The statistics are grim: About 60 to 70 percent of children who have glioblastoma, a form of brain cancer, do not survive more than two years. This fast-growing cancer is resistant to traditional treatments like radiation and chemotherapy.

For dogs, cancer statistics are also grim. More than 6 million dogs are diagnosed with cancer every year, and one out of four dogs will get cancer during their lifetime. Its the leading cause of death for dogs after the age of two.

But there could be hope for both dogs and kids. A vaccine being developed that destroys cancer cells in dogs could also be successful in fighting glioblastoma in children.

Researchers at Childrens Mercy Hospital in Kansas City, Mo., have started a partnership with ELIAS Animal Health, a company thats testing treatments for osteosarcoma (bone cancer) and B cell lymphoma in dogs.

If we take advantage of the resources we have in this region and get behind those collaborations, this could be a mecca for advanced, exciting, innovative therapies for cancer and lots of other diseases, Dr. Doug Myers, an oncologist at Childrens Mercy, told the Kansas City Star.

ELIAS Cancer Immunotherapy (ECI) uses the dogs own immune system to destroy the cancer. Research has shown that ex vivo activated T cells have the machinery to effectively kill cancer cells, including cancer stem cells, according to the companys website. ELIAS Cancer Immunotherapy utilizes adoptive cell therapy to deliver an army of activated T cells.

The dog is vaccinated with his own cancer cells to produce an immune response, then the generated white blood cells destroy the cancer cells.

Personalized T cells are then safely obtained from the patient through apheresis [the removal of blood] and then super charged to produce a large population of killer T cells that are reinfused into the patient to kill the cancer, the company explains.

ELIAS Animal Health is currently conducting clinical trials of ECI at Kansas State University, the University of Missouri-Columbia and a few animal hospitals across the country. The success rates of using ECI along with surgery on dogs with cancer are being compared with those of patients that are treated with surgery alone.

Early clinical study results already show positive outcomes, Tammie Wahaus, CEO of ELIAS Animal Health, said in November 2016.

Among the ECI success stories is that of Dakota, a German shorthaired pointer who continues to survive a year after she was diagnosed with osteosarcoma. This is twice as long as her original prognosis. X-rays taken during a follow-up examination showed no signs of the cancer spreading.

Could ECI also successfully treat children with glioblastoma? Dr. Kevin Ginn, a pediatric oncologist at Childrens Mercy, and other researchers are currently developing protocols for trials. Theyre planning to apply for a Phase II clinical trial with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, using the results of ECIs studies on safety and effectiveness as far as dogs are concerned. The Phase II trial would give ECI to a large group of children to see if its effective and further evaluate its safety.

Animal health trials are regulated by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. They are less expensive and proceed faster than FDA-regulated human trials, the Kansas City Star reports, but successful human health treatments often bring a larger return on investment.

In this case, a larger return on investment could be a win-win for children as well as dogs with cancer.

Photo credit: cgordon8527

Disclaimer: The views expressed above are solely those of the author and may not reflect those of Care2, Inc., its employees or advertisers.

Read more:
Could a Dog Vaccine Help Save Kids With Brain Cancer? - Care2.com

Driving the Day

Listen to the Playbook Audio Briefing http://bit.ly/2nU4gpr ... Subscribe on iTunes http://apple.co/2eX6Eay ... Visit the online home of Playbook http://politi.co/2f51Jnf

NICE PARKING JOB! -- A Playbooker sends this photo of a particularly bad parking job from the parking lot reserved for members of Congress at DCA. http://bit.ly/2oCMqET Will anyone own up to this one?

Story Continued Below

QUITE THE QUOTE -- PENCE at the DMZ -- PANMUNJOM, South Korea (AP) - U.S. Vice President Mike Pence says era of strategic patience is over with North Korea. Ken Thomas's story from South Korea http://apne.ws/2ohiFIM

-- HEADLINE THAT WAS LOST ON EASTER SUNDAY: Trump Said to Not Shy Away From Sudden Strike on North Korea, by Bloombergs Jen Jacobs and Michelle Jamrisko: In the wake of North Koreas failed medium-range missile test this weekend, President Donald Trump is willing to consider ordering kinetic military action, including a sudden strike, to counteract North Koreas destabilizing actions in the region, said a person familiar with the White Houses thinking.

But Trumps very strong preference is for China to take the lead on dealing with North Korea, said the person, who asked not to be named because the discussions are private. Trumps strategy isnt exactly a departure from long-standing U.S. policy. He isnt particularly interested in toppling the regime of leader Kim Jong Un and isnt looking to force a reunification of the two Koreas, the person said. He instead wants to push for their long-term cooperation. https://bloom.bg/2nTOiMa

**SUBSCRIBE to Playbook: http://politi.co/2lQswbh

WELL PUT -- Robert Litwak of the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars in David Sanger and William Broads Page Oner in the NYT about North Korea: the Cuban missile crisis in slow motion. http://nyti.ms/2nU7bi0

NOTE FROM THE WEST WING -- White House insiders are particularly pleased that they have another week with Congress out of town, hoping they can keep their momentum from last week going for another few days. Remember: When Congress returns next week, Washington will be thrown into full shutdown mode. The government shuts down a week from Friday. ALSO: National Security Adviser H.R. McMaster will return from Afghanistan, and is expected to brief members of the administration on what he saw there. VP Mike Pence is in South Korea and will visit Japan, Indonesia and Australia, in a trip that looks awfully presidential. (NYT: How Trumps Travel Compares With Past Presidents http://nyti.ms/2pHNtmc)

-- THE TIMES OF LONDON: Trump demands goldplated welcome: President insists on a carriage journey down The Mall to Buckingham Palace, by Francis Elliott and Fiona Hamilton: Donald Trump waving from the Queens royal carriage is not a scenario many would have foreseen a year ago, but it has become a very real prospect, forcing security services to plan an unprecedented lockdown. The White House has made clear it regards the carriage procession down the Mall as an essential element of the itinerary for the visit currently planned for the second week of October, according to officials. Security sources have warned, however, that the procession will require a monster security operation, far greater than for any recent state visit. http://bit.ly/2oOz1vc

-- BUZZ AT 1600 PENNSYLVANIA: CONCERNS ABOUT PULLING OFF THE EASTER EGG ROLL: While there is certainly plenty of heavy world matters to discuss, Trumps White House has another high hurdle: putting on a smooth White House Easter Egg Roll. The annual event should be an easy, fun photo op. But it will be the first time since Trumps inauguration where crowd size and overall organization will be on public display. And the politics of who gets a ticket is a classic display of Washington political currency. We hear agency officials were doling out handfuls of tickets as recently as late last week.

TRUMP WEIGHS IN ON SPECIAL ELECTIONS -- @realDonaldTrump at 8:49 p.m.: The recent Kansas election (Congress) was a really big media event, until the Republicans won. Now they play the same game with Georgia-BAD! The election is tomorrow.

-- THE LATEST FROM THE PEACH STATE: Warring Republicans try to unite against Ossoff in Georgias Sixth, by the Atlanta Journal Constitutions Greg Bluestein: Fractious Georgia Republicans tried to unite behind a stop Jon Ossoff movement ahead of Tuesdays special election to represent a suburban Atlanta district, with party leaders urging voters to stream to the polls and prevent an upset victory by the Democrat.

Republicans face a daunting enthusiasm gap in the 18-candidate race to represent the 6th District, and the leading GOP contenders have spent the final days feuding with each other. Ossoff, one of five Democrats in the race, is leading in the polls and aiming for an outright victory in Tuesdays vote.

At a GOP voter drive in the districts western flank of Marietta, about 30 volunteers and officials turned out to make calls and listen to several likely Republican statewide candidates. This is personal, said Attorney General Chris Carr, who lives in Dunwoody. We have great candidates. But whoever you support is better than the other side. They are trying to embarrass us, but lets show them this district is Republican red. Ill be very blunt: These lines were not drawn to get Hank Johnsons protg to be my representative. And you didnt hear that, said [state Sen. Fran] Millar. They were not drawn for that purpose, OK? They were not drawn for that purpose. http://on-ajc.com/2pHUl2N

CLICKER -- DAILY MAIL -- A picture perfect moment! Barack and Michelle Obama pose on billionaire David Geffens superyacht during day out with Oprah, Bruce Springsteen and Tom Hanks in French Polynesia http://dailym.ai/2poXqbD

KNOWING MIKE CONAWAY -- PAGE ONE OF THE TIMES -- Unfamiliar Spotlight for Texan Taking Lead on Russia Inquiry, by Emmarie Huetteman in Midland, Texas: President Trump does not know Mike Conaway. A Republican congressman from a long brush stroke of West Texas, Mr. Conaway recalled meeting with him at the White House with other House Republicans. And he has shaken hands with Mr. Trump, a standard, 500-people-on-a-rope-line, shaken-hand kind of thing. He wouldnt know me from third base, Mr. Conaway said.

