AGP Executive Report

Climate & Forests: A new Nature Climate Change study led with UVM research finds mountain trees don’t all march uphill as warming hits—some shift downslope, and the deciding factor is how well species move and manage water under drought stress. Health & AI in Vermont: Assort Health names Sunny Eappen as its first Chief Medical Officer to help health systems use AI agents across the patient journey, aiming to expand access and reduce admin bottlenecks. Medical Research Funding: Dartmouth Health lands an $11.8M NIH grant to build a Center for Aging with Serious Illness, boosting rural-focused research capacity. Medical Device Design: Burlington’s Pacto Medical wins a Red Dot Design Concept for Slimshot, a compact prefilled syringe concept meant to cut packaging and supply-chain load. Public Health & Environment: UVM researchers warn that food-waste plans must address plastic contamination too, since microplastics can persist in compost and reach soils. Vermont Science in the Wild: VINS’ Eagle Cam shares a first-year look at bald eagle nesting success, with viewers able to watch in person at the Forest Canopy Walk. Local Tech/Community: Vermont’s Plant Diagnostic Clinic and Master Gardener Helpline keep helping residents ID invasive garden problems like bittersweet using photos and science-based tools.

Forest Science & Climate: A new Nature Climate Change study (with UVM co-author Tim Rademacher) finds mountain trees don’t all march uphill—water-handling traits can drive some species to shift downslope as climates warm. Health Tech in Vermont: Assort Health names Sunny Eappen, MD, MBA, as its first Chief Medical Officer to guide enterprise AI agents for patient access and care navigation. Medical Device Design: Burlington’s Pacto Medical wins a Red Dot Design Concept 2026 for Slimshot, a compact prefilled syringe concept aimed at cutting packaging and supply-chain impact. Education Funding Flexibility: Vermont is among states getting “Returning Education to the States” waivers to consolidate federal education dollars for more flexible use. Public History & Tech Culture: VSARA’s 250th-anniversary summer speaker series continues, including talks on lost graves at the Vermont State Hospital and new Fort Vengeance research. Ecosystem Watch: Researchers are tracking a contagious catfish cancer spreading in Lake Memphremagog, raising big questions about transmissible cancers. Environment & Food Waste: A Nature Food study from UVM researchers says landfill diversion can sharply cut climate impacts, but microplastics may persist in compost.

Climate & Forests: A new Nature Climate Change study (with UVM co-author Tim Rademacher) finds mountain trees don’t all march uphill—some shift downslope, and the deciding factor is how well species move and manage water under drought stress. Food Waste & Pollution: UVM researchers in Nature Food say diverting food waste from landfills can cut climate impacts by 89%–99%, but warn microplastics may persist in compost and contaminate soils. Health Tech in Vermont: Assort Health names Sunny Eappen, MD, MBA, as its first Chief Medical Officer to guide AI agents for patient access and enterprise-scale care workflows. Medical Device Design: Burlington’s Pacto Medical wins a Red Dot Design Concept 2026 for Slimshot, a compact prefilled syringe platform aimed at cutting packaging and supply-chain burden. Local Science & Education: UVM Extension’s Master Gardener helpline highlights hands-on, photo-based plant diagnosis for invasive and troublesome garden species. Vermont Community Tech/Environment: Vermont Institute of Natural Science’s Eagle Cam marks its first year, with viewers tracking a bald eagle nest and eaglet—then the stream went offline due to technical issues. Housing & Tech-Adjacent Growth: Rutland opens Maplewood Commons, a 30-unit affordable complex with units for people transitioning out of homelessness.

Climate & Forest Science: UVM researcher Tim Rademacher co-authored a Nature Climate Change study showing mountain trees won’t all march uphill—water-handling traits can drive some species to shift downslope as climates warm. Health Tech & Biotech: Assort Health named Sunny Eappen as its first Chief Medical Officer to guide enterprise AI agents for patient access and care navigation; Burlington’s Pacto Medical also earned a Red Dot Design Concept for its compact prefilled syringe platform, Slimshot. Local Nature & Learning: Vermont Institute of Natural Science’s Eagle Cam marked its first year with Windsor and Dewey raising an eaglet, and UVM Extension’s Master Gardener helpline continues fielding invasive-vine questions with photo-based plant ID. Invasive Species: Maine groups keep up the fight against Eurasian watermilfoil at Cobbossee Lake with volunteers, scuba surveys, and removal efforts. AI Safety: A new legal roundup highlights growing state scrutiny of AI “therapists” and medical chatbots after lawsuits raise concerns about unsafe, unmonitored advice. Community Tech & Housing: Rutland’s Maplewood Commons opened as a 30-unit affordable complex, including units for people transitioning out of homelessness.

