Baker-Polito Administration Launches Innovative Transportation Network Company Ride Data Website

Baker-Polito Administration Launches Innovative Transportation Network Company Ride Data Website

Massachusetts Home to 64.8 Million Rideshare Trips in 2017

BOSTON – The Baker-Polito Administration today became the first state in the nation to launch a website containing data about Transportation Network Companies and the origin, destination, and other metrics captured by ridesharing services operating in the Commonwealth. The portal further continues the framework established by Governor Baker following the implementation of legislation creating a modern statewide regulatory framework for TNCs, and is the most comprehensive statewide ridesharing data in the country.

“We’re pleased to be the first state in the nation to create a clearinghouse that informs Massachusetts riders on the ridesharing services they use, and we look forward to continuing our work with Transportation Network Companies and cities towns to provide transparent, comprehensive data,” said Governor Charlie Baker.

Developed by the Department of Public Utilities and the Executive Office of Technology Services and Security, the online portal provides comprehensive, transparent data and interactive maps depicting ridesharing statistics by location, population, and demographic. The information, which will be aggregated yearly, was collected as part of the Commonwealth’s overall regulatory framework of TNCs and will enable municipalities to further understand how their communities are serviced by these companies. 

“The Baker-Polito Administration’s launch of a website containing comprehensive ride data represents a significant step towards providing useful tools for our communities and planning authorities to understand how the Commonwealth’s transportation landscape is evolving and being shaped by the advent Transportation Network Companies,” said Department of Public Utilities Chairman Angela O’Connor.

“Putting this data on-line and in a way that makes it accessible to policy makers and the public helps everyone gain new insights,” said Technology Services and Security Secretary Mark Nunnelly. “Publishing Massachusetts specific rideshare data has helped to ground policy discussions and spark new lines of questions for further analysis.”

The website, created in accordance with An Act Regulating Transportation Network Companies which authorized the creation of regulations by which to obtain this data from rideshare services, provides residents and communities with comprehensive statistics about ride origin, destination, duration, as well as information about rider demographics. Specifically, the data captured the following:

• In 2017 there were approximately 64.8 million rideshare trips started in Massachusetts.
• A total of 34.9 million rides originated in Boston, which is the most of any city or town. This is roughly five times the next highest municipality, Cambridge, with just more than 6.8 million.
• Of the rides that started in Boston, 1.8 million were out of Boston Logan International Airport.
• Suffolk and Middlesex Counties were the starting points for more than 80% of all trips in the state. They were also two of the top three counties in per capita rides along with Nantucket.
• Hampshire County has the highest rides started per capita outside of the Cape and Islands and Greater Boston

Since January 2017, the Department of Public Utilities’ Transportation Network Company Division has implemented the most comprehensive state background checks for TNC drivers in the country, and has approved 150,000 individuals to operate as TNC drivers, though not all are currently active drivers. Drivers engaged in providing transportation services on behalf of Transportation Network Companies undergo a full state Criminal Offender Record Information (CORI) background check, including confirmation that the driver is not a registered sex offender. Additionally, drivers are subjected to a bi-annual national commercial background check conducted by the TNC companies.

世界醫藥創新論壇探討人工智能 麻州長查理貝克致詞

夥伴健康(Partners Health)集團董事長暨執行長David Torchiana。
(周菊子攝)

                   (Boston Orange 周菊子波士頓報導)夥伴健康(Partners Health)集團為期三日的2018世界醫藥創新論壇，4月25日落幕，1700名與會者從各種角度探討人工智能(AI)對醫療世界的影響，絕大多數認為變化可能天翻地覆，但個人隱私，法規管制，數據的蒐集、整合，病人及醫生對人工智能的接受度等等許多複雜元素，仍將是漫漫長路上需要超越的挑戰。

麻州州長查理貝克(Charlie Baker)。(周菊子攝)

