Page 8 THE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – FRIDAY, DECEMBER 24, 2021 MBTA actively seeking to hire new employees and expand its workforce Hundreds of well-paying positions are now open at the 'T' he MBTA is aggressively hiring new employees to join its dynamic workforce. It takes many people to move over a million trips a day, and the 6,500-person MBTA is redoubling eff orts to hire hundreds of open positions – from train and trolley operators, to administrative and technical positions, and especially bus drivers who are in high demand to transport Massachusetts residents to work, play, and everywhere in between. Prospective candidates looking for a rewarding career where they can have a positive impact on the entire region should visit mbta.com/ T careers for more information on open positions and to learn about the MBTA’s many benefi ts and incentives. “The MBTA plays an integral and essential role in keeping Massachusetts moving. The T is a diverse and exciting place to work, and we’re actively hiring and training new employees, especially bus drivers, right now to join our ranks and play a signifi cant part in revitalizing the region post pandemic,” said MBTA General Manager Steve Poftak. “The MBTA is being proactive in recruiting new individuals to join our team and fast-tracking the hiring process, and will continue to work closely with local and state career centers and our community partners to recruit new individuals to join our team. We off er a variety of growth opportunities to employees and encourage members of the public to visit our website to learn more about our many open positions and beginning their career at the T.” The MBTA has gone to over 20 online and in-person career fairs across the region this fall and is updating the way it hires to make it easier and faster to start a T career, including Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) permit “events” at Registry of Motor Vehicle locations (CDL permits are encouraged in applying for bus operator positions), a revamp of the interview process, streamlining the application process, and more. The T has also launched an aggressive recruitment campaign, more than doubling the size of its Human Resources recruiting department since Labor Day 2021 with more anticipated to join soon. A Human Resources team was also recently created that is dedicated to vehicle operator hiring, especially MBTA bus operators. The MBTA offers competitive salaries, extensive healthcare benefi ts, free public transit, training programs, tuition assistance, employee assistance programs, and an emphasis on diversity, equity, and inclusion. MBTA employees also receive attractive retirement plans, paid vacation, holidays, and sick time, and fl exible spending accounts. Members of the public can view open positions online and visit the MBTA website for more information on insurance and other benefi ts. For full information visit mbta.com/careers, or connect with the T on Twitter @MBTA, Facebook /TheMBTA, or Instagram. Pilot human study shows novel treatment suppresses mutant ALS gene The Angel Fund for ALS Research provides major funding Law Offices of Terrence W. Kennedy 512 Broadway, Everett • Criminal Defense • Personal Injury • Medical Malpractice Tel: (617) 387-9809 Cell: (617) 308-8178 twkennedylaw@gmail.com (Wakefield, MA) – A clinical trial funded by The Angel Fund for ALS Re- search has shown signifi cant progress in suppressing expression of the most commonly mutated ALS gene, C9ORF72 (C9). The C9 gene mutation, a lengthy expansion of a repeated segment of six molecules of DNA, causes both familial ALS and frontotemporal dementia. The results of the human trial, initiated and led by Drs. Robert H. Brown and Jonathan Watts at UMass Chan Medical School, were published in Nature Medicine. T his is a major milestone and an exciting breakthrough in the efforts to fi nd a treatment for this neurodegenerative disease, according to Dr. Brown. The study was conducted on one patient after being sanctioned by the FDA. Dr. Brown and the study team hope to expand the study to as many as 10 patients in the coming months with further FDA approval. To silence the C9 gene, the research team developed antisense oligonucleotides (ASOs) that target the two RNA transcripts of the gene that contain the toxic, expanded segment of nucleic acids. When the ASO was delivered into the spinal fl uid, the activity of the gene was substantially suppressed in the participant. The suppression was maintained by repeated doses of the ASO, which were well tolerated without safety concerns in this pilot study. According to Dr. Brown, while ASOs against this target region have previously been shown by investigators to attenuate expression of the C9 gene in neurons in cell culture and mouse models, the UMass-led trial was the fi rst to demonstrate this in a human. A trial of a comparable ASO is now also being conducted by Biogen, Inc, in Cambridge; results from that study have not yet been reported. “The Angel Fund for ALS Research has been committed to fi nding a treatment and a cure for ALS for nearly three decades,” The Angel Fund said. “This is a giant leap forward on the road to such a discovery. We are proud to fund this research and are excited with the promising results of this clinical trial.” Dr. Jonathan Watts commented, “The research team is excited and encouraged by these results and we look forward to expanding our trial to include more individuals with C9 ALS and frontotemporal dementia. We are grateful to The Angel Fund for ALS Research for their funding.” In addition to the lead role taken by Drs. Brown and Watts, key participants included Drs. Helene Tran and Michael Moazami, as well as an extensive clinical trials team. Beyond the major funding from the Angel Fund, support was also provided by the National Institutes of Health and other ALS organizations. A trusted family name combined with exceptional craftsmanship & professionalism. Call for a consultation & quote. 63 Years! • Vinyl Siding • Carpentry Work • Decks • Roofing • Replacement Windows • Free Estimates • Fully Licensed • Fully Insured
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