Whether he has exchanged pleasantries with the president may not have mattered before, but it does now. Mr. Conaway is taking over the House Intelligence Committees investigation into Russian meddling in the presidential election. He is replacing Representative Devin Nunes, the California Republican whose suspiciously cozy relationship with Mr. Trump derailed the inquiry before he was ultimately forced to step aside. ...

He parlayed a football scholarship into a career in accounting in Midland, Tex., which brought him to Mr. Bush. He became the chief financial officer of Mr. Bushs oil and gas company, which ultimately faltered with the falling oil prices of the mid-1980s. About a decade later, Mr. Bush, by then governor of Texas, appointed Mr. Conaway to a state board overseeing other accountants. In some ways, a hometown-boy aura has followed him throughout his life. Mr. Conaway won his seat in 2004, the beneficiary of efforts by state Republicans who redrew districts with the clear intent of electing him and a handful of others to Congress. http://nyti.ms/2om5kOB

****** A message from UC Davis: At UC Davis, unusual collaborations in veterinary medicine, human health and engineering lead to groundbreaking treatments for beloved pets and other animals, from furry to feathered. Those breakthroughs lead to translatable human medicine. Its a One Health approach that benefits the health of all. Learn more at 21stcentury.ucdavis.edu. ******

READ WSJS RICH RUBIN, MR. PRESIDENT -- Trumps Renewed Focus on Health Bill Vexes GOP Tax Overhaul Strategy: Political shuffle underscores knotty relationship between budgetary priorities: Mr. Trump signaled last week that one of the reasons he has reprioritized health care is that he was relying on savings from the health bill to bolster the tax plan. If the health plan is signed, we get hundreds of millions of dollars in savings that goes into the taxes, said Mr. Trump said in an interview Wednesday. Could we do it without health care? Absolutely but its a cleaner package if we get health care done.

The budget reality isnt that straightforward. Budgetary savings from a health bill dont get plowed into the tax bill, so the lack of a health bill wouldnt necessarily change the tax-bill math. There is also no requirement that the health bill come first. But the two pieces of legislation are interrelated because the GOP health bill would eliminate discrete taxes created as part of the 2010 Affordable Care Act, smoothing the process of passing a broader tax overhaul. ...

On one hand, the delay on tax policy gives lawmakers more time to reach a deal on taxes, which has proven elusive so far. But the strategy and sequencing also leaves the tax overhaul waiting behind a messy health care bill and a 2018 budget resolution, which is necessary to trigger a reconciliation bill. Republicans on Capitol Hill worry that they may not be able to adopt a 2018 budget resolution because of intraparty disagreements on spending. http://on.wsj.com/2oFBvMb

-- WHAT HILL INSIDERS ARE SAYING: Republicans will be tempted to pass a straight corporate and individual tax cut, and skip overall tax reform. A disappointment, for sure, but an easier victory for lawmakers on the Hill in the leadup to the midterm elections next year. We still bet they try to swing for the fences and go for a big overhaul.

TRUMPS WORLD -- Trump learning to love Bush aides, by Tara Palmeri: Throughout his presidential campaign, Donald Trump repeatedly declared that the last thing we need is another Bush, as he vowed to take on two political dynasties the Bushes and the Clintons. But as president, Trump has been increasingly dipping into the talent pool from the George W. Bush administration that he regularly vilified during the campaign to now fill critical administration posts. Trump promised to drain the swamp and instead rely on Washington outsiders, but nearly 100 days into his term, the staffing and political realities have set in, and his team has been turning to some of the top old hands of the Bush administration. Just this past week, the White House sent out a press release announcing the nomination of four confirmation-level hires, with three out of the four being former Bush administration staffers. http://politi.co/2nU6bun

GREAT BEHIND-THE-SCENES DETAILS -- 2018 WATCH -- Can the consumer watchdog Trump loathes win an election in Ohio?, by Lorraine Woellert, Daniel Strauss and Ben White: Gary Cohn gave Richard Cordray, the head of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, an ultimatum over dinner a few weeks ago: Go the easy way, or go the hard way. Cohn, President Donald Trumps top economic adviser, had heard the rumors that Cordray wanted to run for governor in Ohio. He left dinner that night thinking that they were true, according to people familiar with the meeting. So the White House decided to hold off on firing Cordray. Trump didnt want to cause a sensation that could boost his candidacy and juice his fundraising.

Cordray -- whose five-year term expires next July -- has yet to announce his political intentions and his window for launching a gubernatorial campaign is starting to close. But whether or not Trump ultimately decides to fire him, he may already have enough political support to lead the field to replace Republican Gov. John Kasich in 2018. http://politi.co/2pHKpXl

SCOOP -- Trump expected to pick Treasury veteran as top bank cop, by Ben White and Victoria Guida: President Donald Trump is expected to nominate former Treasury undersecretary Randy Quarles as the Federal Reserve's top bank regulator, a person close to the decision said. The selection would send a clear signal that the administration is looking to take a pragmatic approach to paring back bank regulation, rather than choosing an ideologue who would seek to eviscerate the rules enacted since the financial crisis. Quarles still needs to meet with the president, which will happen in the coming days, but he is likely to get the nod for the post, the most important bank regulatory position in government, barring unexpected developments. http://politi.co/2ohwPJR

CHRISTIE 2.0? -- Christie angling for a comeback, by Ryan Hutchins and Josh Dawsey: Chris Christie is enjoying significant influence in Trumps world, spearheading a new national anti-addiction effort, talking to the president several times per week, and recently spending much of two days in the Oval Office advising Trump. Its unclear exactly what Christie is angling for, besides attempting to repair his public standing. One person familiar with his thinking said the governor plans to go make some money when he leaves office, but hes clearly eager to keep other options open, possibly in Trumps administration. I think he feels very good. I think he feels very good at serving out two full terms, said Mike DuHaime, Christies longtime political strategist. Hes always enjoyed being out there, being active. http://politi.co/2ohH6FV

PART OF THE TEAM -- Hillary Clintons Campaign Turns Over Email List To DNC, by HuffPosts Sam Levine and Sam Stein: The [DNC] announced on Sunday that Hillary Clintons campaign had turned over its email list, giving the party a major boost as it rebuilds under a new chair and prepares for the midterm elections next year and the 2020 presidential race. The list, provided as an in-kind contribution from the Hillary for America campaign organization, includes more than 10 million new names that the DNC did not have on its voter files, according to both Clinton and DNC aides. The contribution was valued as $3.5 million. http://huff.to/2oOEUJ0

THE REINFORCEMENTS -- Pro-Trump group launches a $3 million ad campaign to prop up House allies, by WaPos Bob Costa: America First Policies, a pro-Trump nonprofit outfit ... is starting a $3 million advertising campaign to bolster a dozen House Republicans who publicly backed the health-care proposal that has stalled on Capitol Hill. ... The House Republicans receiving air support are: Gary Palmer (Ala.), Jeff Duncan (S.C.), David Schweikert (Ariz.), Keith Rothfus (Pa.), Rob Wittman (Va.), Tom Graves (Ga.), Scott R. Tipton (Colo.), Thomas Garrett (Va.), David Joyce (Ohio), Michael R. Turner (Ohio), Martha McSally (Ariz.) and Brian Mast (Fla.). http://wapo.st/2oD2KVV One of the ads http://bit.ly/2om9ZQt

TELL US WHAT YOU REALLY THINK! IMF warnings of US protectionism rubbish, says [Wilbur] Ross, by FTs Shawn Donnan and Demetri Sevastopulo: The billionaire investor ... said veiled criticism by Ms Lagarde and other defenders of multilateralism about rising protectionism were clearly aimed at the new administration. It is! It is! And the response is very simple: we are the least protectionist of the major areas. We are far less protectionist than Europe. We are far less protectionist than Japan. We are far less protectionist than China, he told the Financial Times in an interview. ... [T]hey talk free trade. But in fact what they practise is protectionism. And every time we do anything to defend ourselves, even against the puny obligations that they have, they call that protectionism. Its rubbish. http://on.ft.com/2p9zsSb

FOR YOUR RADAR -- Opposition to challenge votes on expanding Erdogans powers, by APs Susan Frazer in Ankara: Turkeys main opposition party on Monday prepared to contest the results of a landmark referendum that gave a narrow victory to President Recep Tayyip Erdogans long-time plans to greatly expand the powers of his office. Turkey's electoral board confirmed the yes victory in Sunday's referendum and said the final results would be declared in 11-12 days. The state-run Anadolu Agency said the yes vote stood at 51.41 percent, while the no vote was 48.59 percent. The margin fell short of the sweeping victory Erdogan had sought in the referendum. Nevertheless, it could cement his hold on power in Turkey and is expected to have a huge effect on the countrys long-term political future and its international relations. http://apne.ws/2nU3itE

--Erdogan Claims Vast Powers in Turkey After Narrow Victory in Referendum, by NYTs Patrick Kingsley: The constitutional change will allow the winner of the 2019 presidential election to assume full control of the government, ending the current parliamentary political system. The ramifications, however, are immediate. The yes vote in the referendum is a validation of the current leadership style of Mr. Erdogan, who has been acting as a de facto head of government since his election in 2014 despite having no constitutional right to wield such power. The office of Turkeys president was meant to be an impartial role without full executive authority. http://nyti.ms/2ohzEuu

THE JUICE

-- DNC CHAIR TOM PEREZ and Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) are starting their six-day, eight-state tour today across the country as part of the Come Together and Fight Back tour. The tour is focused on needs of working families and building a Democratic Party which is strong and active in all 50 states, and a party which focuses on grassroots activism, according to an operative involved in the effort. The tour includes stops to Portland, Maine; Louisville, Kentucky; Miami; Dallas; Omaha, Nebraska; Salt Lake City, Utah; Mesa, Arizona; and Las Vegas.