             今年是夥伴健康集團第四度舉辦”世界醫藥創新論壇”，繼神經科學，腫瘤癌症，心臟等針對疾病的主題後，呼應世界潮流，探討對醫療界有全面影響的”人工智能”。

             夥伴健康首席學術長Anne Klibanski在開幕致詞中透露，該公司有員工74000人，每年的研發經費支出逾17億元，在數據整合，管理，計算上，長期投資。今年的會議將側重交流，促進人工智能在醫療界的實施、應用，讓真正的精準治療得以出現。

             夥伴健康執行長David Torchiana表示，今年的會議有來自30多個不同國家的人參加，有140多名專家，業界人士分享經驗，更難得的是還有注重數位醫療(digital health)的麻州州長親自出席致歡迎詞。

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             麻州州長查理貝克(Charlie Baker)直言人工智能很重要，有這麼多頂尖的相關業界人士匯聚，實在難得，他很羨慕能全程出席的人。他提及自己的外祖父是外科醫生，母親晚年時曾患老人痴呆症，自己曾在醫藥界工作，親眼見證了醫療界這些年來的許多驚人發展與變化。他認為”人工智能”有極大潛力，可改善醫療方法，設備與流程，更重要的是可以讓人們更容易得到更多做相關決定所需的資訊，但”人工智能”將給人類社會帶來什麼影響，實在也很難預測，人們一路走下去，可能需要更謹慎。

PHS科學長Keith Dreyer(左)訪談輝達(Nvidia)執行長黃仁勳
(Jensen Huang)(右)。(周菊子攝(

             這會議為期三日，涵蓋的範圍十分廣泛，更由於”人工智能”這主題，不下三分之一為企業執行長的140多名高管講者，不但來自哈佛醫學院及其附屬醫院，Vertex，諾華(Novartis)，強生(Johnson & Johnson)，羅氏(Roche)，賽諾菲(Sanofi)，輝瑞(Pfizer)等大製藥公司，更包括了諸如微軟，谷歌，高通(Qualcomm)，通用電子(GE)，國際機器(IBM)，西門子(Simens)等科技公司麾下的醫療事業分支，還有戴爾(Dell)電腦公司，思科(Cisco)，以及北極星合夥人(Polaris Partners)，Sante 創投，北極光創投，輿圖(Atlas)創投等風險投資公司。

Terason創辦人暨董事長史美芳(左)也在會後向Nvidia
執行長黃仁勳(右)提問。(周菊子攝)

             發明圖形處理晶片(GPU)的輝達(Nvidia，又稱英偉達)公司執行長黃仁勳(Jensen Huang)，做為大會主要贊助者及主講者，也因為醫療領域應用人工智能的前景無限美好，來到會場，在”爐邊談話”中分享了他的看法。他直指人工智能與機器深度學習幾乎是一體兩面，機器必要具備足夠運算能力，才能深度學習，進而擬人或以超人的致能來適當處理、分析數據。他認為在這人工智能的發展趨勢下，軟體甚至能夠經由深度學習，自行設計，製造出新軟體來因應需求。

北極光創投副董事長楊磊列席座談。(周菊子攝)

             去年營業額達97億餘美元，今年員工數增致11528的Nvidia，已在3D產品，區塊鍊及人工智能的推動中，備受矚目，分析師甚至喊出每股300元的價格。

             在人工智能與醫療結合上，政府法規如何制定，其實也很重要。大會的”爐邊談話”之一，邀請了川普總統指派的美國醫療護理及醫療補助服務(Medicare and Medicaid Services)執行長Seema Verma來討論。她以自己和丈夫在外度假，丈夫突然身體出狀況，緊急送醫，出院後，他們做為病人竟拿不到自己的完整醫療紀錄為例，侃談人工智能可有效改善這種數據資料散亂不全情況，以及可能涉及的醫患關係，醫療行政作業，法令規定等錯綜關係。

