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LUMISTAR Launches CARRY on Kickstarter, Introducing an AI-Powered Basketball Training System

NEW YORK, July 7, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Basketball, as one of the world’s most widely played sports, continues to evolve across competition levels, participation scale, and training sophistication. From professional leagues to grassroots programs and individual players, the sport has developed into a global ecosystem that is constantly pushing performance boundaries.

LUMISTAR CARRY
LUMISTAR CARRY

In parallel, basketball training methodologies have evolved significantly, becoming more systematic, data-informed, and diverse. These advancements have played a key role in improving performance across all levels of the sport.

At the same time, improvements in training have further accelerated the development of basketball itself. As athletes train more efficiently and precisely, the game continues to advance in speed and complexity, forming a continuous cycle of mutual reinforcement between the sport and its training systems.

However, within this cycle lies a persistent structural constraint: unequal access to high-quality training resources and limited scalability of effective training environments.

In most real-world settings, sustained high-level training still depends heavily on external support, including coaches, rebound partners, and fully equipped facilities. As a result, training quality is often shaped by available resources rather than fully controlled by the individual.

This dependency creates a ceiling on training efficiency and accessibility, limiting the scalability of modern training methods and ultimately constraining the pace at which basketball training can evolve alongside the sport itself.

CARRY LAUNCHES ON KICKSTARTER

Against this backdrop, LUMISTAR today announced the official launch of CARRY on Kickstarter, marking the global debut of its AI-powered basketball training system.

CARRY is now live on Kickstarter with early-backer pricing starting at US$2,499, ahead of its planned retail price of US$4,999. Initial deliveries are expected to begin in Q4 2026.

THE TECHNOLOGY BEHIND CARRY

CARRY is designed to make high-intensity basketball training more accessible through real-time, vision-driven interaction.

Unlike traditional shooting machines that operate on fixed trajectories, CARRY integrates a quad-camera 4K vision system powered by a high-performance chip. This enables continuous tracking of player movement during training sessions, allowing the system to adjust passing direction and timing dynamically. It also responds to gesture-based inputs for drill control.

The system is designed to significantly increase training efficiency. According to LUMISTAR, completing 500 game-realistic shots can be reduced from approximately four hours in traditional setups to around 45 minutes using CARRY.

In addition, CARRY incorporates an AI Coach Report that processes more than 20 performance metrics, including shooting consistency, movement efficiency, release stability, and shot distribution patterns, translating them into structured feedback for skill development.

The system is portable and can be deployed in approximately 60 seconds, allowing structured training in a wide range of environments.

EARLY VALIDATION

CARRY underwent early testing with more than 300 users and professional athletes, including WNBA Champion Aerial Powers and former NBA player Derrick Brown, who provided feedback on its tracking and passing performance during training sessions.

The system made its public debut at CES 2026 in Las Vegas, where live demonstrations attracted attention from attendees and media outlets including CNET, Tom’s Guide, and FOX5 Las Vegas.

Following CES, LUMISTAR hosted a live on-court experience session in Los Angeles, where CARRY was tested in real training environments by basketball creators, coaches, and athletes.

Participants included NBA Skills Trainer Sean Marshall, former Drew League MVP Frank Nitty, and streetball legend Bone Collector.

LOOKING AHEAD

The Kickstarter campaign marks the first opportunity for basketball players and early adopters worldwide to access and support CARRY as it begins its global rollout.

LUMISTAR stated that it sees ongoing advancements in AI and robotics as contributing to new approaches in sports training, with the potential to expand access to structured practice for athletes at different levels.

Media Contact

Website: https://lumistar.ai/

Kickstarter: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1596816961/lumistar-carry-ai-quad-camera-basketball-training-partner

Email: yolanda.huang@lumistar.ai

SoftAtHome Brings prpl to Commercial Scale with Orange Wi-Fi 7 Deployments Across Europe

SoftAtHome has delivered the world’s first Wi-Fi 7 repeater built on a full prpl software stack, with deployments live at Orange in Poland and France and at least three further European markets to follow.

PARIS, July 7, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — SoftAtHome, the leading independent software provider for broadband, video and analytics, and a global leader in Smart Wi-Fi, today announced that its prpl-based Wi-Fi 7 repeater software is now deployed commercially across Orange in Europe.

To view the Multimedia News Release, please click: 
https://www.multivu.com/softathome/9408651-en-brings-prpl-commercial-scale-orange-wifi-7-deployments-across-europe

The deployment is a milestone for prpl, the open-source framework designed to provide operators with a common, hardware-independent, and operator-controlled software base for broadband devices. After years as an industry promise, prpl is now running in subscribers’ homes at Group scale, with Wi-Fi 7 as the catalyst.

Orange Poland launched the first such device in March 2026 as the Smartbox Wi-Fi 7. Orange France’s prpl-based Wi-Fi 7 repeater is now also live, with at least three further Orange European markets expected to follow. The work builds on earlier prpl deployments within Orange, including Orange Jordan, where SoftAtHome delivered prpl-based gateway software around a year ago.