-- SEN. ELIZABETH WARREN (D-Mass.) will be on the Today show tomorrow morning talking news of the day and about her new book.

PHOTO DU JOUR: Vice President Mike Pence arrives with military commanders at the border village of Panmunjom in the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ), which has separated the two Koreas since the Korean War on April 17. | Lee Jin-man/AP Photo

REAL WORLD -- In Travis County custody case, jury will search for real Alex Jones, by the Austin American-Statesmans Jonathan Tilove: At a recent pretrial hearing, attorney Randall Wilhite told state District Judge Orlinda Naranjo that using his client Alex Jones on-air Infowars persona to evaluate Alex Jones as a father would be like judging Jack Nicholson in a custody dispute based on his performance as the Joker in Batman. Hes playing a character, Wilhite said of Jones. He is a performance artist. But in emotional testimony at the hearing, Kelly Jones, who is seeking to gain sole or joint custody of her three children with Alex Jones, portrayed the volcanic public figure as the real Alex Jones. Hes not a stable person, she said of the man with whom her 14-year-old son and 9- and 12-year-old daughters have lived since her 2015 divorce. ... He broadcasts from home. The children are there, watching him broadcast. http://atxne.ws/2p9jyah

WASHINGTON, INC. -- Inside the Hotel Industrys Plan to Combat Airbnb, by NYTs Katie Benner: The main prongs of the associations plan to constrain Airbnb include lobbying politicians and state attorneys general to reduce the number of Airbnb hosts, funding studies to show Airbnb is filled with people who are quietly running hotels out of residential buildings and highlighting how Airbnb hosts do not collect hotel taxes and are not subject to the same safety and security regulations that hotel operators must follow. The group said it would focus its efforts in key markets, including Los Angeles, San Francisco, Boston, Washington and Miami. The efforts were spearheaded last year by Katherine Lugar, chief executive of the American Hotel and Lodging Association. The trade group began to form alliances with politicians, affordable housing groups and neighborhood associations. The industry also forged relationships with hotel labor unions which it typically faces off against on many issues about dealing with Airbnb. http://nyti.ms/2ppcZQu

MEDIAWATCH -- "How a Tiny Florida Newspaper Became a Must-Read in the Trump Era," by Washingtonian's Ben Freed: The Palm Beach Daily News "or 'Shiny Sheet,' as its known to locals for the higher-than-usual-quality paper it prints on -- typically covers events at Palm Beach's charity galas, local real-estate transactions, and goings-on in town government. It's only got about 5,000 subscribers, but it's become required reading for a Washington that is still struggling to make sense of the 45th President. ... The Shiny Sheet doesn't score the big national-security or palace-intrigue scoops that deep-pocketed news organizations like the Washington Post and New York Times do, but its role as a chronicler of South Florida's swells has allowed it to break its share of presidential news." http://bit.ly/2pt6yJv

--"The Society Columnist [Shannon Donnelly] With a Front-Row Seat at Mar-a-Lago," by NYT's Katie Rogers: http://nyti.ms/2pI0uw6

FUTURE OF NEWS -- Instant recall: Facebooks Instant Articles promised to transform journalism -- but now big publishers are fleeing, by The Verges Casey Newton: [A]fter two years of experimenting with Instant Articles, many outlets appear to have had enough. The New York Times, which had been a launch partner for Instant Articles, abandoned the platform last fall. Vice News, Forbes, the Los Angeles Times, the Chicago Tribune, and Hearst publications are among the large publishers who have joined it in leaving. Others are publishing a small handful of articles to the platform while pushing the majority of their readers to their own websites, including CNN, the New York Daily News, and the Wall Street Journal. http://bit.ly/2oCwEtG

****** A message from UC Davis: Ranked first in the world for veterinary medicine, UC Davis believes collaborating across disciplines in animal, human and environmental health is the best way to advance the health of all creatures great and small. Using this One Health approach to problem solving, our research much of which is federally funded is resulting in cost-saving, translatable treatments for cancer, breakthroughs in stem cell therapy, increased awareness and management of emerging zoonotic diseases, better protection for endangered species, and comprehensive responses to environmental crises like oil spills and floods. Learn more about UC Davis health innovation at 21stcentury.ucdavis.edu. ******

AGENCY WATCH -- EPA emerges as major target after Trump solicits policy advice from industry, by WaPos Juliet Eilperin: Just days after taking office, President Trump invited American manufacturers to recommend ways the government could cut regulations and make it easier for companies to get their projects approved. Industry leaders responded with scores of suggestions that paint the clearest picture yet of the dramatic steps that Trump officials are likely to take in overhauling federal policies, especially those designed to advance environmental protection and safeguard worker rights. Those clues are embedded in the 168 comments submitted to the government after Trump signed a presidential memorandum Jan. 24 instructing the Commerce Department to figure out how to ease permitting and trim regulations with the aim of boosting domestic manufacturing. The [EPA] has emerged as the primary target in these comments, accounting for nearly half, with the Labor Department in second place as the subject of more than one-fifth, according to a Commerce Department analysis. http://wapo.st/2psMZAQ

VALLEY TALK -- Selling Mark Zuckerberg: The Facebook CEOs likability blitz isnt a presidential campaign, its a focus group for his 1.8 billion constituents -- and part of a high stakes campaign to win your likes, by BuzzFeeds Nitasha Tiku: Zuckerberg, now a 32-year-old dad with one daughter and another on the way, has evolved considerably in the intervening decade. He hired speechwriters. He spruced up his uniform from Valley schlub to monochrome minimalism. He took on a series of annual self-improvement challenges that made him into a lifestyle guru for some male tech workers, according to the New York Times Style section. ... Now, Zuckerberg is even leading the charge for Silicon Valley tech CEOs who, post-election, have committed to leaving their bubble and interacting with the American public. http://bzfd.it/2pHIx0v

THE GLOBAL POLITICO PODCAST: Michael Anton wrote inflammatory essays backing Trump during last years campaign. Now hes in charge of explaining Trumps keep-em-guessing foreign policy at Trumps NSC. In an exclusive interview with Susan Glassers Global POLITICO podcast, Anton talks Syria, North Korea, Steve Bannon -- and the virtues of Trumps unpredictability. Not to mention whos best dressed in the White House, and why his intellectual hero Machiavelli would approve of the president. http://politi.co/2psW1ho Transcript http://politi.co/2p9lobh Subscribe http://apple.co/2kJ9q1U

SPOTTED -- HUD Secretary Ben Carson sitting in a middle seat in coach from Palm Beach to DCA Sunday evening Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin entering Brooks Brothers on Connecticut and Rhode Island avenues on Saturday afternoon Former Commerce Secretary Carlos Gutierrez at Cafe Milano Easter brunch.

ENGAGED KATIE GLUECK, senior political correspondent at McClatchy and a Politico alum, to MAOR COHEN, senior dedicated analyst at the Advisory Board who is attending Columbia Business School this fall -- she posts on Instagram: Best news I could ever break: were getting married!! So, so overjoyed and grateful to be doing life with my very favorite person #katiesamormaor #maorgetsglucky -- pic http://bit.ly/2pt6qtl

--Katie emails us the backstory: We were spending Passover in Boston with Maors family, and Maor told me he had bought our return tickets to Washington. But at the last minute, he told me those tickets were fake news, and that we weren't in fact returning to DC. It wasnt until we got to the airport gate that I learned we were actually going to Puerto Rico! We went for a walk on the beach at sunset that evening, and he popped the question. We met at a party hosted by a mutual friend on the Saturday after the 2012 election.