            在6場”爐邊談話”之外，2018世界醫藥創新論壇還安排了14場座談，從人工智能對臨床醫療，基因測序，新藥研發，藥物或醫療費用，醫院行政作業效率，急診室環境，醫患之間的倫理道德等的影響，做各種角度探討。

             不少醫生坦言最期待的就是人工智能可以減輕他們在醫治病人之外，還需要承擔的撰寫醫療報告等行政作業負擔，讓醫生們有更充裕時間過正常人生活。

PHS醫療長Gregg Meyer(左)訪談美國醫療護理及醫療補助服務局行政長
Seema Verma(右)。(周菊子攝)

             這場會議，還安排有”第一眼(First Look)”，”顛覆的一打(Disruptive Dozen)”這兩個環節。

今年的"第一眼"有麻省總醫院(MGH)，布里根醫療(Brigham Health)的19人獲選，各做10分鐘介紹。來自麻省總醫院的Sabine Wilhelm醫師，以及來自布里根及婦女醫院(BWH)的Ziad Obermeyer，獲得Peter K. Ranney創新獎，拿到獎金10000元。

PHS請12項可能顛覆醫療領域科技的發明團隊代表出席解說。其中
唯一的亞裔面孔為Long Le(左五)。(周菊子攝)

哈佛醫學院副教授Quanzheng Li，是獲選的19人之一。他展示了應用可深度學習系統來檢測氣胸量化是否出現嚴重情況。

”顛覆的一打(Disruptive Dozen)”部分，則是由伙伴醫療系統(PHS)的教授們，挑選出可能在未來10年內對醫療護理有重大影響的12種科技。(部分圖片已於4/24發表)

左起，PHS的醫療長Gregg Meyer，學術長Anne Kilbanski，科學長
Keith Dreyer為大會閉幕致詞。(周菊子攝)

MIT前校長Susan Hockfield(右)也列席其中一場座談。(周菊子攝)

Governor Baker, Secretary Ureña, Major General Keefe Meet with World War II Veteran Sidney Walton

Governor Baker, Secretary Ureña, Major General Keefe Meet with World War II Veteran Sidney Walton

Governor Baker meets with World War II Veteran Sidney Walton and his son Paul Walton as part of the “Go Sidney Go” National No Regrets Tour across the United States.

For more high-resolution photos, click here.

BOSTON – Today, Governor Charlie Baker, Secretary of the Department of Veterans’ Services Francisco Ureña and Massachusetts National Guard Adjutant General Gary Keefe presented a citation to Sidney Walton for his years of distinguished service to the U.S. Army during World War II. Sidney was also presented with the Massachusetts Medal of Merit by the Massachusetts Army National Guard for his outstanding service to the United States Armed Forces.

As part of his National No Regrets Tour, Sidney Walton is travelling across the country with his son, Paul Walton, to meet with governors from all 50 states before concluding with a visit to the White House on his 100th birthday in February 2019.

Sidney’s one regret was missing an opportunity to meet with the last surviving Civil War veterans prior to joining the United States Army in 1941. The National No Regrets Tour gives people across the country a chance to meet with one of the last surviving WWII veterans. Last year, there were approximately 558,000 veterans still alive in the U.S. out of 16 million Americans who served in WWII.

MGM Springfield to Officially Open August 24, 2018

$960 Million MGM Resorts International Property Marks Largest Private Investment in Western Massachusetts’ History 

SPRINGFIELD, MASS. (April 26, 2018) – Expanding its presence on the East Coast, MGM Resorts International will open the doors to MGM Springfield, New England’s first integrated luxury resort and entertainment destination, on Friday, August 24, 2018.

“A testament to a decade of collaboration between the City of Springfield and MGM Resorts, MGM Springfield will pay tribute to the city’s legacy and celebrate its bright future, while introducing a stellar array of hospitality and entertainment experiences that will attract guests from New England and beyond,” said Michael Mathis, President of MGM Springfield. “We are incredibly proud to debut what we believe will become the region’s premier entertainment destination and play a role in an exciting renaissance for Springfield.”