Climate & Forests: A new Nature Climate Change study (with UVM co-author Tim Rademacher) finds mountain trees don’t all march uphill as the climate warms—water-handling traits can push some species downslope while others move up. Health Tech: Assort Health names Sunny Eappen, MD, MBA, as its first Chief Medical Officer to guide AI agents for patient access and care-pathway navigation at enterprise scale. Medical Devices Design: Burlington’s Pacto Medical wins a Red Dot Design Concept 2026 for Slimshot, a compact prefilled syringe platform aimed at cutting packaging and supply-chain burden. Housing & Equity: Rutland opens Maplewood Commons, a 30-unit affordable complex with six transition units for people leaving homelessness. Public Safety Leadership: Lt. Col. Shawn Loan is sworn in as Vermont State Police director, with a stated focus on data-driven prevention and technology. Education Policy: The Trump administration expands “Returning Education to the States” waivers, including Vermont, letting states consolidate federal education funds with fewer requirements. AI in Healthcare Risk: A state-level crackdown theme grows as lawsuits target unmonitored “AI therapists” and chatbot medical advice.

AI in Vermont: Gov. Scott’s AI task force is still early but moving toward public hearings and a Sept. 1 report, with a focus on AI education and practical uses for small businesses and rural Vermonters. Healthcare Tech & Policy: A Vermont Business Magazine item spotlights Assort Health naming a first Chief Medical Officer to guide AI agents across the patient journey, aiming to improve access and use clinical capacity. Medical Devices: Pacto Medical’s Burlington prefilled-syringe concept “Slimshot” earns a Red Dot Design Concept 2026 and heads to a Singapore museum display. Public Health & Environment: Casella’s Coventry PFAS removal testing is drawing pushback after regulators won’t require emissions testing for the system. Research Watch: UVM-linked work is part of a broader effort to see whether contagious catfish cancer is spreading across the Quebec–New Brunswick region. Safety: An e-bike lithium battery explosion in a Winooski condo bedroom displaced 12 residents and sent two tenants to UVM Medical Center. Science & Climate: New research led by UVM helps explain why some mountain trees shift downhill while others move uphill, tied to how they manage water.

Forest Science: A new Nature Climate Change study with UVM co-author Tim Rademacher finds mountain trees don’t all march uphill as climates warm—water-handling traits help explain why some species shift downslope instead. AI & Health Care: Assort Health names Sunny Eappen, MD, MBA, as its first Chief Medical Officer to guide AI agents for scheduling, referrals, and care-gap closure at health systems. Medical Devices: Burlington’s Pacto Medical wins a Red Dot Design Concept for Slimshot, a compact prefilled syringe concept aimed at cutting packaging and supply-chain load. AI Governance in Vermont: Gov. Phil Scott updates progress on Vermont’s AI Economic Task Force, emphasizing national guardrails and making sure rural communities aren’t left behind. Regulation Watch: Vermont and other states move to restrict AI “therapy” claims as chatbot use for mental health advice accelerates and regulators scrutinize child-facing tools. Public Safety & Harm Reduction: A Burlington-focused commentary pushes back on national narratives that blame addiction policy failures on “progressive” harm reduction, arguing the real story is being oversimplified. Local Tech/Community: Vermont artists are using foraged materials for eco-prints and natural dyes, turning local ecosystems into wearable art.

