BIRMINGHAM, England, May 6, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — Patients with spinal cord injury (SCI) could benefit from future treatment to repair nerve connections using red and near-infrared light.

The method, invented by University of Birmingham scientists and patented by University of Birmingham Enterprise, delivers light directly to the site of the injury. 
Their latest research, published in Bioengineering and Translational Medicine, determined an optimal ‘dose’ for this novel approach, and showed it can deliver therapeutic improvements including significant restoration of sensation and movement, and regeneration of damaged nerve cells. 
Researchers led by Professor Zubair Ahmed used cell models of SCI to determine the frequency and duration of light required to achieve maximum restoration of function and stimulate nerve cell regrowth. 
They found delivery at a wavelength of 660nm for one minute a day increased cell viability (the number of live cells) by 45% over five days’ treatment. 
Professor Ahmed said: “The effect of 660nm light was both neuroprotective, meaning it improved survival of nerve cells, and neuroregenerative, meaning it stimulated nerve cell growth.” 
The researchers also investigated the effect of light therapy in preclinical models of SCI, using an implantable device and transcutaneous delivery with the light source placed against the skin. They showed comparable results for both methods, with a one-minute dose of 660nm light, delivered daily for seven days resulting in reduced tissue scarring, increased levels of proteins associated with nerve cell regeneration, improvements in the connections between cells and significant functional recovery. 
This is the first time transcutaneous and direct light delivery have been compared in SCI. Professor Ahmed said: “To make light therapy viable for treating SCI in humans an implantable device will be required, to provide line of sight to damaged tissue and the opportunity for greater accuracy and standardise dosing without impedance due to the thickness of the skin and other tissues surrounding the spinal cord.”
The researchers are planning to develop an implantable device for use in humans with traumatic SCI. They have already received further funding and are seeking commercial partners or investors to develop a prototype device to take into first-in-man clinical trials.
Full release here. 
University of Birmingham Enterprise helps researchers turn ideas into products and services that meet real-world needs. Follow us on LinkedIn and X.
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LONDON, May 6, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — TerraPay, a leading global money movement company, is excited to announce the appointment of Hassan Chatila as Vice President – Global Head of Network.

This key addition to TerraPay’s global network leadership also marks a critical step in the company’s ongoing strategy to simplify and streamline global money movement for businesses and individuals alike, underscoring its commitment to enhancing its network capabilities.
With over 20 years of experience in the cross-border payments, Hassan brings with him a rich legacy of leadership and innovation. Before joining TerraPay, he served as the Global Head of Western Union’s Account Payout Network, where he played a pivotal role in expanding and optimizing the network to support seamless global transactions. His impressive career portfolio also includes key leadership roles at Earthport and Temenos, where he led significant payments transformation initiatives and drove substantial growth.
In this new role at TerraPay, Hassan will lead the expansion and optimization of TerraPay’s global payout network. He will work closely with internal and external stakeholders to enhance the network’s capabilities, ensuring that TerraPay continues to offer its partners transparent and efficient payment solutions.
Welcoming Hassan to the team, TerraPay Founder and CEO, Ambar Sur, said, “It gives me great pleasure to welcome Hassan on board. As an industry expert, he comes with a highly reputable cross-border payment expertise and deep leadership experience. On TerraPay’s journey of growth, Hassan’s appointment is a critical step in furthering our network expansion goals. I look forward to working together and further deepen TerraPay’s position as a global money movement leader.”
Hassan Chatila, VP – Global Head of Network, TerraPay, commented on his new role, saying, “I am thrilled to join TerraPay at this pivotal time. Over the years, TerraPay has built an expansive global money movement network driven by the mission to build a borderless world of payments. I look forward to leveraging my experience to further develop our network capabilities, create new opportunities across markets and help TerraPay achieve its ambitious goals.”
For media inquiries, please contact [email protected]
About TerraPay
TerraPay simplifies global money movement – by providing a single connection to the most expansive cross-border payments network regulated in 31 global markets and enabling payments to 144 receive countries, 210+ send countries, 7.5Bn+ bank accounts and 2.1Bn+ mobile wallets. TerraPay is on a mission to connect a borderless financial world, making moving money everywhere instant, reliable, transparent and fully compliant. TerraPay pushes the boundaries for global businesses – ranging from banks, fintechs and money-transfer operators to travel businesses, creator economy platforms and e-commerce marketplaces – while driving financial inclusion in even the most inaccessible markets. Founded in 2014, TerraPay is headquartered in London, with global offices in Bangalore, Dubai, Miami, Bogota, Dar es Salaam, Kampala, Hague, Dakar, Joburg, Nairobi, Milan, Singapore and is expanding rapidly, having received funding from leading investors, including the IFC (the World Bank), Prime Ventures, Partech Africa and Visa.
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PARIS, May 6, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — Stonal, the leading data management platform for real estate owners and investors in Europe, has announced a strategic investment by Aareon, Europe’s trusted provider of SaaS solutions for the property industry, to accelerate its European expansion.

