to the health of people in the communities where they are placed? Given the rapid proliferation of data centers across the US and the world, it's an important question. Regrettably, the answer to the question isn't yet known, but in this newly published paper, my wonderful colleagues Neha Gour, Luis Ortiz, Ph.D., and I explore what those health impacts may be. The open-access paper is available at no cost from the link below. A big shout-out to George Mason University/Mason4C ClimateComm PhD student Neha Gour for having led this project, and to Mason Institute for a Sustainable Earth, to Virginia Clinicians for Climate Action for having initiated and enabled it, and to Virginia Climate Center for having supported it. Abstract Driven by advances in cloud computing, cryptocurrency, and artificial intelligence, the rapid proliferation of data centers may pose severe human and planetary health risks. This paper, to the best of our knowledge, is the first-of-its-kind assessment of the potential health implications associated with data centers. Here, we examine the case of Virginia’s Data Center Alley, the world’s largest concentrated data center hub, and argue that data centers can cause public health harms, harms that can be at least partially mitigated through improved planning and design. We assess the health risks associated with data centers, including air pollution, extensive water use, noise pollution, and detrimental land use’s risk of disrupting natural ecosystems and community well-being. We also address how rising energy costs can worsen social determinants of health. To mitigate these risks, we recommend transitioning data centers to renewable energy, implementing strict regulations to minimize water consumption, and optimizing site planning with acoustic treatments and green zoning to reduce noise pollution. Additionally, we advocate enforcing responsible site selection and zoning regulations to curb adverse land use changes, equitable energy pricing to alleviate economic burdens, and strengthening health communication for informed public and governmental decision-making, action-oriented advocacy, and policy changes. Finally, we emphasize the need for transdisciplinary research integrating physical sciences, engineering, and public health to quantify specific health outcomes linked to data centers. Medical Society Consortium on Climate and Health American Lung Association Global Climate and Health Alliance George Mason University College of Public Health George Mason University - College of Humanities and Social Sciences Virginia Clean Cities Resilient Virginia Julianna Gwiszcz, MSSW, PhD Leah Nichols Samantha Ahdoot Mona Sarfaty, MD MPH Ryan E. Adams Virginia Academy of Science, Engineering and Medicine

McKinsey just reported a $7T opportunity in AI and data centers. But where will the water and energy come from? Julia Armstrong D'Agnese (CEO of Earth Knowledge) makes a critical point: "The last thing a company wants is to use so much water for data centers that they're taking it away from the communities where their employees live. Technology should be meant to transform and improve the human condition and society, not further degragate communities. This isn't theoretical. Companies are using Earth Knowledge's planetary intelligence RIGHT NOW for data center site selection by assessing: ⚡ Energy demand forecasting based on temperature patterns 🌊 Water availability over 30-year horizons 🌊 Wildfire risk for infrastructure protection 🌊 Temperature metrics and acceleration over time 🌊 Renewable energy availability (solar/wind conditions) The social license to operate isn’t just about compliance. It’s about stewardship, accountability, and transparency. Julia's team—which includes President Obama's former White House climate director—asks: "Are you building in locations where environmental risks could cut off operations in 10-20 years? Where water shortages could impact employees working in or around the data centers?” The companies getting this right are those who realize planetary intelligence isn't just for compliance reporting. It's needed for long term value creation across: ✔️ Risk management ✔️ Real estate ✔️ Site acquisition ✔️ Business continuity ✔️ Supply chain operations ✔️ Strategic planning That's the shift. From backwards-looking to planetary-forward. From extractive, linear and business as usual to risk-resilient, responsible, and regenerative. By putting community resilience on your scorecard, you build future economic resilience. Link to full conversation in the comments…

In vivo armed macrophages curb liver metastasis through tumor-reactive T-cell rejuvenation Despite recent progress in cancer treatment, liver metastases persist as an unmet clinical need. Here, we show that arming liver and tumor-associated macrophages in vivo to co-express tumor antigens (TAs), IFNα, and IL-12 unleashes robust anti-tumor immune responses, leading to the regression of liver metastases. Mechanistically, in vivo armed macrophages expand tumor reactive CD8+ T cells, which acquire features of progenitor exhausted T cells and kill cancer cells independently of CD4+ T cell help. IFNα and IL-12 produced by armed macrophages reprogram antigen presenting cells and rewire cellular interactions, rescuing tumor reactive T cell functions. In vivo armed macrophages trigger anti-tumor immunity in distinct liver metastasis mouse models of colorectal cancer and melanoma, expressing either surrogate tumor antigens, naturally occurring neoantigens or tumor-associated antigens. Altogether, our findings support the translational potential of in vivo armed liver macrophages to expand and rejuvenate tumor reactive T cells for the treatment of liver metastases. https://lnkd.in/eBMcPZx8

Weill Cornell Medicine may have just cracked TNBC’s deadliest secret: metastasis. - Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) kills mostly through spread, not primary tumors. - Researchers tied metastasis to an epigenetic enzyme, EZH2, which destabilizes chromosomes during cell division. - Blocking EZH2 with tazemetostat restored order - and cut metastasis in preclinical models. - First time an epigenetic regulator has been directly linked to chromosomal stability in cancer. Why this matters: For decades, the playbook was to push tumors into more instability. This flips the script. Stabilizing chromosomes may actually halt spread - the single biggest driver of TNBC deaths. Who should care: Oncologists eyeing new strategies, biotech teams repurposing EZH2 inhibitors, and investors looking at metastasis-blocking drugs as a new class. If this translates to the clinic, it’s not just another breast cancer therapy. It’s the beginning of precision anti-metastatic medicine.

