Author: EIN Newswire

Los Angeles employment and elder abuse firm expands guidance for workers navigating wage-and-hour disputes, pay transparency, and workplace rights notices

LOS ANGELES, CA, UNITED STATES, January 6, 2026 /EINPresswire.com/ — Rio Law Group, a Los Angeles-based law firm led by attorney Sam Mollaei, today announced an expanded worker-guidance initiative focused on wage-and-hour violations, pay transparency, workplace retaliation, discrimination, and elder abuse matters as California enters 2026 with heightened enforcement attention and new statutory requirements for employer.

“Large, complex wage-and-hour disputes can feel abstract until checks begin arriving in workers’ mailboxes,” said Sam Mollaei, founder of Rio Law Group. “When tens of thousands of people are owed backpay over multiple years, it underscores why pay practices, timekeeping, and compliance details matter—not just for corporations, but for every worker trying to pay rent and plan their future.”

Why this moment matters

Rio Law Group stated that the convergence of widely reported wage-and-hour enforcement actions and multiple new California workplace requirements effective January 1, 2026 is driving increased questions from workers across Los Angeles and Southern California about what rights exist, what documentation is important, and what timelines apply.

For many workers, the most immediate issues remain familiar:
– Unpaid overtime and off-the-clock work.
– Missed meal and rest breaks.
– Misclassification (exempt vs. non-exempt; independent contractor vs. employee).
– Tip or gratuity disputes in service and hospitality roles.
– Retaliation after raising concerns about pay, scheduling, safety, or discrimination.

Rio Law Group’s expanded guidance initiative is designed to help workers identify common red flags early, preserve records, and understand the practical differences between internal HR complaints, agency complaints, and civil claims.

2026 California updates to watch

Rio Law Group is also highlighting several statewide changes taking effect in 2026 that may affect employee pay, workplace postings and communications, and enforcement mechanisms.

State minimum wage increase (2026).

California’s statewide minimum wage is set to increase to $16.90 per hour on January 1, 2026, as reported by CalChamber’s HRWatchdog, citing certification by the California Department of Finance. HRWatchdog further reports that this increase affects the minimum salary threshold for full-time exempt employees, which will be $70,304 per year beginning January 1, 2026.

Pay transparency and pay data changes (SB 642).

Mayer Brown’s summary of California’s 2026 legislation reports that SB 642 amends the definition of “pay scale” to require job postings to include “a good faith estimate” of the salary or hourly wage range the employer reasonably expects to pay upon hire. Mayer Brown also reports that these legislative updates include changes affecting pay data reporting, including mandatory civil penalties for failing to file a pay data report.

Workplace Know Your Rights Act notice obligations (SB 294).

National Law Review reports that SB 294, signed into law in October 2025, requires California employers starting February 1, 2026 to provide stand-alone written notices to current employees (and to new hires upon hire) describing specified workplace rights. National Law Review also reports that SB 294 requires employers to give employees the opportunity to designate an emergency contact by March 30, 2026, and describes penalties for violations that can be assessed per employee.

Tip theft enforcement authority (SB 648).

Holland & Knight reports that SB 648 gives the California Labor Commissioner express authority to investigate gratuity disputes and to issue citations or pursue civil action for tips unlawfully taken or withheld. Holland & Knight also describes specified civil penalties under SB 648, in addition to actual tips and wages owed.

Rio Law Group noted that, taken together, these measures reflect an ongoing trend toward higher documentation expectations, more formal notice requirements, and expanded enforcement tools; factors that can affect both individual claims and broader workplace compliance.

Common wage-and-hour issues in Los Angeles

Rio Law Group emphasized that many wage-and-hour claims are not based on a single dramatic incident, but instead build over time through small, repeated shortfalls.

Examples include:
– Rounding or timekeeping systems that consistently benefit the employer.
– Unpaid pre-shift and post-shift tasks (opening/closing duties, security checks, required logins).
– “On-call” expectations without proper pay.
– Policies discouraging meal breaks or making breaks impractical due to staffing.
– Off-the-clock communications after hours.

