Science & Technology

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NYC-Based Bilt Expands Into Sports With $300M Deal

Bilt is entering the professional sports loyalty market through its $300 million acquisition of LAVA, a technology company serving 56 franchises across major American sports leagues. The transaction connects Bilt's residential rewards network, which includes more than seven million members and 50,000 merchant partners, with technology used to manage fan engagement, memberships and personalized offers. LAVA's platform integrates with ticketing, payment and customer management systems, allowing sports organizations to provide benefits beyond stadium experiences. Bilt plans to incorporate these capabilities into its neighborhood commerce platform, potentially connecting team loyalty programs with restaurants, retailers and other businesses in surrounding communities.

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NYU Study Finds New Drug Reduces Cancer Death Risk

An international phase 3 clinical trial led by researchers at NYU Langone Health's Perlmutter Cancer Center found that sacituzumab tirumotecan, a targeted cancer drug, improved outcomes for patients with previously treated advanced or recurrent endometrial cancer. Among 776 women, those assigned to the drug had a 41% lower relative risk of disease progression and a 32% lower relative risk of death compared with patients receiving standard chemotherapy. Tumor responses occurred in 35.1% of patients receiving sacituzumab tirumotecan, compared with 17.3% in the chemotherapy group. The findings, scheduled for presentation October 26 and publication in The Lancet, could inform future treatment guidelines, although regulatory status and longer-term outcomes require clarification.

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Weill Cornell Gets $8.2M for Male Birth Control Pill

Weill Cornell Medicine has received an $8.2 million federal grant to advance an experimental male birth control pill designed to temporarily stop sperm from swimming. Led by pharmacology professors Dr. Jochen Buck and Dr. Lonny Levin, the four-year research project aims to develop an on-demand contraceptive that men could take approximately 30 minutes before sex, with effects lasting six to eight hours. Earlier preclinical research found that blocking an enzyme involved in sperm movement could prevent pregnancy in experimental models. The new funding will support drug formulation, manufacturing, safety studies and preparations for an initial human clinical trial. The pill is not approved for human use, and researchers must establish its safety and effectiveness before it could become a contraceptive option.

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NYC AI Jobs Institute Aims to Train 40,000 by 2032

As artificial intelligence changes the skills employers seek, New York is investing in ways for residents to enter technology careers without relying solely on traditional industry pathways. A new AI Jobs Institute in Long Island City will combine workforce training, employer connections and support for entrepreneurs, with a goal of reaching 40,000 New Yorkers by 2032. Operated by the nonprofit Pursuit, the initiative is backed by $10 million in public investment and partnerships spanning technology, finance, education and philanthropy. The Queens facility is expected to be fully occupied in mid-2027 and will also house a center focused on helping underrepresented entrepreneurs develop businesses. The initiative reflects growing efforts to connect technological change with economic opportunity.

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Columbia, Max Planck Launch $13.3M Fusion Center

Columbia University and Germany's Max Planck Institute for Plasma Physics announced a five-year, $13.3 million research partnership focused on advancing fusion energy science. The Max Planck Columbia Center, scheduled to begin work in 2027, will study plasma behavior and combine research involving tokamak and stellarator fusion technologies. Co-directed by Columbia Engineering professor Carlos Paz-Soldan and Max Planck director Thomas Klinger, the virtual center will support international exchanges for students and researchers. Columbia scientists will gain access to major experimental facilities in Germany, while the partnership will also create opportunities for collaboration with private fusion energy companies. The initiative aims to advance scientific understanding and help develop the next generation of fusion researchers.

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Brooke Shields Joins Mount Sinai Prostate Cancer PSA

Actress Brooke Shields has partnered with Mount Sinai Health System to direct and appear in a public service announcement encouraging families to discuss prostate cancer screening. The 30-second video uses humor before Shields shares her personal experience of losing her father, who had prostate cancer. The campaign coincides with Mount Sinai's launch of EXPAND-PC, a five-year, $4.2 million federally funded research project examining ways to improve screening access in underserved communities. Researchers plan to conduct a feasibility trial involving 240 men across eight New York City Housing Authority communities, supported by mobile screening services and education. Mount Sinai's broader screening initiative aims to encourage informed conversations with health care providers and improve access to follow-up care.

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NY Pediatric Data Breach Leads to $2.64M Settlement

New York Attorney General Letitia James and Connecticut Attorney General William Tong announced a settlement with Boston Children's Health Physicians and IT management company XTIUM following a 2024 cybersecurity breach that exposed sensitive information belonging to approximately 825,000 New York residents and 62,871 Connecticut residents. Investigators found that the pediatric health network failed to address known security weaknesses, including an unencrypted archive containing more than one million patient billing records. The companies agreed to pay $2.64 million in combined penalties, including $2.1 million to New York, and implement stronger cybersecurity protections. The breach exposed Social Security and driver's license numbers belonging to more than 170,000 New York residents, along with other personal, medical and financial information.

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NYC Invests $29.2M in NYU Quantum Technology Lab

New York City will award $29.2 million to New York University to establish a Quantum Fabrication Facility at 770 Broadway in Manhattan, backed by an additional $255 million commitment from NYU. Announced by Mayor Zohran Mamdani and the New York City Economic Development Corporation, the 23,000-square-foot facility is expected to open in 2030 and provide specialized equipment for quantum research, manufacturing and testing. The project is projected to support more than 100 companies and reach over 35,000 New Yorkers during its first decade. Planned partnerships with CUNY and New York City Public Schools will offer training and career pathways. Under the agreement, the city will also receive advisory board representation and a share of certain intellectual property proceeds.

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NYU Langone Opens Imaging Center on Upper West Side

NYU Langone Health has opened a 28,000-square-foot radiology center at 1980 Broadway on Manhattan's Upper West Side, expanding access to advanced diagnostic imaging services. The facility offers integrated PET/MR imaging for evaluating certain cancers and neurological conditions, advanced cardiac CT scans to assess the heart and blood vessels, and 3D mammography supported by artificial intelligence tools for breast cancer detection. Patients can also access additional imaging services interpreted by subspecialty-trained radiologists. The new location is connected to NYU Langone's electronic health records system, allowing patients to manage appointments and review health information through its mobile app and MyChart portal. The expansion brings multiple diagnostic services together in one neighborhood facility.