Mayor Domenic J. Sarno states, “I look forward to working with MGM Springfield for many years to come. They’re a world-class company and an outstanding corporate citizen. I deeply appreciate their belief and investment in our Springfield. I wish them continued success as we create another ‘Springfield first!’”

MGM Springfield will commemorate the city’s rich history through the preservation and reimagination of its most storied buildings. Locals and tourists can experience venues such as the First Spiritualist Church, Springfield Armory and Chandler Union Hotel – where Presidents Polk and Buchanan both stayed – in an entirely new way.

MAYOR WALSH LAUNCHES PLANNING PROCESS TO END YOUTH HOMELESSNESS IN BOSTON

MAYOR WALSH LAUNCHES PLANNING PROCESS TO END YOUTH HOMELESSNESS IN BOSTON

BOSTON - Monday, April 30, 2018 - On Friday, Mayor Martin J. Walsh joined members of the City's Youth Action Board to launch Rising to the Challenge: Ending Youth & Young Adult Homelessness in Boston, the City of Boston's community planning process centered around preventing and ending homelessness among unaccompanied youth and young adults. The Youth Action Board is the City's consumer advisory group of youth and young adults who have current or former experience with homelessness or housing instability.   "Whether it's attendance and graduation rates, unemployment and the local economy, youth incarceration rates, or emergency room costs, the effects of youth and young adult homelessness are broad," said Mayor Walsh. "I'm proud that our city is taking the critical first steps in ending youth homelessness. Each of the Youth Action Board members -- and their peers -- have important stories to tell us, and will contribute so much to the creation of this plan. There is a role for all of us to play in ending youth and young adult homelessness in Boston, and I look forward to working with everyone who has came together to reach this goal." Boston's Way Home, the Walsh Administration's plan to end chronic and veteran homelessness, highlighted unaccompanied youth and young adults as a priority population and identified the need for a comprehensive plan to prevent and end youth and young adult homelessness in Boston. Rising to the Challenge gathered community partners to launch the 4-month process of developing the first draft of this comprehensive plan. In February 2018, the City selected Matthew Aronson and his team of consultants to build on the City's work to end youth homelessness in Boston by researching and creating an action plan to support young individuals experiencing homelessness and put them on pathways towards stable housing. Aronson and his team facilitated Friday's event, which was held at the Bolling Building in Roxbury with more than 150 people in attendance, including youth and young adults and community partners from City, State, and nonprofit agencies. At Rising to the Challenge, Mr. Aronson's team presented data they compiled in an attempt to estimate the size and scale of unaccompanied youth and young adult homelessness in Boston. In Boston, just like in most cities across the country, many youth and young adults experiencing homelessness are not sleeping in shelters or on the streets but are "doubled up" or couch surfing from one unstable situation to another. For this reason, it is challenging to estimate the full number of youth experiencing homelessness. An important part of this strategic plan will be to gather additional data about this group. Boston's annual Homeless Census shows that on a given night, 360 youth and young adults are either sleeping in Boston's shelters or on the street. The City's data also shows that the majority of these youth and young adults stay in shelter for a week or less. In addition to gathering additional data on youth and young adult homelessness, the City's plan will require a new understanding of the current system's capacity; identifying the unmet needs of youth and young adults; and designing a plan to address gaps in Boston's emergency assistance system that will end youth homelessness. The plan will be tied to concrete investments in housing and services necessary to end youth homelessness. The plan will outline how to find resources for youth and young adults to access better permanent connections, education and employment, and improve their health and well-being. Creation of the plan will involve disparate stakeholders from across Boston, including law enforcement and adult and juvenile justice; healthcare providers; educators; the State's child welfare system; landlords; school programs and private foundations. Throughout the day, attendees broke into small groups to discuss the current state of youth and young adult homeless services and an ideal future system, as well as concrete steps to take for a successful planning process. Youth and young adults are central in the planning process. The Boston Youth Action Board participates in all planning committees and and meets monthly with representatives from the Department of Neighborhood Development. Prior to the launch of the community planning process, Aronson and his team focused on assisting the City in applying for the U.S. Office of Housing and Urban Development's Youth Homelessness Demonstration Program, a grant that would provide an estimated $2-$3 million to the City of Boston to develop and implement its plan to end youth homelessness. In January 2016, Mayor Walsh announced Boston had ended chronic veteran homelessness; to date, nearly 850 homeless veterans have been housed. In 2016, the City scaled up its efforts to end chronic homelessness; and since January of 2016, 425 chronically homeless individuals have been housed, representing more than 3,000 years of homelessness ended.