SoftAtHome engineered the prpl stack to support differentiated requirements across Orange markets without building separate software for each country, showing that an open platform can carry operator-specific services and configurations while preserving a common base.

The repeaters run SoftAtHome’s Wifi’ON Smart Wi-Fi software on prpl. prpl provides a standardised hardware abstraction layer, allowing the same software stack to run across different chipset generations. SoftAtHome has contributed to prpl since the project’s early stages and has deployed prpl-based solutions with multiple operators.

Interoperability is based on prplMesh with EasyMesh inside. These open standards allow the repeaters to operate across Orange’s different gateway environments, without locking subscribers into a single vendor ecosystem. The software is compatible with Orange’s existing gateway installed base, allowing functioning equipment to remain in service. Where gateways support it, Wi-Fi 7 extends throughout the home; earlier-generation gateways can also benefit from Wi-Fi 7 connectivity.

Wifi’ON manages mesh topology dynamically. When several repeaters are active, the software automatically determines whether each unit should connect to the gateway or to another repeater, selecting the path that delivers the best connectivity quality. No subscriber configuration is required. In Poland, the Smartbox Wi-Fi 7 supports up to three units per household, extending coverage for larger and multi-storey homes.

SoftAtHome’s Eyes’ON analytics give Orange continuous visibility into Wi-Fi performance across the installed base. Together, Wifi’ON and Eyes’ON form SoftAtHome’s Wi-Fi software stack on the repeater, combining optimisation with observability.

The repeaters add Wi-Fi 7 capabilities, including lower latency, Multi-Link Operation, and seamless operation under a single SSID across Wi-Fi 5, Wi-Fi 6, and Wi-Fi 7 devices.

The hardware was also developed with sustainability in mind, including recycled plastics and a design that supports repair and refurbishment. Because the platform is open and software-based, Orange can continue to improve the subscriber’s experience through updates rather than hardware replacements.

“After the first worldwide deployment with Orange Jordan in 2025, a new step has been taken in the prpl journey” said Arnaud Bellivier de Prin, CEO of SoftAtHome. “Delivering the world’s first Wi-Fi 7 repeater on a full prpl stack and doing it at Orange scale across several European markets shows that operators can adopt an open platform, bring in new silicon partners and still preserve the seamless experience their subscribers expect. We are proud to reach this point alongside Orange.”

Contact:
Marta Twardowska for SoftAtHome – E: press@softathome.com – T: @SoftAtHome

 

SoftAtHome Brings prpl to Commercial Scale with Orange Wi-Fi 7 Deployments Across Europe
SoftAtHome Brings prpl to Commercial Scale with Orange Wi-Fi 7 Deployments Across Europe

 

 

 

 

StarCharge Releases Industry White Papers: From Infrastructure to Network Systems, Microgrids Moving from Customization to Scaling Up Development


CHANG ZHOU, CHINA – Media OutReach Newswire – 7 July 2026 – The global new energy vehicle market has seen rapid growth in recent years. With continued strong expectations for new energy vehicle exports, the global electric vehicle (EV) charging market is entering a new stage of rapid expansion. Recently, StarCharge, the global leading brand of EV Charging equipment and smart energy systems, held a major industry seminar in Hong Kong and released two new white papers at the event, exploring two major transformative trends in the industry that are worth paying attention to.

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Charging stations are becoming a key connection of smart energy systems

According to the ‘Technical White Paper’ by StarCharge, for years, EV charging infrastructure has mainly been seen as support for vehicle sales expansion: building more chargers, expanding coverage, and speeding up charging.

However, this role is starting to change.

As electrification scales up, charging networks are becoming a part of the energy system itself. They are no longer just places for vehicles to top up; they are evolving into smart energy nodes connecting vehicles, the grid, distributed energy, storage, and digital management.

This shift from charging infrastructure to charging network systems shows that the industry is moving from basic access to integrated value: from charging services to energy services, from standalone stations to PV-storage-charging systems, from equipment deployment to scenario-based infrastructure.

StarCharge believes that the future charging network ecosystem will go through four major turning points.

Four Key Points Reshaping the Ecosystem

1. Charging Networks Are Becoming Energy Infrastructure

Charging infrastructure is going beyond its original role as just a support for EVs. As EV adoption grows, charging networks are becoming strategic energy infrastructure: they connect mobility demand with the grid, distributed energy, storage, digital platforms, and future energy services.

2. Defining the Scenarios for the Network

The future charging network won’t be shaped by hardware alone. Policies determine whether infrastructure should be built, technology determines the speed of construction, but real-world scenarios determine what the charging network actually needs to look like.

Urban commuting, highway trips, ride-hailing, logistics fleets, county and rural coverage, holiday peak demand, heavy trucks, mining areas, ports, airports, and autonomous driving all create different charging needs. Therefore, a mature charging network can’t be ‘one-size-fits-all’; it has to be designed around different vehicle types, operating hours, power requirements, reliability needs, and grid conditions.