Because wage-and-hour disputes often turn on records, the firm recommends preserving pay stubs, schedules, policy documents, and written communications related to timekeeping or job duties.

Discrimination, harassment, and retaliation remain persistent

Beyond pay violations, Rio Law Group stated that workplace discrimination and retaliation claims continue to arise across industries in Southern California, including office settings, healthcare, retail, hospitality, logistics, and construction.

Common allegations include:
– Adverse treatment based on protected characteristics (including sex, race, national origin, disability, age, sexual orientation, and gender identity).
– Failure to accommodate disabilities or medical conditions.
– Harassment that escalates after reporting.
– Retaliatory discipline, scheduling cuts, demotions, or termination following complaints.

Rio Law Group stressed that retaliation claims often hinge on timing, documentation, and whether the worker raised concerns through recognized reporting channels.

Elder abuse and neglect concerns

Rio Law Group also announced a continued focus on elder abuse, neglect, and financial exploitation matters involving nursing homes, assisted living facilities, and other caregiving settings.

Potential warning signs families often report include:
– Unexplained bruising, fractures, or repeated falls.
– Pressure injuries (bedsores) or signs of poor hygiene.
– Dehydration, malnutrition, or sudden weight loss.
– Medication errors, overmedication, or missed medications.
– Social withdrawal, fear around certain caregivers, or sudden behavioral changes.
– Unusual banking activity, missing valuables, or unexplained changes in legal/financial documents.

The firm encourages families to document concerns promptly, request care-plan information when appropriate, and escalate urgent safety concerns to regulators or law enforcement when needed.

Practical guidance: documentation and timelines

Rio Law Group stated that whether a matter involves pay, discrimination, retaliation, or elder neglect, the most common avoidable problem is delay—waiting until records disappear, witnesses move on, or deadlines get missed.

For workplace disputes, Rio Law Group recommends practical steps such as:
– Keeping copies of pay stubs, schedules, handbooks, and policy updates.
– Maintaining a contemporaneous log of key incidents, including dates, times, and witnesses.
– Preserving relevant texts, emails, chat messages, and written directives.
– Saving or photographing timekeeping entries when feasible and lawful.
– Avoiding signing severance or settlement documents without understanding the scope of the release.

For elder abuse or neglect concerns, families can consider:
– Keeping a dated journal of observations and interactions.
– Photographing visible injuries or unsafe conditions when safe and permitted.
– Requesting medical records and facility incident reports through proper channels.
– Reporting urgent issues to the appropriate state agencies.

About Rio Law Group

Rio Law Group is a Los Angeles law firm representing clients in employment law and elder abuse matters in California State. The firm handles cases involving wage and hour violations, discrimination, harassment, retaliation, wrongful termination, and elder abuse and neglect. The firm serves clients throughout Los Angeles and Southern California. For more information, contact Rio Law Group.

Media Contact:

Rio Law Group
10880 Wilshire Blvd, Suite 2000
Los Angeles, CA 90024
Phone: +1 (424) 414-7421
Email: director@riolawgroup.com
Website: https://www.riolawgroup.com/

Rio Law Group
Rio Law Group
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director@riolawgroup.com
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CHARLOTTE, NC, UNITED STATES, January 6, 2026 /EINPresswire.com/ — Girls on the Run International is proud to announce the appointment of Marisa Kwiatkowski, director of journalism at the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, and Kelly Coker-Daniel, retired principal, assistant superintendent, and former chair of the Duval County Public Schools (DCPS) school board, to its board of directors. Their diverse expertise will help further the organization’s commitment to inspiring girls to build confidence, connection, and lifelong healthy habits.