麻州今年4人角逐州長 查理貝克金庫厚實

麻州州長查理貝克 (Charlie Baker)。(檔案照片，周菊子攝)

(Boston Orange 周菊子整理報導) 麻州的州級選舉兩年一度，今年(2018)還要改選州長。在共和黨也出現挑戰者，民主黨還沒初選，就已三減一的有人退出下，選情發展似乎格外有趣。

麻州共和黨4月28日在屋斯特(Worcester)舉行了黨員大會，結果在位州長查理貝克(Charlie Baker)從大約2400名出席黨代表那兒，取得69.8%的支持度。

民主黨籍的麻州州長候選人Jay Gonzalez。(檔案照片，周菊子攝)

查理貝克的唯一對手，Scott Lively，一名很邊緣，幾乎沒請任何助選員，也沒籌款的候選人，卻得到27.7%的黨代表支持，輕鬆跨過必須有15%黨代表支持，才能在初選選票上列名的門檻。

這一結果意味著在9月4日初選前，有著全美最受歡迎州長之譽的查理貝克，必須先花時間爭取共和黨員的支持，再來面對民主黨的挑戰。

麻州共和黨的黨代表們經過兩輪投票後，還支持麻州眾議員Geoff Diehl，這麻州內支持川普聲音的領導者，作為共和黨對抗民主黨伊莉莎白沃倫(Elizabeth Warren)的聯邦參議員候選人。

民主黨籍麻州州長候選人Robert Massie。(檔案照片，周菊子攝)

不過，聯邦參議員這席位，共和黨今年也得辦初選。另外兩名爭取到15%以上黨代表支持的候選人，分別為來自Groton的前麻州政府官員Beth Lindstrom，以及來自溫徹斯特(Winchester)的商人John Kingston。

麻州保守共和黨籍會會長Lou Daxland表示，Scott Lively的跨過初選門檻，說明了他們也有聲音。

這些保守共和黨員對貝克的拒絕支持川普總統，但支持墮胎，同性戀婚姻等自由派社會政策，以及和議會中民主黨員關係良好，都很不滿。

貝克會後對媒體表示，Scott Lively說的，或相信的很多事，都不是主流觀點，在任何公眾生活，或是在任生活中都無地可容的。那也是為什麼他很高興在大會中，每10名黨代表，就有7人支持他今秋代表他們。

波士頓環球報指出，查理貝克拒絕回答諸如他是否會和Scott Lively辯論，會否在2020年的連任競選時支持川普。

            Scott Lively的競選戶口中只有23,000元。

            Scott Lively最為人知的是他寫的那些備受爭議，關於同性戀者的文章，包括他宣稱同性控制了德國納粹黨。他曾經在2014年以獨立無黨派身分參選，得票率不到1%。他似乎成了共和黨右翼不滿份子的鞭子。

麻州共和黨在黨代表大會上還支持了三名無同黨競爭對手的候選人參選州級職位，包括州務卿候選人，和州長查理貝克都住在Swampscott 的Anthony M. Amore，麻州稽核長候選人，住在Concord鎮的Helen Brady，以及麻州財政長候選人，住在Lakeville的現任麻州眾議員Keiko M. Orrall。