3. Digital platforms turn charging networks into operable assets

A large charging network only truly has value when it can be scaled, optimized, and managed. This is exactly the core role of cloud platforms. They turn millions of charging points, users, stations, transactions, and energy flows into a measurable, controllable, and continuously optimized operating system.

StarCharge’s platform capabilities cover site selection, pricing, marketing, station operations, smart maintenance, charging safety, station robots, AI-based smart charging, fleet management, energy optimization, and ESG reporting. In other words, digital platforms are the key to transforming charging infrastructure from a heavy-asset network into smart, operable, and scalable assets.

4. Charging stations are becoming grid-friendly energy resources

The next-generation charging infrastructure won’t be defined by any single technology. It will be built on a complete tech stack, combining high-power charging, liquid cooling, integrated PV-storage-charging, DC bus architecture, V2G, automated charging, and AI-driven operations. In other words, future charging stations shouldn’t just be passive electricity consumers that add stress to the grid. Through energy storage, renewable energy integration, V2G, smart scheduling, and AI-based energy optimization, charging stations can become grid-friendly energy resources.

This means that aside from charging vehicles, a charging station can absorb renewable energy, buffer peak loads, respond to demand-side signals, support peak shaving and valley filling, regulate frequency, and provide carbon-neutral ESG data for fleet operators. Its business model will also go beyond charging fees, creating new value through energy services, data services, carbon-related benefits, and grid interaction capabilities.

Microgrids Have Emerged at the Right Time

At the same time, with the continuous development of distributed energy and photovoltaic energy, microgrids have emerged at the right time. They are not just a product, but a local energy system built around real-world scenarios.

In the latest “White Paper” on scenario-based microgrid technology, StarCharge points out that microgrids are moving from customized engineering projects toward scalable, replicable energy systems.

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A microgrid is a scenario-based local energy system

According to StarCharge, a microgrid is not a single device, nor is it just an energy storage product. It’s a local energy system designed around the needs of a specific scenario, coordinating local generation, loads, storage, control, and operational strategies within a defined electrical boundary.

Moreover, depending on the scenario—such as data centers, individual charging stations, zero-carbon industrial parks, or green mines—the energy challenges are completely different. The right microgrid is defined by the scenario it serves.

The white paper also highlights four high-value paths: electricity-computing synergy, independent power supply, zero-carbon parks, and green mines. In areas with weak grids or limited grid access, microgrids ensure the operation of critical loads. In emerging load scenarios like data centers and industrial parks, microgrids support renewable energy integration, energy resilience, and cost optimization. In high-tech-demand scenarios like mines, microgrids become the foundation for ensuring production continuity, energy transition, and ESG competitiveness.

The three-stage evolution of microgrids

As power sources and loads become increasingly DC, microgrid architectures are evolving from AC-dominated systems to AC-DC hybrid systems, and eventually toward microgrids with a higher proportion of DC.

Microgrid 1.0 — dominated by AC architecture. It integrates renewable energy into the existing AC grid framework, but its control heavily relies on grid-following management and support from the external grid.

Microgrid 2.0 — the AC-DC hybrid stage. AC and DC buses coexist, allowing PV, storage, and DC loads to connect more directly. Bidirectional power hubs, solid-state transformers (SST), and energy routers become important bridges between AC and DC systems. This stage balances strong AC compatibility with higher DC efficiency and is expected to remain mainstream in the next 10-15 years.

Microgrid 3.0—it’s the era of DC microgrids. As solar PV, wind power, battery storage, data centers, LED lighting, and EV charging increasingly move toward DC, DC microgrids can reduce repeated AC-DC conversion losses, simplify control, and support millisecond-level responses.

This evolution is closely linked to the mission of microgrids: breaking through energy access bottlenecks, enabling sustainable development, connecting technology, industry, policy, market, and community needs, and unlocking the integrated value of local energy systems.

In the future, StarCharge will steadily expand into the growing global markets for new EVs and renewable energy, building on its smart energy systems that have been widely validated in the Chinese market.

Hashtag: #StarCharge

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

Instagram’s Originality Push Shows Why Multi-Account Teams Need Better Workflows

SINGAPORE, July 7, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — GeeLark, a cloud-phone platform for mobile-native social media operations, today commented on Instagram’s expanded originality policies and the growing impact these changes may have on social media teams managing multiple accounts.

Instagram has continued to increase its emphasis on original content across the platform. In late April 2026, the company expanded its policy around unoriginal content beyond Reels to include photos and carousels, limiting recommendation eligibility for accounts that primarily repost content they did not create or significantly modify. The change has been widely viewed as part of Instagram’s broader effort to prioritize original creators and reduce the reach of aggregator-style accounts.

The update comes at a time when social media teams, agencies, creators, and brand operators are already facing greater pressure to produce differentiated content across multiple accounts. For teams that have historically relied on reposting, light curation, or repeated content formats to maintain publishing volume, the shift raises the operational standard for what successful account management now requires.

At the same time, Instagram’s Live feature has also become less accessible to smaller accounts. Since 2025, Instagram has required users to have a public account with at least 1,000 followers to start a live broadcast, creating an additional threshold for early-stage creators and growing accounts that previously used Live as a way to build audience relationships.