WEEKEND WEDDING -- #shepickedflowers: Darien B. Flowers, a policy advisor at Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck and former legislative aide to Sen. Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA) married Kirsten Ferreira, an associate at the McChrystal Group in Miami, Florida, the brides hometown. Sean Conner, Uber lobbyist and former press secretary to Sen. Tim Scott (R-S.C.), officiated the ceremony. Pics http://bit.ly/2oFdXqQ http://bit.ly/2ohrXEq

SPOTTED among the nearly 200 guests: Dan Henke of Monument Policy Group and a Pat Roberts alum, Lonald Wishom of Sen. Orrin Hatchs office, Emma Kenyon of Sen. Claire McCaskills office, Sophie White, aviation lobbyist formerly with Sen. McCaskill, Zephranie Buetow, deputy legislative director with Sen. Gary Peters (D-Mich.), USAIDs Anna McCracken, Samuel Negatu, legislative counsel for Rep. Matt Cartwright (D-Pa.) and Kay Hagan alum Johnnie Williams.

TRANSITIONS OBAMA ALUMNI -- Kevin Griffis has been named the vice president for communications at Planned Parenthood Federation of America. He previously served as the assistant secretary for public affairs at HHS under President Obama. http://politi.co/2p9jKGx

-- As Jill Hazelbaker moves into her new role leading policy and communications globally for Uber, Justin Kintz is taking over policy and communications in the Americas. He will continue to work out of Ubers Dupont Circle office. ... TJ Helmstetter, formerly the DNCs associate communications director, is now communications director at Americans for Tax Fairness, preparing for the fight against Trumps forthcoming tax plan.

BIRTHWEEK (was yesterday): Sefy Hendler, columnist for Haaretz and art history department chair at Tel Aviv University (hat tip: Ben Chang)

BIRTHDAY OF THE DAY: Jim Acosta, CNNs senior White House correspondent, celebrating with family. Every free moment I have with my kids is precious. Read his Playbook Plus Q&A: http://politi.co/2ohBuvn

BIRTHDAYS: Ieva Augstums, deputy VP for comms. and public affairs at PhRMA, a Purple Strategies and AP alum NYT White House reporter Julie Hirschfeld Davis ... Angelo Roefaro of Sen. Schumers office and a Syracuse alum, is 33 ... Ben Butterfield Erika Soto Lamb, chief comms. officer at Everytown for Gun Safety ... Annie Hughes Rep. George Holding (R-N.C.) is 49 ... Tom Giovanetti, president of the Institute for Policy Innovation ... Alex Kellner, senior director at Bully Pulpit Interactive, a McAuliffe alum, and the best grillmaster in politics (h/t Rob Flaherty) ... Jackie Whisman of the Information Technology and Innovation Foundation ... Dean Lieberman Deans last day at State was Friday, and hes going to backpack around Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos, disconnect from the world and lounge at a beach bungalow for a few weeks (h/t Ben Chang) ... Emily Cooper, VP of global partnerships at Nat Geo Chris Durlak, managing director at Purple Strategies ... David Lindsey, executive editor of news and features at NatGeo and a Reuters, USA Today and WashPost alum (and Mike Allens editor, when he was the Arlington/Alexandria reporter) ... political consultant Will Leaverton Greg Lemon, comms director for Rep. Rob Wittman Alex Schaffer of Mothership Strategies (h/t Nicole Berns) ... Jennifer Laptook LaTourette of Van Scoyoc Associates ... CBOs Lara Robillard (h/ts Marda Robillard) ...

... Matt Kravitz, Center for Responsible Lending comms manager and Rep. Garamendi alum, celebrating with Passover macaroons that his wife Tamar Ariel baked him ... NYU political scientist and Monkey Cage blog co-author Joshua Tucker ... Shelly Banjo, retail, food and consumer columnist at Bloomberg Gadfly ... Politico alum Adekunle Ogunfolu ... Ellen Dargie, senior director of govt affairs and counsel at the Internet Association and an Issa alum Atul Shembekar ... Valentina Cano ... Susan Effler, marketing manager for Uber in Boston ... Melanie Griffin, not the actress but the writer and pastor (h/t Dan) ... John Spencer (Jack) Rodgers ... Matt Aks, MBA student at Harvard and an NSC and CEA alum ... Michael Myers, managing director at the Rockefeller Foundation ... Ed Gilroy, director of workforce policy at the House Education and Workforce Cmte. Sean Dalton, special assistant at the NTSB Trait Thompson, avid Aggies follower John Collins Rachel Pryor ... Clay Hanna, who shares his birthday with his daughter Ruby (h/t Autumn) Chris Gilbert ... Sandra Fluke is 36 ... Brian Temple Smith is 38 ... John Cahill ... Micah Kleit ... Benjamin Runkle is 45 ... Gabrielle Porter ... Robert Bateman is 5-0 ... legal affairs journalist Ken Jost ... Florida attorney Jessica Ehrlich ... Robin Canter Monica Fischer (h/ts Teresa Vilmain) Eric Sayers, special assistant to the commander of U.S. Pacific Command ... Victoria Beckham is 43 ... Rooney Mara -- cousin of Rep. Tom Rooney -- is 32 (h/ts AP)

****** A message from UC Davis: Ranked first in the world for veterinary medicine, UC Davis believes collaborating across disciplines in animal, human and environmental health is the best way to advance the health of all creatures great and small. Using this One Health approach to problem solving, our research much of which is federally funded is resulting in cost-saving, translatable treatments for cancer, breakthroughs in stem cell therapy, increased awareness and management of emerging zoonotic diseases, better protection for endangered species, and comprehensive responses to environmental crises like oil spills and floods. Learn more about UC Davis health innovation at 21stcentury.ucdavis.edu. ******

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POLITICO's must-read briefing on what's driving the day in Washington - Politico

Driving the Day

Listen to the Playbook Audio Briefing http://bit.ly/2obE6Ld ... Subscribe on iTunes http://apple.co/2eX6Eay ... Visit the online home of Playbook http://politi.co/2f51Jnf

Happy Friday. The Capital Weather Gang says were in for a generally beautiful next few days. http://wapo.st/2otzqkN

Story Continued Below

DEEP SPLIT -- PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP, in an interview with the Wall Street Journal, said he believes hell get a deal on health-care reform and has a renewed confidence in the House Freedom Caucus, the conservatives who helped torpedo his first attempt to repeal and replace Obamacare. They want to do the right thing and they do like me and they do like their president, Trump told the Journal. http://on.wsj.com/2pgoTJR

-- BUT Indeed, people in and around the Freedom Caucus feel confident they can strike a deal with Trump. Other Republicans involved in the talks are not as confident, and say the two sides are no closer to a deal than when they left town for recess. The negotiations are still centered on Obamacares Title I provisions -- a list of baseline coverage requirements. After a handful of raucous town halls this recess, any uptick in Freedom Caucus votes could be matched by moderates abandoning the bill.

**SUBSCRIBE to Playbook: http://politi.co/2lQswbh

THE BOTTOM LINE: Whether Freedom Caucus members like Trump -- some do, some dont -- has little bearing on whether theyll be able to cut a deal. Lots of people liked John Boehner -- until they didnt. This is a numbers game.

ONE WASHINGTON WISE MAN suggested to us that Trump stop negotiating and tell the Freedom Caucus to craft a deal that could pass the House.

SOME IMPORTANT foreign policy stories out this morning:

-- N. Korean official: U.S. more vicious, aggressive under Trump, by APs Eric Talmadge in Pyongyang, North Korea: North Koreas vice foreign minister on Friday blamed President Donald Trump for escalating tensions on the Korean Peninsula through his tweets and expansion of military exercises, saying the U.S. was becoming more vicious and more aggressive under his leadership than it had been under President Barack Obama. In an exclusive interview with The Associated Press in Pyongyang, Vice Minister Han Song Ryol also warned the U.S. against provoking North Korea militarily. We will go to war if they choose, he said. http://apne.ws/2pAcb87

-- SOMETHING TO WATCH: Escalating tensions between Trump and North Korea come as Vice President Mike Pence heads to South Korea this weekend for a 10-day trip in the Asia-Pacific region.

-- China is suddenly leaning on North Korea -- and it might be thanks to Trump, by John Pomfret in WaPo: North Korea will celebrate the 105th anniversary of the birth of its founder, Kim Il Sung, on Saturday, and some type of military show of force is expected. In an editorial in the semi-official Global Times on Wednesday, Pyongyang was put on notice that it must rein in its nuclear ambitions, or else Chinas oil shipments to North Korea could be severely limited. It is extraordinary for China to make this kind of threat. For more than a decade, as part of its strategy to prop up one of its only allies, China refused to allow the U.N. Security Council to even consider cutting oil shipments to North Korea. Beijings calculus was that the maintenance of the North Korean regime took precedence over everything. Now Beijing seems to be reconsidering its position. http://wapo.st/2osK3UN

-- Trump Said No to Troops in Syria. His Aides Arent So Sure, by Bloombergs Eli Lake: Senior White House and administration officials tell me Trumps national security adviser, General H.R. McMaster, has been quietly pressing his colleagues to question the underlying assumptions of a draft war plan against the Islamic State that would maintain only a light U.S. ground troop presence in Syria. McMasters critics inside the administration say he wants to send tens of thousands of ground troops to the Euphrates River Valley. His supporters insist he is only trying to facilitate a better interagency process to develop Trumps new strategy to defeat the self-described caliphate that controls territory in Iraq and Syria. https://bloom.bg/2oeB4VM

A GOOD DETAIL from NYTs Peter Baker in an A1er on PRESIDENT TRUMPs shifting positions: Mr. Trump sometimes cloaks his evolving positions by declaring victory before retreating. For instance, he had criticized NATO for not fighting terrorism and leaving the financial burden to the United States. As he met with NATOs secretary general on Wednesday, Mr. Trump asserted that the alliance had changed.

