News & Updates

United Kingdom Prime Minister David Cameron introduced a new plan to build a database of DNA codes from 100,000 patients. Over the next three to five years thousands will have their whole genomes sequenced.

Florida Gov. Rick Scott awarded Voalte’s Vice President of Innovation Trey Lauderdale the Governor’s Innovators in Business Award for “Innovators Under 40” in 2012. Sarasota-based Voalte provides clinical communications systems.

Omada Health this week launched Prevent, an online coaching program designed to keep prediabetics from developing diabetes. The program lasts 16 weeks and combines a curriculum, coaching, social support, and personal tracking to encourage healthy behavior.

WebMD will cut 250 positions, about 14% of its staff. The layoffs are part of a plan meant to save the company $45 million over the course of a year.

Personal genetics company 23andMe raised more than $50 million in a Series D financing. Among the participants was Yuri Milner, a new investor for 23andMe.

HealthEdge acquired Click4Care, creator of a workflow and communications management platform. HealthEdge created HealthRules, a software suite for payors. The acquisition of Click4Care brings new clinical capabilities to HealthRules.

A recent study published in the Archives of Internal Medicine concluded that using mobile trackers to monitor diet can help users achieve short-term weight loss. Authors say the effects of physician-directed weight loss treatment stand gain a lot from the use of mobile tools.

Check out the San Francisco-based project Talking20 on Indiegogo. The team wants to bring to market a Quantified Self-inspired at-home low-cost blood test.

Carolinas Healthcare System, a health care organization with providers in North and South Carolina, will notify about 5,600 Carolinas Medical Center-Randolph patients of a security breach. The intruder accessed emails from provider accounts between March 11 until Oct. 8, 2012.

HealthTrio filed a patent infringement lawsuit against Aetna and its subsidiaries ActiveHealth Management, Inc. and Medicity, Inc. HealthTrio alleges that they infringed 10 HealthTrio information technology patents.