Together, these changes point to a broader platform trend: social media growth is becoming less about volume alone and more about originality, account-level differentiation, and consistent mobile-native execution.

For social media professionals, the impact is practical. Content calendars that once depended on reposting or lightly edited assets now require more original production. Agencies managing multiple accounts can no longer rely on near-identical workflows across every profile. Smaller accounts must work harder to build visibility before they can access certain growth formats such as live streaming.

This shift also changes the role of operations. Managing many accounts well now requires workflows that let each account keep its own content strategy, publishing rhythm, and operating environment — not just a shared content calendar.

“Instagram’s originality push reflects a broader change across social platforms,” said Eleanor Xie, CMO at GeeLark. “Platforms are increasingly rewarding accounts that operate authentically and independently. For teams managing more than a handful of accounts, that means investing in better workflows and infrastructure — not just producing more content.”

GeeLark’s cloud-phone platform allows teams to manage Android cloud environments remotely, giving each account its own operating environment while supporting centralized oversight across accounts, campaigns, regions, or brands. Rather than relying only on browser dashboards or post-scheduling tools, teams can use these mobile-native environments to handle the full lifecycle of account operations — publishing, maintenance, profile updates, and campaign testing — directly from the apps these platforms are built around.


As Instagram continues to raise the bar for originality and account quality, GeeLark expects multi-account teams to place greater emphasis on differentiated workflows and mobile-native operations going forward.

About GeeLark

GeeLark is a cloud-phone platform designed for mobile-native operations. By providing Android cloud phone environments, RPA automation tools, and centralized device management capabilities, GeeLark helps marketers, agencies, developers, and businesses streamline social media workflows and manage multi-account operations more efficiently.

Learn more at www.geelark.com.

Apkudo unveils RSA: The first zero-touch automation system built for foldables, tablets, and modern device processing

Powered by Apkudo Device OS™, the compact physical AI system is the only system that automates cosmetic and functional inspection for complex device form factors without hardware reconfiguration

BALTIMORE, July 7, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Apkudo, the Device Passport™ Platform company, today announced the commercial launch of the Robotic Standalone Automation (RSA) appliance. Engineered by Alpha Automatics and available exclusively through Apkudo, RSA is the first automated processing solution capable of handling the full spectrum of modern device form factors, including flip devices, foldables, and tablets, without requiring hardware reconfiguration between operational runs. The system runs on Device OS, Apkudo’s foundational platform layer that enables an open ecosystem of robotics manufacturers to build, deploy, and operate advanced device processing solutions.

Image of RSA appliance on white background
Image of RSA appliance on white background

While consumer adoption of flexible screens continues to accelerate, driven by highly anticipated product cycles and 24% year-over-year growth in foldable shipments (Counterpoint Research), these form factors have simultaneously become among the fastest-growing and most operationally challenging segments in mobile returns. Manual handling of foldables and tablets introduces severe grading subjectivity, slows down warehouse processing throughput, and limits the depth of verified condition data available for downstream resale programs. This processing bottleneck affects participants throughout the reverse logistics ecosystem who lack access to standardized, high-volume automation designed for modern device shapes.

The RSA appliance solves these challenges by processing smartphones, tablets, and foldable devices on a single system for precise cosmetic and functional testing with no hardware or software reconfiguration between runs. It completely eliminates manual handling and operator subjectivity in device testing and analytics. The system uses advanced robotics, integrated torque sensors, and acoustic capture to deliver precise foldable diagnostics. For larger display surfaces like tablets, the system uses stitched high-resolution imaging to preserve per-pixel detail. Apkudo’s cosmetic Device AI™ models enable robust defect detection and are compliant with the CTIA 5.1 grading standard. All generated data automatically streams to the Apkudo Platform to populate a unique Device Passport.

“Being powered by Apkudo allowed us to apply our hardware engineering expertise to an intricate industry challenge,” said Charles Xie, CEO of Alpha Automatics. “The RSA appliance provides the structural precision required to handle modern, flexible form factors safely and efficiently, creating a zero-touch compact system that integrates seamlessly into existing physical workflows.”

“RSA brings the same physical AI precision the Apkudo platform delivers for standard devices to the form factors that have historically challenged the reverse logistics industry,” said Josh Matthews, CEO and Co-Founder of Apkudo. “By using Device OS as our platform software layer, we can empower hardware innovators like Alpha Automatics to help the industry solve the foldable and tablet segment at scale, giving operators absolute data veracity without the high operational costs of manual workflows.”

Designed for straightforward deployment, the system fits through standard industrial doorways and processes up to 30 devices per hour. This agile footprint makes the unit excellent for smaller regional sellers processing as few as 5,000 units per month who want to introduce automation without major warehouse layout overhauls. Simultaneously, mid- and large-sized return centers can link multiple units, conveyor to conveyor, to scale capacity incrementally as volumes grow. High-volume centers can deploy the system as a specialized standalone workcell, extending automated diagnostics to complex device types that legacy point solutions cannot accommodate. OEM-specific RSA cells have been operational for more than a year, and initial commercial deployments are currently underway with ecosystem leaders including Likewize, MTR, and TMT First.