Founded in 2017 by Michel Tolila, the current executive chairman, and Jean-Maurice Oudot, Stonal’s mission is to deliver data quality at scale for asset owners and investors. Its collaborative AI-powered platform extracts information from documents and blueprints, creating an accurate and up-to-date database on buildings open to stakeholders such as property managers, surveyors, and insurers. Its decision-making modules offer ESG reporting and CapEx planning to increase returns, improve productivity and preserve value.
Since its inception, the company has quickly expanded into residential and commercial real estate. In early 2024, Stonal launched its proprietary StonalGPT, the first generative artificial intelligence solution designed for real estate owners and investors, establishing itself as one of the pioneers in this field.
Robin Rivaton, CEO of Stonal: “The real estate industry, both residential and commercial, is at a crossroads. AI is a massive opportunity to reshape the sector in a remarkable way, but it still requires a significant amount of data on which to train these systems. Thanks to the strategic partnership with Aareon we will reach such a scale and accelerate our European expansion.”
Aareon is the trusted provider of SaaS solutions for the European property industry. With locations across France, Germany, the Netherlands, Spain, Sweden, and the United Kingdom, Aareon serves 13,000 customers totalling 18 million units.
Harry Thomsen, CEO of Aareon: “Investing in Stonal is a strategic step to strengthen our “Aareon Sustain” product portfolio and amplify our proficiency in AI technology across the Aareon Group. With an expected uptick in the need for robust data management solutions, this collaboration not only reinforces the existing partnership between Stonal and Aareon in France but also equips us to meet our customers’ needs and deliver unrivalled innovation and operational excellence.”
Aareon’s investment in Stonal reflects the growing appetite of the real estate sector for technological solutions that enable it to address the major challenges it faces, applying to both larger companies and smaller ones. Expanding ESG expectations, increased CapEx for greener properties, stringent building safety regulations, higher vacancy due to remote work for offices, all converge in the context of high interest rates. The capacity to evaluate risks and make well-informed decisions promptly is now more crucial than ever.
Stonal was advised on this deal by Lazard, Aareon by Vulcain.
About StonalFounded in 2017, Stonal is the leading data management platform for real estate owners and investors in Europe. It helps more than 130 clients, REITs, insurers, housing organisations, asset managers, family offices, to manage a combined portfolio of more than 200 million sqm (including 1.6 million housing units) across all Europe. With 150 employees, Stonal is present in France and the UK.
Contact: Perrine ABRARD, Stonal CMO [email protected]
About AareonAareon is Europe’s trusted provider of SaaS solutions for the property industry, leading the charge towards a digital future. Passionately committed to connecting people, process, and property, Aareon brings the ecosystem closer together. Our Property Management System, powered by smart software solutions, promotes efficient property management and maintenance, enabling superior digital experiences for everyone involved. In our continuous pursuit of innovation, Aareon remains the industry’s reliable partner, inspiring positive change for sustainable spaces for all.
With a dedicated team of around 2,000 professionals, Aareon achieved pro forma revenues of €410 million and a pro forma Adjusted EBITDA of €137 million in 2023.
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