麻州民主黨預定於6月2日舉行黨代表大會，將在曾在派區克(Deval Patrick)州長任內擔任麻州預算長的Jay Gonzalez，以及環保活躍份子，曾在1994年獲民主黨提名參選副州長的Robert Massie兩人中做一抉擇。

麻州民主黨中，原本有至少3人參選州長。2017年五月正式宣布參選的前牛頓市市長塞提華倫(Setti Warren)，卻在大前天的4月26日宣佈退選。

塞提華倫在一篇很長的公開信中表示，選戰打了一年後，他的競選帳戶只剩下51,644元，和麻州現任州長查理貝克的有790萬元，差距太大，更何況查理貝克還有著全美最受歡迎州長的光環，支持率高逾70%。

今年一月卸任牛頓市長一職後，現年47歲的塞提華倫在剛被麻州大學波士頓分校買下，即將關門的Mount Ida 學院任教，年薪7萬元。他為參選州長，聘有10名員工，還有許多義工。

截至4月15日，民主黨的Jay Gonzalez，競選帳戶還有 $127,418.27，Robert Massie則有$20,831.25。共和黨籍的查理貝克則有$7,893,135.25，Scott Lively有$22,952.23。

美國運輸部長趙小蘭訪中國 國務院總理李克強晤見

中國國務院總理李克強在美國運輸部部長趙小蘭赴中國出席中美交通論壇期間，晤見了她和運輸政策副助理部長
傑龍(Joel Szabat, 左二)等人。

(Boston Orange 周菊子整理報導)美國運輸部部長趙小蘭(Elaine Chao)訪問中國，出席中美交通論壇期間，4月26日晤見了中國國務院總理李克強，談及中美貿易摩擦問題。李克強指兩國應可經由對話化解衝突，中方的談判大門一直開著。

新華社，彭博新聞，南華早報等多家中英文媒體都報導了這一晤談。

趙小蘭這次訪問中國是為出席中美交通論壇第九次會議，會見李克強時的隨行團員包括運輸政策助理部長傑龍(Joel Szabat)。

在4月26日這天，趙小蘭還會見了中國外交部長王毅。拜會照片及新聞稿，隨後也出現在中國外交部官網上，簡述稱雙方就中美關係及共同關心的其他問題交換了意見。

美國路透社在報導中指出，美國財政部長Steven Mnuchin已預定(五月)

率團訪華，舒緩兩國之間的貿易緊張情勢。

早前美國總統川普威脅要向包括手機、電腦，消費性等中國產品課徵1000億元關稅，中國也報復性的展開向美國出口到中國產品課徵關稅500億元行動。

在新華社的報導中，李克強表示，貿易衝突，沒有贏家，不但影響世界經濟復甦，也影響全球工業鍊。

 即將隨同美國財政部長到中國北京訪問的川普高級經濟顧問Larry Kudlow在上周四表示，他希望和中國的晤談會有進展，但要解決美國的抱怨，過程恐怕會很長。

川普早前也說美國很有機會和中國就貿易達成協議。

新華社引述李克強的話說，他希望兩國能夠管控歧異。

川普曾批評中國提高對美國公司的貿易障礙，包括對諸如汽車等行業徵收高額進口稅。

李克強重申習近平有關中國向世界開放貿易的保證，表示中國正堅定不移的進一步向外界開放，最近才宣佈要廢除國內汽車企業的外資擁有權上限，並刪減進口稅。

中國公司，包括百度，都在積極推動無人駕駛車輛，和美國由谷歌(google)母公司阿爾法貝特(Alphabet)支持的Waymo，以及特斯拉等競爭愈趨強烈。

安豐貴位台商講解美國就業機會平等法

【波城臺灣商會專題講座  安豐貴主講就業平等】

駐波士頓臺北經文處處長徐佑典(中)、副處長陳銘俊(右二)、

僑教中心主任歐宏偉(左一)與新英格蘭大波士頓臺灣商會

會長歐陽露(左一)及主講人安豐貴(左二)合影。

新英格蘭大波士頓臺灣商會於4月28日在波士頓僑教中心舉辦「就業機會平等」專題講座，邀請美國聯邦就業機會平等委員會主任安豐貴擔任主講人，向20餘位與會人士介紹成功企業有關就業機會平等的理念，並以實際案例說明企業主及職員相關法令規定，包括性別平權、職場平權、機會平等等議題，獲得一致肯定與好評。