But the alliance has hardly changed in three months. Just three more members out of 28 have committed to raise military spending to target levels by next year, and the only shift in NATOs approach to terrorism was to create a new intelligence office before Mr. Trumps inauguration. http://nyti.ms/2oGxwPJ

****** A message from UC Davis: At UC Davis, unusual collaborations in veterinary medicine, human health and engineering lead to groundbreaking treatments for beloved pets and other animals, from furry to feathered. Those breakthroughs lead to translatable human medicine. Its a One Health approach that benefits the health of all. Learn more at 21stcentury.ucdavis.edu. ******

PRESIDENT TRUMP is at Mar-a-Lago with no public events scheduled. VP PENCE also has no public events scheduled for the fourth straight day.

WHITE HOUSE AIDES RISING -- JOSH DAWSEY and ELIANA JOHNSON answer the question thats been hanging out there since Steve Bannons downfall -- Where in the world is Stephen Miller?: Trumps got a new favorite Steve: President Donald Trump once affectionately called them my two Steves, a reference not only to their ideological kinship but to their central role in his administration. But while Steve Bannon is on the ropes in Trumps fractious White House, Stephen Miller has managed to endear himself to the man emerging as the presidents most indispensable adviser: son-in-law Jared Kushner.

As the relationship between Kushner and Bannon has deteriorated, Miller has made sure his colleagues know hes not on Bannons team. In interviews, seven White House officials described the emerging dynamics. The 31-year old speechwriter is now working closely with Kushners Office of American Innovation, as well as on family leave, childcare and womens issues with Kushners wife Ivanka Trump, according to several people involved. http://politi.co/2oG2qYD

-- WAPOS DAMIAN PALETTA on GARY COHN: Within Trumps inner circle, a moderate voice captures the presidents ear: In a White House short on experienced personnel, Cohn has found an edge by hiring two dozen policy experts, most with government experience. His team produced detailed proposals on overhauling the tax code, rebuilding infrastructure, cutting back financial regulations and restructuring international trade deals. He is widely considered a future candidate to be chief of staff.

While friends say he loves his new job, they say Cohn also holds the traditions of Washington in low regard. At a recent dinner with friends in New York, he called Washington a s---show, according to a person familiar with the exchange.

Cohn has not tried to shirk his past at Goldman Sachs or hide his lavish lifestyle. He recently had drinks at the Four Seasons with Goldman Sachs chief executive Lloyd Blankfein, and shortly after the failure of the House GOP health-care legislation, he went on vacation in the Bahamas. http://wapo.st/2p2v6Mt

THE MILLION-DOLLAR QUESTION -- If Trump Fired Bannon, Would He Seek Revenge? by Ben Schreckinger: http://politi.co/2obCelm

POMPEO COMING OUT HOT -- Pompeo mocks microwave surveillance claims, by Nolan McCaskill: CIA Director Mike Pompeo on Thursday mocked those who fear intelligence officials conduct surveillance through microwaves, saying the agency tries to ignore such claims. While White House counselor Kellyanne Conway suffered blowback last month when she suggested microwaves could be deployed as surveillance devices, the CIA said later Thursday that Pompeo was not directly referencing Conway's controversial comments. http://politi.co/2nLJlVE

-- CIA director labels WikiLeaks a hostile intelligence service, by Martin Matishak. http://politi.co/2oy6j1b

BOB BARNETT PROFILE -- Can Washingtons Original Dealmaker Survive Trump? by Annie Karni: The churn between presidential administrations is typically the sweet spot for Bob Barnett, the Washington superlawyer who likes to describe himself as the doorman to the revolving door. Outgoing White House officials, from the president on down, are ready to cash in with book deals, sign with speaker bureaus, become paid contributors on cable networks and negotiate potential corporate board and employment opportunities. And Barnettfamous for charging his $1,250 hourly rate, rather than the 10 to 15 percent commission that literary and talent agents typically take off the top -- has been Washington D.C.s go-to dealmaker for this kind of work for four decades.

But the Obama and Clinton book deals are being viewed by people in the publishing and agenting business as potentially something of a Barnett swan song. His old-school tacticsa multimillion-dollar book deal for an outgoing government official, coupled with a launch on 60 Minutes or one of the Sunday shows -- seem out of sync in the age of Trump, a former reality show star who reverse-engineered his presidency by starting with the lucrative book, the branding and the television deals and then worked his way into the Oval Office. http://politi.co/2oGbm02

THE JUICE

-- SHELDON AND MIRIAM ADELSON gave Sen. Ted Cruzs victory committee $10,400 each, according to a campaign finance report released yesterday.

-- TOM DONILON resigned from Deltas board due to other commitments, according to an SEC filing earlier this week. Mr. Donilon has not advised Delta of any disagreement with Delta on any matter relating to Deltas operations, policies or practices.

-- SAMANTHA POWER, who most recently served as the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, has been named to a joint faculty appointment as the Anna Lindh Professor of the Practice of Global Leadership and Public Policy at Harvard Kennedy School and Professor of Practice at Harvard Law School. For the upcoming academic year, she will also be a Fellow at the Radcliffe Institute for Advanced Study.

-- THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTERS New York media party. http://bit.ly/2oGszqd ... Slideshow with 78 photos http://bit.ly/2oGszqd

PHOTO DU JOUR: An axe being presented to first responders from the I-85 bridge collapse in Atlanta rests on a table during a meeting with President Donald Trump in the Roosevelt Room in the White House on April 13. | Andrew Harnik/AP Photo

PAGING JEFF SESSIONS -- Rift opens between the Brown administration and legislators over new marijuana laws in California, by L.A. Times Patrick McGreevy: A proposal by the Brown administration to revise marijuana laws in California is drawing backlash from lawmakers and police chiefs who say it would repeal rules approved by the Legislature two years ago and benefit the pot industry over the public. Gov. Jerry Brown wants to merge medical marijuana regulations approved by the Legislature in 2015 with standards set by Proposition 64, an initiative approved in November by California voters that legalizes the sale of cannabis for recreational use. http://lat.ms/2obHDZI

COMMONWEALTH WATCH -- How Donald Trump Blew Up the Virginia Governors Race: The Democratic primary was teed up for Ralph Northam, then he got a surprise opponent who wants to make it a referendum on the soul of the party, by Kevin Robillard in his Politico Magazine debut, filing from Fairfax, Virginia: On the campaign trail [Tom Perriello has sounded] like he was running against Trump, frequently calling his GOP presidential campaign viciously racist and pledging to make Virginia a firewall against Trump.

Perriellos attacks, combined with a bank of goodwill with the former Obama administration, turned the one-term legislator into the darling of the D.C. establishment and earned him profiles in the Huffington Post, Yahoo!, and FiveThirtyEight. He has received the endorsement of seemingly the entire Obama-era White House staff, including Dan Pfeiffer, Neera Tanden, David Plouffe and John Podesta, who says Perriello is offering a blueprint for the future of the party. Last week, he got the backing of the father of the populist progressive moment in Democratic politics: Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders. http://politi.co/2pdO3eS

WHAT JAMIE DIMON IS READING -- J.P. Morgan, Citi Score Big Gains, but Shareholders Want More, by WSJs Peter Rudegeair, Telis Demos and Emily Glazer: Some of the nations largest banks warned Thursday that the benefits investors anticipated from rising interest rates and the election of Donald Trump as president arent panning out quite as quickly as many had hoped. While bank stocks surged in the wake of Mr. Trumps surprise election victory, they have slipped the past month as investors grow more doubtful about whether broad measures like lending growth and profitability will catch up with loftier valuations. http://on.wsj.com/2pAcwri

****** A message from UC Davis: Ranked first in the world for veterinary medicine, UC Davis believes collaborating across disciplines in animal, human and environmental health is the best way to advance the health of all creatures great and small. Using this One Health approach to problem solving, our research much of which is federally funded is resulting in cost-saving, translatable treatments for cancer, breakthroughs in stem cell therapy, increased awareness and management of emerging zoonotic diseases, better protection for endangered species, and comprehensive responses to environmental crises like oil spills and floods. Learn more about UC Davis health innovation at 21stcentury.ucdavis.edu. ******