Kwiatkowski brings a distinguished 20-year journalism career, most recently serving on USA TODAY’s national investigative team before joining Knight Foundation in 2024. Her award-winning work has sparked national conversations, driven policy reform, and strengthened protections for children. She is widely recognized for her investigative series with The Indianapolis Star on USA Gymnastics and its handling of child sexual abuse allegations, including those involving former team doctor Larry Nassar. She has received more than 60 journalism awards for her contributions to public service and the protection of vulnerable populations. At Knight Foundation, Kwiatkowski manages a portfolio that includes more than $200 million in grants and endowments relating to local journalism, the First Amendment, legal support, and more. She regularly evaluates new proposals and has led the development and refinement of one of the foundation’s strategic focus areas, while also contributing to others.

“As a former board member for both Girls on the Run Indiana Crossroads and Girls on the Run Central Indiana, I know the difference this organization is making in the lives of so many girls,” said Kwiatkowski. “Throughout my professional life, I’ve seen the profound impact that safe, supportive environments can have on young people, and I look forward to contributing as a national board member to a mission that empowers girls to share their ideas, embrace their uniqueness, and step boldly into their futures.”

Coker-Daniel brings a wealth of experience as an accomplished educator serving as a teacher, principal, regional superintendent, and assistant superintendent. During her career, she expanded school choice options for all children, oversaw a 69-million-dollar budget, and led multiple divisions across the school district. Working with parents, local business leaders, and school principals, she successfully established new workforce development programs, expanded dual enrollment options, and achieved record-high district graduation rates. Following three decades at Duval County Public Schools, she served as a school board member for District 1 in Jacksonville, Florida, representing a constituency of over 92,000 voters. She has also served on the board of Girls on the Run Northeast Florida, the leadership team for Leadership Jax, and the board of the Adult Literacy Alliance of Northeast Florida. Currently, she serves as secretary to the board of directors at the Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens.

“As a lifelong runner, mother of a participant in Girls on the Run, and former Girls on the Run board member in Northeast Florida, I am thrilled to have the opportunity to support the work being done internationally by this amazing organization,” said Coker-Daniel. “I spent decades of my life as an educational leader in schools, watching this program have a positive impact on its participants. Being a part of this program gives young girls a sense of belonging, fosters positive self-esteem, and gives them the confidence to truly be their best selves. I look forward to supporting the dedicated staff and countless volunteers who make this work happen on behalf of young people throughout all of the Girls on the Run programs!”

Girls on the Run Chief Executive Officer Elizabeth Kunz celebrated the appointments, noting the impact both leaders will have as the organization enters its 30th anniversary year. “Marisa and Kelly bring remarkable expertise, unwavering integrity, and a shared passion for empowering young people. Each has experience supporting safer and stronger systems for youth, and we are honored to welcome them to our board of directors. Their leadership will help fuel our mission and expand the impact Girls on the Run is having on the lives of girls across North America.”

For more information about Girls on the Run International, please visit girlsontherun.org.

About Girls on the Run
Girls on the Run creates and offers empowering after-school programs designed for girls in grades 3 to 8. The nonprofit helps participants build confidence, increase physical activity, and develop life skills like managing emotions, resolving conflicts, and forming friendships. With the support of trained coaches, team members activate their limitless potential through a blend of physical activities and engaging lessons. The research-based curriculum explores topics relevant to 8- to 13-year-old girls, such as building resiliency and standing up for oneself and others. The program includes a Community Impact Project and culminates with a celebratory 5K. Since 1996, Girls on the Run has served more than 2.7 million girls across all 50 states and Canada. Discover more at girlsontherun.org.

Kelly McGuire
Girls on the Run International
kmcguire@girlsontherun.org
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CHICAGO, IL, UNITED STATES, January 6, 2026 /EINPresswire.com/ — Cre8tive Con, Chicago’s premier business conference, announced that entrepreneur, author, and leadership expert David Meltzer, the Chairman of the Napoleon Hill Institute will return as a featured speaker at the upcoming conference, bringing his proven, values-driven business wisdom back to the stage as he prepares to release his newest book, Don’t Do Business with Dicks, on Super Bowl Sunday. The book is available for pre-order now via Simon & Schuster.