駐波士頓臺北經文處處長徐佑典致詞感謝商會舉辦此一深具意義

及知識性的專題講座。

主辦單位負責人歐陽露會長表示，這是一個難得的機會，可以讓會員獲得有關就業機會平等的法令規定與知識，可以保障自己本身的權益，也可以讓雇主避免因疏忽違反相關規定；活動主講人安豐貴以英文發表專題演講，介紹相關就業法令、知識，並舉實例加以說明，讓大家更清楚在就業前、職場中，甚至離職後的相關規定，同時他也歡迎大家有任何問題，都可以和就業機會平等委員會聯繫。

美國聯邦就業機會平等委員會主任安豐貴介紹成功企業有關

就業機會平等的理念與實務。

駐波士頓臺北經濟文化辦事處處長徐佑典、副處長陳銘俊和波士頓僑教中心主任歐宏偉都應邀出席，向與會人士問候致意。徐佑典致詞時，特別感謝商會舉辦此一深具意義及知識性的專題講座；歐宏偉也表示，他與主講人安豐貴是多年前的舊識，他的父母親來自臺灣，以他優秀的雙語能力，定能為臺灣商會會員及本地僑胞鄉親提供質量俱優的服務。(圖與文:波士頓僑教中心提供)

張鋒創辦的新公司Beam療法 總融資額已逾8500萬元

(Boston Orange)波士頓商業期刊(BBJ)今(27)日發表獨家報導，指剛當選為美國藝術科學院院士，又是基因剪輯先驅的MIT教授張鋒，在兩家著名創投公司支持下，和人合夥，悄悄在劍橋市又創辦了一家公司，Beam Therapeutics。

根據PitchBook資訊，今年二月，這家Beam療法公司在A輪融資中，從ARCH創投合夥人及F-Prime資本籌得1300萬元。一名熟悉此事者還透露，Beam療法迄今拿到的融資總額已達8500萬元。

Beam療法公司的發言人拒絕回應。

張鋒在哈佛大學和麻省理工學院合作創辦的博德研究院(Broad Institute)中佔有重要分量，是研發 CRISPR/Cas9這DNA剪輯工具的主要人物。他的新公司是基因剪輯領域，也是科學家們用方法來改變人類DNA，以永久治癒疾病做法的新成員，

張鋒已經是已上市公司Editas醫藥的創辦人兼科學顧問。劍橋市目前有3家上市公司，應用CRISPR/Cas9來找新藥。

張鋒最近在劍橋市還和人合辦了另一家基因剪輯公司，Arbor生物科技，想要研發改變RNA的藥，把DNA中指令轉成身體內蛋白質的分子。

熟悉Beam早期營運的人表示，該公司採用了另一種名叫”基地剪輯(base editing)”，涉及改變個人DNA卻不切割雙螺旋的方法。

最近的研究顯示，這種方法可更精確的更改DNA，在治療"點突變(point mutations)”造成的疾病時，特別有效。

不過儘管基因剪輯公司近幾年來很火紅，這一科技在美國仍待進行臨床試驗。Editas和另一家坐落在劍橋的初創公司CRISPR療法都說將於今年向FDA申請做人體試驗。

至於張鋒所發現，和CRISPR/Cas9 有關的技術，目前仍涉及備受矚目，上訴中的法律訟案。加州大學稱生物學家Jennifer Doudna和Max Planck研究院的Emmanuelle Charpentier，更早發現這方法。