HMM Trumps Lawyer Cant Account For $350,000 He Was Accused Of Mishandling: In 1999, Michael Cohen, now the presidents personal lawyer, cashed a $350,000 check from an NHL hockey player. He was supposed to give the money to a woman in South Florida. He didnt, and says he doesnt remember anything about it. To this day, the money is missing, by BuzzFeeds Anthony Cormier. http://bzfd.it/2oxPlAg

BEYOND THE BELTWAY -- Sexual Abuse at Choate Went On for Decades, School Acknowledges, by NYTs Elizabeth A. Harris: Choate Rosemary Hall, the elite Connecticut boarding school, said on Thursday that at least 12 former teachers had sexually molested -- and, in at least one case, raped -- students in a pattern of abuse dating to the 1960s. ... The parents of a Choate student complained to the school in the early 1980s after their daughter contracted herpes from an English teacher. And in another case, the report describes a students rape on a school trip to Costa Rica. None of the teachers actions were reported to the police. In some cases, teachers were allowed to resign after being confronted with evidence of misconduct, and administrators wrote letters of recommendations for teachers who were fired. Choate, in Wallingford, Conn., is a blue-blooded school whose alumni include President John F. Kennedy and his brother Joseph P. Kennedy Jr. http://nyti.ms/2osU18R

--FLASHBACK: Boston Globe spotlight team, May 6, 2016, Private schools, painful secrets: More than 200 victims. At least 90 legal claims. At least 67 private schools in New England. This is the story of hundreds of students sexually abused by staffers, and emerging from decades of silence today. http://bit.ly/2pApN37

REMEMBERING DAN ROONEY -- Pittsburgh Post-Gazettes Ed Bouchette: Dan Rooney, who succeeded his father and Steelers founder, Art Sr., as team president and rose to become one of the most powerful and beloved owners in sports, died Thursday at the age of 84. Born Daniel Milton Rooney, he was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2000, making the Rooneys only the second father-son combination to be enshrined. Under his leadership since the late 1960s, the Steelers transformed from lovable losers into a Super Bowl dynasty in the 1970s and remain among the most successful and popular franchises in the game. ... He fought to give more opportunities for minority coaches to ascend in the NFL, an effort that prompted the adoption of what is known as the Rooney Rule, which requires teams to interview at least one minority coach in the process of hiring a head coach. http://bit.ly/2oeC5Nz

SPOTTED: Mark McKinnon in Mansfield, Texas, Thursday for Rep. Joe Bartons town hall with his show The Circus. Former President of the World Bank and Deputy Secretary of Defense in the Bush administration, Paul Wolfowitz yesterday getting out of a cab heading into the Reagan Building -- pic http://politi.co/2oGi9a0 ... Evan McMullin on foot, crossing 14th on G Street, NW, mere blocks from the White House. So close, yet so far... ... Former Defense Secretary Ash Carter, on the NYC-to-DC Acela in business class, with a protection detail.

SPOTTED last night at the MPAA for Carol Meltons screening of HBOs Veep in advance of Sundays debut of its sixth season (trailer: http://bit.ly/2pAI6F4): Tammy Haddad, Tim McBride, Dorothy Kosinski, Cathy Merrill Williams, Rita Braver and Bob Barnett, Didem Nisanci and Bruce Andrews, Bobby Haft, Lisa Barclay, Steve Clemons, Virginia Coyne, Todd Harris and Ieva Augstums, Annie Linskey, Garance Franke-Ruta, Doug Heye, Ryan Williams, Jonathan Capehart and Nick Schmit, Shelby Coffey, Jeffrey Herbst, David Chalian, Ruth Marcus, Jeremy Peters, Betsy Fischer Martin, Gail MacKinnon, Kelley McCormick, Robin Goldman and Kevin Cirilli

SUNDAY SO FAR NBCs Meet the Press: Homeland Security Secretary John Kelly Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) Sen. Jack Reed (D-R.I.) Religion roundtable: Pastor JoAnn Hummel Bishop T.D. Jakes Rabbi David Saperstein. Panel: Mark Leibovich, Heather McGhee, Andrea Mitchell, former Sen. John Sununu (R-N.H.)

--CBS Face the Nation: David McCullough. Religion panel: Rod Dreher, Russell Moore, Abigail Pogrebin, Father James Martin ... Political panel: David Ignatius, Amity Shlaes, David Nakamura, Jamelle Bouie ... A discussion on chiefs of staff and the presidency: Ken Duberstein, Denis McDonough, Chris Whipple

--Fox News Sunday: Power Player: opera singer Renee Fleming. Panel: Michael Needham, Bob Woodward, Jennifer Griffin, Gillian Turner

--CNNs State of the Union: Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.). Panel: Bakari Sellers, Rep. Mia Love (R-Utah), Jason Kander, Bill Kristol

--CNNs Inside Politics, hosted by John King: Julie Pace, Jonathan Martin, Abby Phillip, Manu Raju

WELCOME TO THE WORLD Nick Yaeger, managing director at POLITICO Focus, and Mandy Yaeger have welcomed Luke Michael Yaeger and Hayley Rose Yaeger. They join big brother Hunter (3) and Ella (6). Pic http://bit.ly/2pe3weK

BIRTHWEEK (was yesterday): CNNs Kyle Blaine (hat tip @KFile) ... CNNs Nathaniel Meyersohn turned 24 ... (was Tuesday): Meredith LeBlond Friedman

BIRTHDAY OF THE DAY: Carly Zakin, co-founder and co-CEO of theSkimm how shes celebrating: I am the queen of last minute trips. So planning on going to a currently undecided beach. Next year, I will be better at planning things. Read her Playbook Plus Q&A: http://politi.co/2pAn75z

BIRTHDAYS: Nick Merrill Garrett Haake, an NBC and WUSA alum, is 32, celebrating by getting married to Sara Murray in a week in Austin -- he starts as a Washington correspondent at MSNBC the day after his honeymoon (h/t Ryan Williams) Joe Rospars, founder and CEO at Blue State Digital and Obama for America alum ... Steve Glickman, co-founder and executive director at Economic Innovation Group and Obama alum (h/ts Jon Haber) ... Betsy Stewart, VP at Business Roundtable and a Boehner alum Sasha Issenberg, who writes for Monocle and Bloomberg Politics and is a sushi guru and the pride of Larchmont, N.Y., is 37 ... Politico rising star Megan Swiatkowski (h/t POLITICO comms team) ... Politicos Ashley Gold ... CRC Public Relations SVP Keith Appell, a long-suffering Mets fan ... Robert M. Mike Duncan, former RNC chair and president and CEO of the American Coalition for Clean Coal Electricity best darned pollster in New Hampshire Rich Killion APs Eileen Sullivan Anna Van Meter ... Yahoo News Kaye Foley ... WaPos Matt Zapotosky Amy Brundage, SVP of SKDKnickerbocker ... Adam Hodge, VP at SKDKnickerbocker, is 35 (h/ts Kelley McCormick) ... Treasury alum Stephanie Ma, now an MA student at SAIS Ellie Wallace Adam Levine, managing editor of CNNs Washington Bureau ... Results for America co-founder and COO David Medina ... CNN video producer Brenna Williams, celebrating by working for the digital team on First Street before heading off to a date at Fiola Mare with boyfriend Jake Wilkins (h/t Jake) ... Noha Georges, chief marketing officer at Deloitte Advisory...

... Neil Sroka, comms. director at Democracy for America Rep. David Valadao (R-Calif.) is 4-0 ... Shola Farber, co-founder of Tuesday Strategies, which works to increase millennial voter turnout and civic engagement ... media executive Shari Redstone is 63 ... Baltimore-born film, television and theatre producer (and uncle of Irene Sherman) Marc Platt is 6-0 (h/ts Jewish Insider) ... Mark Bryant ... Elizabeth Gore Caleb Jones Jorge Castro, founder and principal of Castro Strategies LLC and an IRS and Jay Rockefeller alum ... Bloombergs Emma Angerer ... Liz Fossett Elizabeth A. Terrell, senior consultant at Deloitte Digital in Sydney John Gauthier of Davis Polk ... Ashok Pinto ... political junkie Stephen Groves ... New Hampshires third senator, Joel Maiola, senior advisor at McLane GPS and a Judd Gregg alum Anne Eisenhower Facebooks Dipayan Ghosh, an Obama WH alum, is 29 ... CNBCs Thomas Anderson Jeff Schogol of Marine Corps Times Ray McAllister Mark Bryant ... Laura Keehner Rigas ... Christopher Lupke ... Frederick Eaton ... Ashley Blayne Candy ... Daniel Freedman ... David Humphreville, the host of the fabulous yearly Christmas shopping party in NYC ... Suzy Hemauer (h/ts Teresa Vilmain) ... Blake Androff, executive director of the House DPCC (h/t Legistorm) Pete Rose is 76 ... Brad Garrett is 57 ... Adrien Brody is 44 ... Sarah Michelle Gellar is 4-0 ... Abigail Breslin is 21 (h/ts AP)

****** A message from UC Davis: Ranked first in the world for veterinary medicine, UC Davis believes collaborating across disciplines in animal, human and environmental health is the best way to advance the health of all creatures great and small. Using this One Health approach to problem solving, our research much of which is federally funded is resulting in cost-saving, translatable treatments for cancer, breakthroughs in stem cell therapy, increased awareness and management of emerging zoonotic diseases, better protection for endangered species, and comprehensive responses to environmental crises like oil spills and floods. Learn more about UC Davis health innovation at 21stcentury.ucdavis.edu. ******

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Driving the Day - Politico

Nichole Dobo, The (Wilmington, Del.) News Journal 11:41 a.m. ET Feb. 5, 2014

Dr. Nancy Brady at Animal Haven Veterinary Center takes blood from Grover, a 4 year-old German Shepherd, while he is held by vet technician Savannah Haines, before they harvested fat tissue for a stem cell replacement procedure on Tuesday, Feb. 4, 2014.(Photo: Jennifer Corbett, The Wilmington, Del., News Journal)

Grover loves to play fetch.