Meltzer, the former CEO of Leigh Steinberg Sports & Entertainment, the firm that inspired the film Jerry Maguire. Meltzer is known for translating high-stakes business experience into practical guidance. Early in his career, his first major task included finalizing negotiations to bring the NFL’s Rams back to Los Angeles from St. Louis. From that moment forward, Meltzer adopted a defining principle passed down by his mentor: “Don’t negotiate to the last penny. Always be fair. Don’t do business with dicks.”

That philosophy now anchors his latest book, Don’t Do Business with Dicks, which distills decades of leadership lessons into actionable strategies for building meaningful relationships, maintaining integrity, and navigating business with clarity and intention. Through real-world anecdotes and practical frameworks, Meltzer challenges readers to eliminate negativity, align actions with values, and cultivate sustainable success.
At Cre8tive Con, Meltzer’s sessions will focus on the intersection of mindset, monetization, and purpose, offering attendees tools they can immediately apply—whether scaling a brand, leading a team, or redefining success on their own terms. His return reflects the continued demand for real-world insight grounded in experience, accountability, and long-term thinking.

Cre8tive Con brings together entrepreneurs, business owners, and leaders who understand that growth requires more than tactics alone. By blending modern business strategy, media visibility, and high-level networking, the conference creates an environment where insight turns into momentum.
“David embodies what Cre8tive Con stands for—real experience, real leadership, and real strategies that help people build businesses and lives they’re proud of,” organizers said.

For media inquiries, sponsorship opportunities, or registration information, contact:
chris@cre8tivecon.com

Julie Drost Lokun
The Mediacasters
+1 847-361-9519
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Leading hose manufacturer will exhibit at booth SU2014

BREMEN, GA, UNITED STATES, January 6, 2026 /EINPresswire.com/ — Southeastern Hose, a leading hose and expansion joint manufacturer, is excited to share it will exhibit at booth SU2014 at the 2026 AHR Expo, the premier education and networking conference for the HVACR industry. The event will be held Feb. 2-4 at the Las Vegas Convention Center in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Southeastern Hose is a leading fabricator of flexible metal, rubber, PTFE, and composite hose assemblies and expansion joints, pump connectors, hydraulic, pneumatic, and jacketed assemblies, chemical transfer, tar and asphalt, air, coolant, and strip-wound hose. The company serves various industries from chemical plants, cryogenics, data centers, and HVAC to pharmaceuticals and steelmaking.

“We are incredibly excited to exhibit at the AHR Expo for the first time this year. The Expo provides a great opportunity to get our best-in-class products in front of OEMs, contractors, engineers, manufacturers, facility operators and other industry personnel looking to discover the latest HVACR-related products,” Southeastern Hose President Bill Travis said. “We look forward to highlighting our product offering for the HVAC industry at our exhibit and connecting with industry leaders.”

Since its establishment in 1963, Southeastern Hose has become a leading manufacturer in the hose assembly and expansion joint industry. With more than 750 years of combined experience in welding, fabricating, sales, and administration departments, the knowledge, capabilities, and expertise of the Southeastern Hose team is unsurpassed.

For more information about Southeastern Hose, please visit www.sehose.com.

Minah Thomas
Uproar by Moburst
+1 717-253-6433
minah.thomas@moburst.com
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NEW YORK, NY, UNITED STATES, January 6, 2026 /EINPresswire.com/ — Aviation Week Network’s MRO Latin America (#MROLA) will be held January 14-15 in Santiago, Chile. The two-day conference and showcase will take place at the Sheraton Santiago & Convention Center and will draw more than 550 registered attendees from around the world. The majority of attendees are involved in the acquisition cycle as buyers and influencers.

The two-day conference and exhibition are expected to attract attendees from across the global aviation ecosystem. The majority of participants are directly involved in the aircraft maintenance acquisition cycle, serving as key buyers and influential decision-makers.