You can learn more about RSA at Mobile Disrupt 2026, July 7–8, in Miami. Visit Apkudo at booth #1001–1002. Learn more at apkudo.com.

About Apkudo
Apkudo is the Device Passport Platform for the connected device ecosystem. We capture and unify data from every program, transaction, and touchpoint across a device’s lifecycle, creating a single, trusted Device Passport™ for every asset. For companies that manage, sell, or buy devices, this means a verified record they can act on: to restore buyer confidence, maximize value, and reduce risk at every decision point. Our unique advantage is data fidelity and veracity, built on precision-automated robotics that have processed millions of devices, generating objective, machine-verified data that no competitor can match. To learn more, visit apkudo.com

Media Contact:
Kristen Barry
SVP Marketing and Communications
kristen.barry@apkudo.com 

HKSH’s First-in-Asia Comparative Study on Radiotherapy for Breast Cancer Reveals Hypofractionated Proton Therapy Prevents Breast Cancer Recurrence with 100% Survival Rate

Minimises Cardiopulmonary Concerns and Maintains Quality of Life

HONG KONG, July 7, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — The HKSH Cancer Centre under HKSH Medical Group (HKSH) introduced proton therapy in 2023, covering a wide range of cancer types including breast, prostate as well as head and neck cancers, and has since accumulated about 940 cases of clinical data. Around 45% of its proton therapy treatments involve breast cancer patients receiving postoperative radiotherapy to reduce the risk of recurrence. Leveraging its clinical experience and innovative technologies in breast cancer proton therapy, HKSH has presented two clinical studies focusing on Chinese breast cancer patients at the Asia-Oceania Particle Therapy Co-operative Group 2025 (PTCOG-AO) and Particle Therapy Co-operative Group Annual Conference 2026 (PTCOG). Both studies are the first of their kind in Asia and further advance precision medicine aimed at helping patients “live with cancer while preserving quality of life.”

Mr. Wyman LI, Chief Operating Officer of HKSH Medical Group and Director of Hong Kong Sanatorium & Hospital (2nd right), Dr. Joseph CHAN, Chief Medical Officer, HKSH Medical Group and Deputy Medical Superintendent, Hong Kong Sanatorium & Hospital (2nd left), Dr. Amy CHANG, Co-Director of HKSH Proton Therapy Centre and Specialist in Clinical Oncology (far right), Dr. Ben YU, Head of Medical Physics Department, HKSH Medical Group (far left) presented two clinical studies focusing on Chinese breast cancer patients who have received proton or photon radiotherapy, both are the first of their kind in Asia and further advance precision medicine aimed at helping patients “live with cancer while preserving quality of life.”
Mr. Wyman LI, Chief Operating Officer of HKSH Medical Group and Director of Hong Kong Sanatorium & Hospital (2nd right), Dr. Joseph CHAN, Chief Medical Officer, HKSH Medical Group and Deputy Medical Superintendent, Hong Kong Sanatorium & Hospital (2nd left), Dr. Amy CHANG, Co-Director of HKSH Proton Therapy Centre and Specialist in Clinical Oncology (far right), Dr. Ben YU, Head of Medical Physics Department, HKSH Medical Group (far left) presented two clinical studies focusing on Chinese breast cancer patients who have received proton or photon radiotherapy, both are the first of their kind in Asia and further advance precision medicine aimed at helping patients “live with cancer while preserving quality of life.”

Mr. Wyman LI, Chief Operating Officer of HKSH Medical Group and Director of Hong Kong Sanatorium & Hospital, remarked, “Clinical research is the core driving force behind medical innovation. HKSH Proton Therapy Centre has demonstrated strong research depth on the international academic stage, injecting powerful momentum into precision cancer treatment for Hong Kong and the Greater Bay Area. At the same time, HKSH actively introduces cutting‑edge technologies, including being Asia’s first to adopt photon‑counting CT for simulation and treatment planning. Shouldering the responsibility of nurturing national proton therapy professionals, HKSH collaborated with the National Cancer Centre in 2025 to launch a joint training course and a 10-month training programme, leveraging technological innovation and clinical excellence to provide patients and their families with more precise and effective disease management services.”

The first study presented in the PTCOG-AO 2025 compared proton radiotherapy with conventional photon radiotherapy in preventing breast cancer recurrence after surgery. Results showed that both treatment modalities achieved comparable disease control, with a 100% survival rate in each group.* However, modern cancer care places increasing emphasis on reducing side effects and long-term complications. The study demonstrated that proton therapy offers a distinct advantage in dose precision, reducing radiation exposure to the heart during breast cancer treatment to nearly zero, approximately up to 40 times lower than photon therapy, while only a very small number of patients experienced Grade 2 or higher toxicities.