But five months ago, while chasing a ball outside, the 4-year-old German shepherd blew out one of his back knees. He showed up with a limp at Animal Haven Veterinary Center in Bear, where he received treatment that helped, but he still had pain.

His owner, John Przybyliski, wanted a better outcome for his best friend. So, on Tuesday, Dr. Nancy Brady infused Grover's joint with stem cells she had extracted from his own fat tissue earlier in the day the first such procedure in Delaware to use an in-house stem cell treatment developed by a Kentucky-based company called MediVet America.

The cost: $2,249.

"It is financially a burden to us, because I am retired, but if this will help him, it will be worth every penny," said Przybyliski, who lives near New Castle.

The treatment is among a growing number of options for pet owners who more and more are willing to pay thousands of dollars to ease the pain of their furry family members, or improve their quality of life.

Supporters of stem cell therapy in pets say there is a growing body of evidence that supports the treatment in both humans and animals. Researchers continue to develop techniques and uses for stem cells, and experts say there is still more to learn.

"We figured, boy, if they can do that for human beings, it would be great if we could get that for him," Przybyliski said. "He's a young dog, and he had a lot of life to go out and play."

It's too soon to tell how the treatment will work on Grover.

"It's a means of providing compassionate care," Brady said of her practice's new service, which differs from another available in the state because it is performed in-house.

At Animal Haven, the treatment costs between $1,800 and $2,500, depending on the animal's size.

Another company, California-based Vet-Stem Inc., has been working with vets in Delaware to provide stem cell therapy since 2009. It is offered in about six places in the state, including Talleyville Veterinary Hospital, which charges from $3,000 to $5,000 for the treatment, which includes storing the extra stem cells for a year.

The two companies offer different methods for processing stem cells found in an animal's fat. MediVet provides a procedure that allows vets to process the fat in their office and complete the treatment in one trip. With Vet-Stem, the cells are sent overnight to a laboratory in California.

(Photo: Jennifer Corbett, The Wilmington, Del., News Journal)

Dr. Kathryn Stoltzfus, chief of staff at the Talleyville animal hospital, performed a stem cell treatment on an 8-year-old dog about four months ago, in hopes of easing his arthritis and irritable bowl syndrome. Since then, she said, the animal has shown some improvement.

"We were trying something to help him, and I think it did help him," Stoltzfus said. "He's improved significantly enough that he's able to do more physical therapy.

"In the end, the owners were happy."

But, Stoltzfus said, it is important to manage expectations. There is more data, for example, to suggest the stem cells would help with arthritis than irritable bowl syndrome. Pet owners should not expect stem cells to act as a magic bullet, she said.

Stoltzfus chose to go with Vet-Stem because she believes it provides better assurance in the measured level of stem cells provided in the treatments.

The FDA has not yet approved stem cell treatments for animals. The federal agency is working on writing guidance on it, said FDA spokeswoman Juli Putnam.

"The use of stem cells in veterinary medicine is a burgeoning field of study and technology," she said. "Many of these products meet the definition of a 'drug,' and the FDA's goal is to ensure that these products, like other drugs, are safe and effective."

For Grover, the stems cells were an alternative to a surgery that would have given the dog a "bionic knee," Brady said, an invasive procedure that would have cost $2,500 to $4,500 and needed a longer recovery time.

Przybyliski said the price and shorter turnaround time were what led him to choose stem cells over surgery.

"We didn't think we could keep him down long enough to heal," Przybyliski said.

When Grover arrived for treatment Tuesday, the first step was drawing some blood. That was put into a machine to separate platelets, which would be used later in the process. Next, Grover was placed on an operating table and sedated. Brady made a 2-inch incision in his shoulder and extracted fat from beneath the skin.

I don't think that animals should be less behind the curve. If we can do it in people, we can do it in animals, too.

Veterinary technician Sharyn Krueger worked with a MediVet representative, who was there to conduct training, to extract stem cells from Grover's fat. This involved chopping up the fat, treating it with an enzyme and placing it in a special machine. This happened on a countertop in the same room where Grover had been operated on moments earlier.

About two hours later, the stem cells were injected in Grover's knee, and he received an IV infusion of the stem cells. He might need more injections, Brady said, and leftover stem cells will be kept for future check-ups. The expectation is Grover will see benefits in two to four weeks, but it could take longer.

Some owners of a pet with a knee injury like Grover's might want to choose surgery over stem cells, and Brady supports that, too. She believes in providing options that give pet owners the choice.

For some pets, however, surgery might not be an option. The stem cells might be a last choice for a pet owner whose animal is suffering so much that euthanasia is being considered, Brady said.

Offering the treatment in animals at United States veterinary offices comes as more humans are seeking stem cell procedures abroad that are not yet approved here.

"I don't think that animals should be less behind the curve," Stoltzfus said. "If we can do it in people, we can do it in animals, too."

Read or Share this story: http://usat.ly/1jfOVpW

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Pet Stem Cell Therapy - usatoday.com

What happens to my pet when they come in for stem cell therapy?

First, your vet will put your pet under general anesthetic. Then, he/she will make a small incision and collect 2-4 tablespoons of fat (either in the belly or behind the shoulder blades). MediVet provides on-site training for each clinic that brings on Stem Cell treatments; the process ensures your pets cells will be isolated and activated in a proper manner.

The surgical time requiring anesthesia is typically less than 30 minutes. The cells are isolated, activated and re-administered on site so that your animal can go home same day.

What is the recovery period, and how long does it take to see results?

We recommend that the patient be limited to activity within the first 10 days. It is likely your pet will be feeling good and want to exert themselves, however we recommend limiting physical activity so the cells have the ability to work to repair injuries. Improvements are typically seen within the first two weeks and continue improve over the next few months. Veterinarians report responses from initial treatments lasting 18-24 months. Rehabilitation Schedule.

MediVets patented stem cell procedure allows your vet to isolate stem cells from your animals own fat tissue, activate them, and reintroduce them directly into the damaged areas all in one visit. The goal of this revolutionary procedure is to provide a potent anti-inflammatory effect promoting cartilage and other tissue regeneration ultimately creating a healthier environment for the affected area. Most importantly, its an all-natural approach to healing without the adverse side effects. One example, in the case of arthritis, stem cells can become new cartilage cells, thus reducing pain and increasing mobility.

How long does a treatment last? What happens if my pet starts having trouble again?

We typically see about 18-24 months of relief after the initial treatment and even longer when treatment is sought at earlier stages. Most pet owners chose to bank cells, so re-treatment is easy and cost effective. MediVet has banking facilities in Kentucky, Australia and Europe. If symptoms return, your vet merely requests a dose of cells from the bank, and injects them. No surgery is necessary.

How long has this been available?

Stem cell therapy for animals has been commercially available since 2004. MediVet pioneered in-clinic treatment options around 2010 and has now successfully treated thousands of animals globally.

What is so great about Stem Cell Therapy?

Stem cells treat the source of the problem by becoming new tissue replacing damaged tissue. Other treatments, such as NSAIDs, merely attempt to reduce symptoms. The treatment is very low risk, because it uses the animals own stem cells. With MediVets technology in a recent study conducted by four independent Veterinarians over 95% of animals treated show improvement. For pet owners, there are two main advantages to MediVet.

155 Canine Study

What conditions do you treat?

Our typical patient has osteoarthritis (hip dysplasia, degenerative joint disease, calcifications, common degeneration and inflammation), soft tissue injuries (cruciate injuries, tears, ruptures, inflammation), or needs accelerated healing of fractures. We know a lot about these conditions, and over 95% of these patients get better, with MediVets Stem Cell Therapy.We also treat other cases under compassionate use. We know less about these conditions, but are seeing some exciting results. Some of those conditions are: degenerative myelopathy, feline gingivitis, end-stage renal disease, liver and kidney failure, allergy, auto-immune, inflammatory bowel disease, pulmonary fibrosis, IMHA, atopy, and spine trauma. Please talk to your vet if you have questions about any of these conditions or would like to submit your animal for a compassionate use trial.