𝗗𝗮𝘁𝗮 𝗰𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗿𝗲𝘀 𝘀𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗶𝗰𝗲 𝗴𝗹𝗼𝗯𝗮𝗹 𝗻𝗲𝗲𝗱𝘀. 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗶𝗺𝗽𝗮𝗰𝘁𝘀 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗹𝗼𝗰𝗮𝗹. Myth: they are “digital”, so the “physical” footprint is minor.  Reality: 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝘆 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗽𝗵𝘆𝘀𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗶𝗻𝗳𝗿𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗿𝘂𝗰𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗰𝗮𝗻 𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗶𝗻 𝗽𝗼𝘄𝗲𝗿, 𝘄𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗿, 𝗰𝗮𝗿𝗯𝗼𝗻, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗺𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝘁𝗿𝘂𝘀𝘁. The direction of travel is clear: data centres used about 460 TWh in 2022 (around 1.5% of global electricity use) and could exceed 1,000 TWh by 2026. That is why “licence to operate” is becoming quantifiable. We cannot live without data centres, but we can build and operate them better. 𝗞𝘂𝗱𝗼𝘀 𝘁𝗼 Microsoft 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘀𝗶𝗴𝗻𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮 𝘀𝗶𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗲, 𝗽𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝘁𝗲𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗲: 1️⃣ Pay its fair share of electricity bills: asking local authorities to set fair rates to cover grid upgrades and ongoing utility costs. 2️⃣ Be water positive: minimise use, then replenish more than consumed. 3️⃣ Create local jobs: train residents for long-term operations roles at their data centres, not just construction. 4️⃣ Add to the local tax base: not asking for or accepting tax reductions, so tax money goes to needed infrastructure including schools and health care. 5️⃣ Invest locally: AI skills programmes and community organisations, with tangible commitments. 𝗣𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘄𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗺𝗼𝘃𝗲𝘀 (𝗶𝗻𝘃𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘀, 𝗹𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀, 𝗔𝗠): • Underwrite grid capacity, connection, and curtailment as a risk, not an assumption • Put water on page 1: Water Usage Effectiveness, site water plan, replenishment approach • Require an efficiency and cooling strategy (Power Usage Effectiveness targets, heat rejection, redundancy trade-offs) • Make community benefit contractual and long term: reporting commitments, not press releases • Evidence embodied carbon and circularity in the build, not just operational narratives 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗶𝘀 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗯𝗶𝗴𝗴𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗰𝗲𝗿𝗻 𝗶𝗻 𝗮 𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗮 𝗰𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗿𝗲 𝗱𝗲𝗮𝗹: 𝗽𝗼𝘄𝗲𝗿, 𝘄𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗿, 𝗰𝗮𝗿𝗯𝗼𝗻, 𝗼𝗿 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗺𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗲𝗻𝘁? #DataCentres #Infrastructure #RealAssets #SustainableFinance #EnergyTransition #AssetManagement #ESG #Sustainability

Yesterday, I shared 4 hidden risks I’ve seen in data centres. Today, here’s the flip side: 4 solution areas that are starting to work across the industry. 1/ Smarter water reuse → Closed-loop and circular systems recycle lightly used water again and again, cutting demand by up to 70%. → Some centres use “purple pipe” reclaimed water or treated effluent. Amazon plans to expand recycled water use from ~20 to 120 data centres by 2030. → At Microsoft’s Quincy site, rain and groundwater are collected, treated, and reused on site, easing pressure on drinking water. 2/ Alternative cooling sources → Finland is piloting seawater cooling. → Toronto’s Deep Lake project uses cold lake water to cool over 100 buildings, including data centres. → Other projects are testing canal and district-wide systems. These approaches prove that tapping natural sources can cut both energy and water use. 3/ Immersion cooling → Servers are placed directly into a cooling liquid, slashing energy use and shrinking footprints. It’s still early days, but large-scale pilots show promise as the technology matures. 4/ Heat recovery → Waste heat doesn’t have to be wasted. With the right planning, it can be reused on site (heat cascading) or exported to nearby homes, pools, and district heating grids. Communities gain, and so do operators. The challenge is clear: In a hot, dry summer, who gets the potable water first - the public, or the servers? Unless reuse, cooling innovation, and heat recovery become standard, data centres risk ending up on the wrong side of that choice. The goal: make these solutions the standard, not the exception.