Designed for industry leaders and senior executives, MRO Latin America delivers high-value insights and networking opportunities aligned with the region’s growing demand for MRO services. The event brings together airlines, MRO providers, OEMs, suppliers, lessors, and technology companies focused on expanding and strengthening aviation operations throughout South America, Central America, Mexico, and the Caribbean.

Throughout the event, attendees will benefit from extensive networking opportunities, including receptions, breakfast mixers, networking luncheons, a Chilean winery tour, and dedicated business development sessions.

Expert-led discussions and strategic insights
Industry experts will lead in-depth panel discussions, technical sessions, workshops, and executive-level conversations in an intimate setting designed to foster collaboration and actionable insights.

The opening keynote will be delivered by Hernán Alberto Pasman, Chief Operating Officer of LATAM Airlines, titled “Powering Aircraft Maintenance Through Digital Transformation.” The session will be moderated by Lee Ann Shay, Executive Editor, MRO and Business Aviation, Aviation Week Network.

• Alfredo Asencio, Senior VP of Business Development, APAS
• Pedro Basto, Head of Business Development, Mainblades
• Lindsay Bjerregaard, Managing Editor MRO, Aviation Week Network
• Nicolas Claude, CEO, Aeropuerto Santiago Chile
• Carlos Cock, CEO ∙ The Xtreme Group | 7 Air Cargo
• Tulika Dayal, Chief Experience Officer and Co-Founder, SkySelect
• Jane Del Rio, VP of Sales Latin America, SkySource Inc.
• Alejandro Echeverria, CEO, Aeroman
• Tom Eskola, Vice President, Panasonic Technical Services & Customer Support Field Engineering, Panasonic Avionics Corporation
• Mike Garcia, President, Zulu Global Holdings
• Astrid Gehre, Head of South/Latin America, Sciens Logistics
• Carl Glover, SVP Sales & Marketing, Americas, AAR Corp.
• Juan Gonzalez, Managing Director, Engineering, Delta TechOps
• Jorge Jacome Armida, Corporate SVP Maintenance & Engineering, Aeromexico
• Conrado Klein, Civil Aviation Regulation Specialist, National Civil Aviation Agency (ANAC)
• Brian Kough, Senior Director Forecasts and Aerospace Insights, Aviation Week Network
• Wilmer Lopez, Managing Director, Latin America, AJW
• Luis Tomás Sanguinetti, Strategic Sourcing Senior Manager, Sky Airline
• Frank Stevens, Vice President Embraer MRO Services – Global, Embraer
• Nicolas Ulloa, Senior Strategic Sourcing Manager, LATAM Airlines
• Carol Wilkins, Senior Conference Producer, Aviation Week Network
• And many more. See here for a complete agenda.

Sold-out showcase and sponsorships
The sold-out MRO Latin America Showcase will feature nearly 70 solution and service providers, giving attendees exclusive access to tools, technologies, and services supporting the full MRO lifecycle. The showcase is open exclusively to registered attendees. See the full line up of participants here. Visit here to register.

The event’s Host Sponsor is APAS. Premium Sponsors are ATW, Boeing, Delta TechOps, and Setna iO, and event sponsors are DTX Aerospace, Mobil, HEICO, MITS Aero, StandardAero, and XPD Global.

“We are excited to bring MRO Latin America to Santiago, a vibrant and strategically important aerospace hub,” said Carol Wilkins, Conference Producer, Aviation Week Network. “With an exceptional speaker lineup, a record number of exhibitors and attendees, and extensive networking opportunities, MRO Latin America continues to deliver unmatched value to the region’s aviation maintenance community.”

ABOUT AVIATION WEEK NETWORK
Aviation Week Network is the largest multimedia information and services provider for the global aviation, aerospace, and defense industries, serving 1.7 million professionals around the world. Industry professionals rely on Aviation Week Network to help them understand the market, make decisions, predict trends, and connect with people and business opportunities. Customers include the world’s leading aerospace manufacturers and suppliers, airlines, airports, business aviation operators, militaries, governments and other organizations that serve this worldwide marketplace. Aviation Week Network’s portfolio delivers award-winning journalism, data, intelligence and analytical resources, world-class tradeshows and conferences, and results-driven marketing services and advertising is helping our customers succeed. Aviation Week Network is part of Informa Markets, a division of Informa PLC.