The second study explored a hypofractionated regimen consisting of just five sessions of proton therapy for breast cancer. This approach substantially reduces the need for frequent hospital visits, lowers overall treatment time and costs, and alleviates psychological burden on patients. Combining a shorter treatment duration with high precision and strong clinical effectiveness, the regimen represents a key strategic direction for delivering more cost-effective proton therapy to breast cancer patients at HKSH.

Dr. Amy CHANG, Co-Director of HKSH Proton Therapy Centre and Specialist in Clinical Oncology, commented, “With the growing uptake of breast cancer screening, more patients are being diagnosed at an earlier stage. As survival rates improve, quality of life has become a key consideration. Treatment options with fewer side effects, such as proton therapy, are therefore increasingly important, enabling patients to maintain a good quality of life while effectively controlling their disease.”

Photon Therapy Minimises Unnecessary Radiation Exposure to the Heart and Lungs
The first study was a retrospective matched comparative study involving 202 Chinese breast cancer patients arranged in a matched cohort for comparison. The median ages of the two groups were 51 and 52, with stages 0 to III, predominantly left-sided breast cancer patients, who underwent 5 to 25 fractions of proton or photon radiotherapy. All patients had undergone partial or total mastectomy. However, due to the risk of breast cancer recurrence, adjuvant therapy is generally required post-surgery to eliminate residual lesions, and radiotherapy is one of the primary modalities.

Apart from conventional photon therapy, proton therapy is a more advanced and precise treatment option. To explore the efficacy of both in preventing recurrence and their safety, the study used 1:1 Propensity Score Matching (PSM) based on factors including patient’s age, tumour location, staging, treatment fraction, histology type and medical history to compare two groups: one receiving conventional photon therapy between 2020 and 2024, and the other receiving proton therapy between 2023 and 2025, with 101 patients in each group.

Dr. Amy CHANG explained, “Study reveals that the survival rate of both groups during the follow-up period is 100%, including stage III breast cancer patients with larger tumours and more lymph node metastases. The results are highly encouraging.” To more comprehensively help patients overcome treatment challenges, treatment safety must be examined. In photon therapy, radiation not only exposes the tumour but also penetrates through to the heart and lungs behind the tumour, leading to long-term impact such as heart disease and pneumonitis. In contrast, proton therapy exhibits ultra precision, targeting the tumour with radiation energy released in a concentrated burst upon reaching the tumour, while ensuring that radiation dose drastically drops and dissipates afterwards, thereby minimising damage to surrounding healthy organs.

This study showed that all dose parameters in the proton therapy group were superior to those in the photon group, especially in relation to the heart and lungs. The average heart radiation dose received by patients in the proton group was close to 0 Gy (Gray, abbreviated Gy, the unit of absorbed radiation dose), at only 0.28Gy (25-fraction proton) and 0.12 Gy (15-fraction proton), compared to 5.34 Gy (25-fraction photon) and 4.71 Gy (15-fraction photon)—a difference of approximately 20 to 40 times. Dr. CHANG remarked, “Earlier research data has shown that for every 1Gy increase in heart radiation dose, the risk of heart disease rises by 7.4%. Therefore, proton therapy can minimise unnecessary radiation exposure to the heart, significantly reducing patients’ risk of cardiovascular disease.”

Hypofractionated Proton Therapy Results in Low Toxicity, Minimising Skin Damage
Overcoming cancer and returning to a normal life is the common goal of all cancer patients. Given the current trend of breast cancer diagnosed at younger ages, quality of life is a critical factor in choosing a treatment plan. Dr. CHANG highlighted that in this matched comparative study, only a small number of patients in the proton therapy group experienced grade 2 or higher severe toxicity reactions (toxicity graded from 0 to 3, with 3 being the most severe). Regarding skin-related reactions including radiation dermatitis which is a major concern for women, the proportion of patients in the proton group experiencing grade 2-3 toxicity was 3% lower than that in the photon group. In terms of late toxicity, the proton group also had 10% fewer cases of grade 1 breast edema compared with the photon group. This shows that hypofractionated proton therapy can better preserve the breast appearance and skin integrity of patients, alleviating their psychological burden.

5-Fraction Proton Therapy Helps Patients Maintain Quality of Life
As of 30 June 2026, HKSH Proton Therapy Centre has performed about 940 proton therapy cases, with breast cancer accounting for about 45%, accumulating clinical experience with more than 400 patient cases. Compared to other proton therapy centres in the region, HKSH has extensive clinical experience in proton therapy for breast cancer. To explore more cost-effective “hypofractionation” treatment methods in line with international medical trends, the team launched a clinical study** on 5-fraction proton therapy for breast cancer in 2024 and presented preliminary data at the PTCOG 2026.

The preliminary data followed 27 patients with stage 0-II breast cancer, 70% of whom had left-sided breast cancer. All patients completed 5 fractions of whole-breast proton therapy totaling 25 Gy. Dr. CHANG who led this study said, “The study recorded zero cases of grade 2 or higher acute severe toxicity. The main side effects were mild dermatitis, fatigue, and breast pain.” The study also assessed patients using Harvard Cosmesis Scale, proving that proton therapy had minimal impact on appearance with no obvious changes. Multiple quality of life indicators also showed a trend of continuous improvement compared to baseline pre-treatment levels, enhancing post-recovery quality of life.”