Is it safe?

Yes, this procedure is very safe. The biggest risk as in any surgical procedure is using anesthetic, to remove the fat tissue. On a typical dog, Veterinarians report this procedure is easier than a spay. The fat is collected in about 20 minutes by your vet. Processing the sample is done carefully by a highly trained Vet tech carefully trained by MediVet. In the thousands of animals treated, we have not observed any significant negative side-effects from MediVets stem cell therapy.

KSU Study Double blind placebo controlled study of Osteoarthritis model

UK Study The only validated independent comparative analysis done of MediVets Stem Cell Therapy Procedure (Stromal Vascular Fraction (SVF)

KSU Study Double blind controlled study of Atopic Dermatitis using MediVets Stem Cell Therapy Procedure (Stromal Vascular Fraction therapy (21 dogs)

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Why Stem Cell Therapy for Pets? | MediVet Biologics

By Cindy Dian / Correspondent

EUSTIS Marie Zaman's German shepherd therapy dog, Jesse, was only 6 years old when she developed a spinal infection.

Zaman could not afford all the treatments, so fundraisers were held and she was able to raise enough for traditional treatment, acupuncture and stem-cell replacement therapy. Unfortunately, Zaman ultimately had to make the hardest decision of her life and end Jesses suffering.

Sadly, nothing was working, she said. But I am so thankful to the community for trying all they could to help her. So many people got involved that they created this organization in honor of Jesse, to help other dogs in difficult situations get back to being therapy dogs.

That organization, Jesse's Fund for Therapy Dogs, helps injured therapy dogs so they can continue to serve Lake County.The third annual Bark in the Park festival last Sunday in Eustis was held toraise money for the organization.

Between events like the dog-kissing contest, best trick and fastest ice cream eater, $870 was raised for the cause.

The main purpose for this event was to get the word out and let people know that we are here to help, President Leslie Lightbourne said. We are thrilled with the success, and we were even able to reach out to a person with a therapy dog who has a major illness and assist them with their treatment. We had a great time at the event and are excited to keep it going.

Zaman said it was an honor when she heard of the organizations decision but said it was very difficult telling her story and often times had to walk away to cry.

You get one special dog in a lifetime and she was the one, Zaman said. She loved people, visiting nursing homes and hospitals and made everyones life better. Im glad that this organization is focused on helping other dogs receive the help they need.

Zaman now has another therapy dog. It's the daughter of Jesse's sister, which she said reminds her a lot of Jesse.

With more than 300 registered therapy dogs in Lake County, the group has its work cut out for it. Funds are given on an individual basis if a therapy dog is injured or falls ill and requires medical attention. It does not include routine checkups, vaccinations or pest treatments.

For an application and guidelines, go to http://www.facebook.com/JessesFund or email JessesFundTherapyDogs@gmail.com.

Therapy dogs can touch so many lives in their lifetime, Lightbourne said. We simply want to help them so they can continue to provide love and comfort to our community.

Follow this link:
Jesse's Fund helps Lake's sick, injured therapy dogs - Daily Commercial

Photos courtesy ofLong Beach Animal Hospital (LBAH)

Corneal ulcers, which are open sores on the cornea that can be caused by bacterial or viral infection, need antibiotics to control the infection and let the cornea heal. These antibiotics come in the form of drops or ointment. They are given at least two or three times every day until the cornea is completely healed and there is no update in the fluorescein dye test used to identify foreign bodies in the eye. This same medication lubricates and protects the cornea.

Corneal ulcers are painful because of the sensitive nerve endings in the eye. Ulcers also cause the iris to spasm, adding to the pain. Topical atropine medication is put into the eye to relax the iris muscle and greatly reduce the pain. Occasionally, oral-pain medication is used to control the pain.

This is conjunctivitis, an inflammation of the tissues surrounding the eye. The cause can be minor or major, but an eye that looks like this one needs to be checked and treated immediately.

Topical cortisone, a great medication to minimize the conjunctivitis that is sometimes associated with a corneal ulcer, should not be used in most cases until the fluorescein dye indicates the ulcer is healed. Doing so might delay the healing of the cornea.

The use of an Elizabethan collaryou may know them as e-collarsis necessary to prevent self-trauma while the eye is healing, since rubbing or scratching at the eye can make it worse. It should stay on until the eye is completely healed.

Fortunately, most superficial corneal ulcers heal well with the consistent use of eye medication and the prevention of trauma with an e-collar. Some ulcers do not heal and get worse, possibly resulting in erosion all the way through the eye. This known as a descemetocele, a serious condition consisting of an erosion passing through the levels of the eye structure to the Descemet's membrane, the innermost level of the eye (see Anatomy of the Corneain the previous The Vet Is In). This eye is at risk for complete penetration of the ulcer into the eye and subsequent rupture of the fluid of the eye to the outside, with complete loss of the eye.

The cloudy cornea on this cats right eye is the result of an untreated corneal ulcer.

If a corneal ulcer is not healing, additional therapy is needed. Dead corneal tissue along the edges can be removed with a cotton swab and special disinfectant. Most of the time, this can be accomplished with just a topical anesthetic. When this does not work, a conjunctival flap can be utilized. In this procedure, a tiny piece of the conjunctivathe mucous membrane covering the front of the eye and lining the inside of the eyelidswith blood supply still intact, can be placed over the ulcer using fine sutures.

Additional treatment involves the use of topical autologous serum. This serum, which comes from the bloodstream, can counteract the enzymes from the inflammatory process that is dissolving the cornea.

Corneal stem cells have been used with some success in humans but are not yet used in veterinary medicine. These more advanced treatments are usually performed by a veterinary ophthalmologist.

Immediate treatment for any eye problem in animals is important. Do not delay an exam if your pet has any symptoms of squinting, redness, discharge or rubbing of the eye. There may or may not be an ulcer present, but animals with irritated eyes tend to do a lot of rubbing and scratching, and might cause a corneal ulcer. Its best to treat the problem before it gets to the corneal ulcer stage.

More here:
Eye Problems in Dogs and CatsTreatment of Corneal Ulcers - Long Beach Post

The Weston Brain Institute has allocated more than $30 million in funding for Canadian research projects onneurodegenerative diseases of aging.

The lack of treatments for neurodegenerative diseases of aging, including Alzheimers and Parkinsons, has been called the biggest unmet need in modern medicine, saysAlexandra Stewart, executive director at the Weston Brain Institute, in a release. The funding weve committed to these incredible Canadian scientists focuses on projects with the potential to make the greatest impact in this field.

The funding is a part of the larger $100 million announced in 2016 by the Weston Brain Institute for high-risk, high-reward translational research projects with the potential to help speed up the development of treatments for neurodegenerative diseases of aging.

The institute grants through a number of programs, enabling researchers to receive funding and support based on the stage of the project and funding needed. This announcement highlights the more than $30 million directly granted since 2012 toward its Early Phase Clinical Trials, Rapid Response, Transformational Research, and targeted programs. This brings the total funds allocated to date for Canadian researchers to more than $45 million.

The Institutes Scientific Advisory Committee provides guidance to the Institute regarding overall strategy, program development, and program design. Grantees are selected by committees composed of these advisors plus additional experts selected based on the applications under discussion. Both these groups are comprised of world-class international researchers.

The Early Phase Clinical Trials Program (up to $1.7 million) supports Phase I and IIa clinical trials. This is an innovative funding opportunity whereby applicants have optional access to clinical trials design experts to help improve their study designs. Grantees include:

The Rapid Response Program (up to $200,000) provides seed funding for novel projects. This program runs with the quickest granting process to enable researchers to promptly explore high-risk, high-reward ideas and catalyze future projects. Grantees include:

The Transformational Research Program (up to $1.5 million) supports high-potential, larger, longer projects with excellent preliminary data. Grantees include:

Targeted programs provide support for outstanding translational research in ALS, frontotemporal dementia (FTD) and progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP). Given these diseases share related pathologies, work here is likely to advance research in other neurodegenerative diseases of aging. Grantees include:

See the rest here:
Weston Brain Institute Awards $30 Million+ in Grants to Fight Diseases of Aging - Sleep Review

Science Daily

Fish study shows important genome interactions in animal cells Science Daily In a new study, researchers at the University of Miami (UM) Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science examined how the interaction of two genomes in animal cells -- the mitochondrial and nuclear genomes -- interact to affect adaptation of the ...

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Fish study shows important genome interactions in animal cells - Science Daily

Science Daily

How cells react to injury from open-heart surgery: Research ... Science Daily Investigators have learned how cardiac muscle cells react to a certain type of injury that can be caused by open-heart surgery. The findings point to a new ... and more »

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How cells react to injury from open-heart surgery: Research ... - Science Daily