ABOUT INFORMA MARKETS
Informa Markets creates platforms for industries and specialist markets to trade, innovate and grow. Our portfolio is comprised of more than 550 international B2B events and brands in markets including Healthcare & Pharmaceuticals, Infrastructure, Construction & Real Estate, Fashion & Apparel, Hospitality, Food & Beverage, and Health & Nutrition, among others. We provide customers and partners around the globe with opportunities to engage, experience and do business through face-to-face exhibitions, specialist digital content and actionable data solutions. As the world’s leading exhibitions organizer, we bring a diverse range of specialist markets to life, unlocking opportunities and helping them to thrive 365 days of the year. For more information, please visit www.informamarkets.com.

# # #

Elizabeth Grace
The Buzz Agency
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Elizabeth@thebuzzagency.net
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Grant Expands Capacity to Support Transitioning Veterans Pursuing Higher Education

WASHINGTON, DC, UNITED STATES, January 6, 2026 /EINPresswire.com/ — Service to School (S2S), a national nonprofit dedicated to helping veterans and active-duty service members gain admission to college and graduate school, announced it has been selected as a recipient of the OpenAI People-First AI Fund. S2S is one of the few veteran-serving organizations included in this year’s cohort, recognizing its trusted veteran-to-veteran advising model and leadership in expanding access to higher education for those who have served.

S2S has supported more than 20,000+ veterans with admissions advising to undergraduate and graduate programs since its founding in 2010. The grant will support critical capacity-building initiatives that enable Service to School to reach more transitioning service members nationwide. Funding will strengthen advising infrastructure, enhance internal systems, and expand S2S’s ability to connect applicants with experienced veteran mentors, ensuring that every service member navigating the admissions process receives high-quality, personalized support at no cost.

“For more than a decade, Service to School has demonstrated that veterans thrive when they are supported by other veterans who understand the transition firsthand,” said Sydney Matthes, CEO of Service to School. “We are honored to receive this grant, which directly strengthens our ability to serve more veterans and active-duty service members with the people-first advising they deserve. This partnership invests in our capacity without replacing or automating the human relationships that make our model effective.”

The OpenAI People-First AI Fund supports organizations that use technology to strengthen human-centered services and expand access to opportunity. Through this grant, Service to School will:
Expand outreach to active-duty service members preparing to transition from military service into higher education
Improve advising systems to better match applicants with veteran mentors who share similar backgrounds, goals, and lived experiences
Enhance internal technology and data tools so staff and volunteer ambassadors can support applicants more efficiently
Scale high-touch, personalized advising while preserving the human connection at the core of S2S’s mission

“Our commitment has always been to deliver admissions advice that is relational, personalized, and rooted in trust,” Matthes added. “This partnership allows us to extend our reach by investing in infrastructure that empowers our team and volunteers to do what they do best: mentor, guide, and support veterans as they pursue their academic goals.”

Service to School remains deeply committed to its people-first mission and to delivering veteran-to-veteran advising that supports successful transitions from military service to higher education. The organization is grateful to OpenAI for recognizing the importance of human-centered support and for investing in the capacity needed to serve more veterans nationwide.

For more information about Service to School or to learn how to get involved, visit the Service to School website.

About Service to School
Service to School (S2S) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that empowers service members and veterans to successfully navigate the path to higher education. Through free, personalized advising and near-peer mentorship, S2S helps applicants craft competitive applications, connect with resources, and pursue meaningful academic and career goals.

About the OpenAI People-First AI Fund
The People-First AI Fund supports mission-driven organizations working to extend opportunity, strengthen equity, and build responsible, human-centered service models that improve outcomes for underserved communities.