Supported by solid clinical data and innovative research, the goal of cancer treatment has expanded from simply eradicating cancer cells to a broader strategy that takes long-term quality of life into account. Given its favourable outcomes and high safety profile, HKSH Cancer Centre has now incorporated 5-fraction proton therapy for breast cancer as one of its treatment options, allowing for flexible and personalised treatment plans tailored to individual patients’ conditions, taking precision cancer care to the next level.

* Clinical Outcomes and Toxicity of Proton Therapy for Breast Cancer: A Single Institution Study. PTCOG-AO-2025.
** Biopsychosocial Study on Ultrahypofractionated Proton Therapy for Breast Cancer Patients: Early Clinical Outcome. PTCOG 2026.

About HKSH Medical Group
Officially launched in September 2017, HKSH Medical Group promotes public health and advanced medicine through a multi-faceted, coordinated approach across clinical services, medical education, scientific research and public health education. Members of the Group, including Hong Kong Sanatorium & Hospital, HKSH Healthcare, HKSH Eastern Medical Centre, HKSH Cancer Centre and HKSH Institute for Innovation & Professional Development, are dedicated to offering top-quality holistic care to patients.

Established in 1922, Hong Kong Sanatorium & Hospital is one of the key members of HKSH Medical Group and a leading private hospital in Hong Kong. Living up to its motto of ‘Quality in Service, Excellence in Care’, the Hospital is committed to serving the public as well as promoting medical education and research.

For more information about HKSH Medical Group, please visit http://www.hksh.com.

Hoymiles Expands Southeast Asia Energy Storage Presence Through Strategic Partnership with TAMCO

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia, July 7, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Hoymiles announced a strategic partnership with TAMCO, a well-established power infrastructure solutions provider in Malaysia, to support the development of the country’s future energy infrastructure. This collaboration combines Hoymiles’ globally deployed energy storage technologies with TAMCO’s six decades of local industrial expertise, marking another significant step in Hoymiles’ utility-scale energy storage sector as well as its expansion across Southeast Asian markets. Top executives from both sides and representatives from Malaysian Investment Development Authority (MIDA) attended the signing ceremony.

Hoymiles and TAMCO announce a strategic partnership to advance energy storage in Malaysia
Hoymiles and TAMCO announce a strategic partnership to advance energy storage in Malaysia

For the first phase of the collaboration, TAMCO will locally assemble Hoymiles’ AI-empowered 5MWh and 6MWh liquid-cooled utility-scale BESS solutions at its BR2 facility in Shah Alam. By combining Hoymiles’ globally proven energy storage technologies with TAMCO’s extensive engineering expertise and local manufacturing capabilities, the partnership will make advanced energy storage solutions more accessible to the local market and provide comprehensive support for utility-scale projects across Malaysia.

In addition to local assembly, the partnership also includes system integration, testing, commissioning, servicing and long-term maintenance, ensuring a comprehensive local delivery and lifecycle support framework for utility-scale energy storage projects.

“Our partnership with Hoymiles represents an important step in expanding the solutions we deliver while strengthening the engineering expertise and technical capabilities needed for the country’s future energy infrastructure,” said Wong Jun Pin, Chief Executive Officer of TAMCO Switchgear (Malaysia) Sdn. Bhd.

Stressing the importance of trusted local partnerships in the success of advanced energy solutions, Dr. Zhao Yi, Chief Technology Officer and Vice President of Hoymiles, said, “Malaysia has built a strong foundation for the future of energy, and TAMCO’s engineering expertise and deep understanding of the local operating environment make them an ideal partner to translate our global experience into solutions that deliver value locally.”

Sherulanuar Abd. Karim, Director of Malaysian Investment Development Authority (MIDA) noted that the collaboration demonstrates how international partnerships can strengthen Malaysia’s industrial capabilities while supporting the country’s clean energy transition.

Malaysia is one of Southeast Asia’s fastest-growing renewable energy markets and a key market in Hoymiles’ regional energy storage strategy. In recent years, Hoymiles has continued to strengthen its local presence through a series of landmark solar-plus-storage projects.

Building on this partnership, Hoymiles and TAMCO will work together on technology exchange, talent development and localization initiatives, supporting Malaysia’s energy infrastructure development and long-term energy transition.

Healome Therapeutics Closes £2 Million Seed Round Led by Empirical Ventures to Advance Eye-Drop Matrix Technology for Ocular Surface Diseases

BIRMINGHAM, England, July 7, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Healome Therapeutics (“Healome”), a University of Birmingham spinout developing a proprietary eye-drop matrix technology for ocular surface diseases, has closed a GBP£2 million oversubscribed seed financing round led by Empirical Ventures, with participation from DEBRA Research, Cure EB, Oshen Bio and existing investor SFC Capital. Proceeds will support pre-clinical development, manufacturing scale-up, regulatory engagement with the MHRA and FDA, and progression toward first-in-human studies expected in 2027.

The problem: poor retention limits eye-drop effectiveness

Conventional eye drops clear from the ocular surface in minutes, driving dosing regimens of up to 20 times per day and contributing to treatment adherence rates as low as 20% in chronic-use populations. Dry eye, the most well-known ocular surface condition, has an estimated global market size of USD$5 billion and affects over 350 million people. The broader ocular surface disease opportunity exceeds USD$12 billion across multiple indications.

The Healome solution: structured polymers, longer residence time

Healome’s eye-drop matrix behaves like a liquid when dropped on the eye, then restructures to form a clear, lubricating and protective matrix. The platform can deliver a range of drugs, from small molecules to complex biologics, and has been used to deliver an anti-scarring biologic drug in a standard pre-clinical model of severely injured and infected corneas, resulting in rapid corneal healing with minimal side-effects.

The platform is being developed for dry eye disease, ocular surface inflammation, corneal injury, rare diseases associated with severe ocular surface damage and chronic drug delivery. Healome holds five patent families covering the underlying matrix architecture, which is built on established pharmaceutical- and food-grade polymers structured into proprietary architectures, avoiding complex chemical modifications that can create manufacturing or regulatory issues.

Rare disease application: Epidermolysis Bullosa (EB)

EB is a rare genetic condition affecting approximately 500,000 people globally, of whom an estimated 5-20% experience ocular complications including chronic pain and recurrent corneal abrasions with a high risk of sight-threatening scarring. The unmet needs of patients and families living with EB were highlighted in the Netflix documentary Matter of Time. Investment from DEBRA Research and Cure EB will support Healome’s work on EB-associated ocular complications.

Founding team and origin

Healome was co-founded by Professor Liam Grover, Professor Tony Metcalfe, Dr Richard Moakes and Dr Richard Williams who serves as CEO. The team combines over 80 years’ experience across biomaterials, regenerative medicine and drug development, with six peer-reviewed publications underpinning research that originated at the University of Birmingham’s Healthcare Technologies Institute.

Richard Williams, CEO of Healome Therapeutics, said:

“Using our matrix to extend residence time of novel and existing therapeutics opens the door to reduced dosing, better adherence and ultimately improved outcomes across a range of indications. This financing lets us drive the platform toward the clinic.”

Johnathan Matlock, Co-Founder and General Partner at Empirical Ventures, said:

“Healome targets a quantifiable bottleneck – drug residence time on the ocular surface – with a manufacturing-friendly approach built on well-characterised polymers. The approach and the data, demonstrating how the team are building upon this to unlock further therapeutic value on the eye, is what convinced us this is a category-defining platform rather than an incremental formulation play, with credible read-across from dry eye through to rare ocular diseases.”

Dr. Christoph Coch, MD, Managing Director at DEBRA Research, said:

“For many people living with EB, the condition not only affects the skin but also the eyes. Blistering and wounds can occur spontaneously or be triggered by friction, dryness or irritation, often leading to severe pain, impaired vision and a significant impact on daily life. As there are currently no specific treatments for these ocular complications, we look forward to supporting Healome in their effort to develop patient-friendly and effective therapeutic approaches in this area. With this investment, we are continuing our commitment to accelerate the development of treatments that address the urgent unmet needs of people living with EB.”

Key facts

  • Company: Healome Therapeutics
  • Founded: 2021
  • Headquarters: Birmingham, United Kingdom
  • Sector: Ophthalmology/ocular drug delivery
  • Founders: Prof. Liam Grover, Prof. Tony Metcalfe, Dr. Richard Moakes, Dr. Richard Williams
  • Amount raised: £2,000,000 (oversubscribed)
  • Lead investor: Empirical Ventures
  • Participating investors: DEBRA Research, Cure EB, Oshen Bio, SFC Capital
  • First-in-human target: 2027
  • Intellectual property: Patents granted in Japan and South Korea; pending in all major markets

About Healome Therapeutics

Healome Therapeutics is a UK ophthalmology company developing a platform eye-drop matrix technology aiming to improve retention, lubrication, protection, healing and drug delivery on the ocular surface. www.healometx.com

About Empirical Ventures

Empirical Ventures is a UK venture capital firm investing in science-led companies with the potential for significant societal and commercial impact – from climate change and resource scarcity to accessible healthcare. www.empiricalventures.vc

About DEBRA Research

DEBRA Research funds and accelerates research aimed at delivering effective treatments for Epidermolysis Bullosa, a rare and painful genetic skin condition. www.debra-research.org

About Cure EB

Cure EB supports the development of therapies and technologies aimed at improving the lives of patients living with Epidermolysis Bullosa. www.cure-eb.org

About Oshen Bio

Oshen Holdings SA is a European-based family office investing in medtech and biotech companies with early-stage to market-ready technologies to improve longevity, quality of life and global health outcomes. www.oshenbio.com

About SFC Capital

SFC Capital is a UK early-stage investment firm providing seed capital and support to promising British startups. www.sfccapital.com