Amanda Dobias
Service to School
+1 202-455-6384
email us here

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KNOXVILLE, TN, UNITED STATES, January 8, 2026 /EINPresswire.com/ — Daisy Genomics Inc. (“Daisy Genomics”) and New Day Diagnostics (“New Day”) have announced a strategic research collaboration focused on cancer diagnostics, launched in partnership with the University of Tennessee and the East Tennessee Health Innovation Alliance (“ETHIA”), to advance the development of next-generation epigenetic sequencing and liquid biopsy tools aimed at transforming early colorectal cancer (“CRC”) detection.

The collaboration will combine New Day’s clinically validated CRC liquid biopsy technology with Daisy Genomics’ breakthrough physics-based sequencing platform. Together, Daisy Genomics and New Day will generate foundational data demonstrating how direct detection of epigenetic signals, without chemical amplification or traditional sequencing bottlenecks, can unlock earlier, more accurate, and more scalable cancer screening.

Research will be conducted across New Day’s CLIA-certified laboratory and the University of Tennessee. The collaboration may further leverage capabilities within the University of Tennessee’s Institute for Advanced Materials & Manufacturing (“IAMM”), whose nanoscale engineering, microfabrication resources, and materials science expertise align closely with Daisy Genomics’ next-generation chip design and manufacturing roadmap.

The multi-institution collaboration also lays the foundation for future studies exploring advanced epigenetic biomarkers with the potential to significantly expand and improve clinical performance across CRC and other high-burden indications.

“New Day Diagnostics is redefining what’s possible in cancer screening. The ability to directly detect tumor-specific changes like methylated Septin 9 in DNA provides an unprecedented opportunity to advance cancer diagnostics,” says Emily Milsovic, CEO of Daisy Genomics. “Partnering with New Day and the University of Tennessee strengthens our ability to generate real-world data quickly and responsibly, while demonstrating how Daisy Genomics’ optical platform can meaningfully advance patient care.”

“Colorectal cancer is the second deadliest cancer in the U.S., yet early detection dramatically improves survival,” says Eric Mayer, CEO of New Day Diagnostics. “With this collaboration, we are one step closer to making life-saving screening accessible to more patients than ever before. Partnering with Daisy Genomics gives New Day access to a game-changing sequencing platform – one that promises a streamlined, affordable workflow and the power to detect critical epigenetic changes directly.”

The research collaboration between Daisy Genomics and New Day is supported by the University of Tennessee’s rapidly expanding innovation ecosystem, including the East Tennessee Health Innovation Alliance and the Institute for Advanced Materials & Manufacturing. The university aims to bring together engineering, data science, and clinical expertise to accelerate breakthroughs that can be translated directly into patient care. By integrating Daisy Genomics’ optical genomics platform, New Day’s clinical diagnostic capabilities, and the University of Tennessee’s world-class manufacturing, engineering, and translational research infrastructure, the partners aim to leverage the university’s advanced research infrastructure and statewide health innovation mandate to drive development, broaden clinical validation, and expand access to cutting-edge tools across the region.

Brad Day, Associate Vice Chancellor at the University of Tennessee and Director of the East Tennessee Health Innovation Alliance, added: “This collaboration is exactly the type of high-impact initiative we are committed to advancing at the University of Tennessee and across ETHIA. This partnership is also a prime example of how the University of Tennessee and the University of Tennessee Medical Center are working together to drive innovation in the region, with a focus on positively impacting patient lives. By bringing together cutting-edge sequencing, validated diagnostics, and a translational ecosystem built for rapid iteration, we are positioning Tennessee as a national leader in next-generation cancer detection and precision health innovation.”

Together, Daisy Genomics, New Day Diagnostics, and the University of Tennessee aim to deliver scalable screening approaches capable of reaching millions more patients, especially those underserved by today’s screening pathways.

TCB Capital Advisors (“TCB”) helped facilitate the formation of this research collaboration and will continue to support Daisy Genomics, New Day, and the University of Tennessee as they work together to advance innovation and improve patient outcomes across the region and beyond.

Melinda Jackson
Melinda Jackson Public Relations
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