AI in healthcare: Assort Health names Sunny Eappen, MD, MBA, as its first Chief Medical Officer to guide enterprise deployment of AI agents aimed at reducing care delays from fragmented admin workflows and better using clinical capacity. Medical device design: Burlington’s Pacto Medical wins a Red Dot Award: Design Concept 2026 for Slimshot, a compact prefilled syringe concept meant to cut packaging and supply-chain burden. Public health leadership: The U.S. Senate confirms Dr. Erica Schwartz as CDC director, making her the first Black woman to lead the agency as it tackles outbreaks and workforce strain. Battery safety outreach: Clean Energy Group publishes a new fact sheet on public health and environmental impacts from lithium-ion battery storage fires, including what happens after a major incident. Vermont tech & privacy: Vermont officials clarify that some “Flock camera” reports were actually traffic sensors for stop-sign alerts, and note limits on license plate readers for police. Agriculture transition: A new Vermont documentary series, Seeding Change: Farming Beyond Neonics, brings farmers and researchers to screenings as the state phases out neonicotinoid-treated seeds by 2029. Forest economy innovation: Vermont Sustainable Jobs Fund selects eight startups for its 2026 Forest Business Accelerator, highlighting tech and advanced manufacturing for sustainable forestry and wood products.

AI in healthcare: Assort Health names Sunny Eappen, MD, MBA, as its first Chief Medical Officer to guide AI agents that help health systems expand access and use clinical capacity more effectively. Medical device design: Burlington’s Pacto Medical wins a Red Dot Design Concept 2026 for Slimshot, a compact prefilled syringe concept headed for display at Singapore’s Red Dot Design Museum. Public health + nutrition: A new report argues blood-pressure guidance should pair sodium reduction with more dietary potassium—while warning it can be risky for people with kidney disease or on certain meds. Privacy tech in the real world: Vermont officials say “Flock cameras” reports were mistaken—some devices are traffic sensors, and Vermont law limits license plate readers for specific law-enforcement purposes. Vermont policy + wetlands: Gov. Scott’s administration moves forward with narrowed wetlands rule changes after lawmakers objected, with environmental groups backing the revised approach. Energy + safety: Clean Energy Group releases a lithium-ion battery storage fire-safety fact sheet for communities, including air-quality and cleanup concerns. Forest economy: Vermont Sustainable Jobs Fund selects eight startups for its Forest Business Accelerator, aiming to grow tech and advanced manufacturing in wood and forest products.

Vermont STEM Spotlight: A South Burlington High School senior, Momin Waqar, is taking a neuroscience project on astrocytes and the stress-linked peptide PACAP from UVM labs to a national stage, with potential implications for diseases like ALS and glioblastoma. Public Health & Safety: Vermont’s neonic phase-out push continues with a new documentary, “Seeding Change: Farming Beyond Neonics,” bringing farmers and researchers together ahead of the 2029 ban. Energy Storage Safety: Clean Energy Group released a new fact sheet on lithium-ion battery storage fire safety, focusing on public health and environmental impacts after incidents. Forest Tech & Markets: The Vermont Sustainable Jobs Fund selected eight startups for its 2026 Forest Business Accelerator, aiming to grow forest-based innovation from advanced manufacturing to carbon-smart forestry. EPR Implementation: Reverse Logistics Group won a Vermont contract to support Household Hazardous Product Stewardship under the state’s EPR law, including manufacturer outreach and cost allocation analysis. Vermont Archives & Research: The Vermont Jazz Center launched a digital archive showcasing decades of jazz history, with an Aug. 7 kickoff event. Policy Watch: A coalition of 25 states, including Vermont, sued over Trump’s latest tariffs, arguing they’re a pretext to replace taxes struck down by the Supreme Court.

Vermont wetlands housing fight: Gov. Phil Scott’s administration is moving forward with narrowed rule changes that make it easier to build near wetlands, after lawmakers objected and environmental groups threatened legal action. Juvenile justice pause: Scott’s team proposes an indefinite pause on Vermont’s “Raise the Age” juvenile justice reform, citing strained supports and concerns about how to serve 18–19-year-olds. Lake Memphremagog catfish cancer: A long-running mystery of transmissible-looking bullhead catfish melanoma in Vermont’s Lake Memphremagog is drawing global researchers, with UVM genetics work helping narrow what’s driving the lesions. Health tech funding: CoreMap, a Vermont medical tech company targeting better atrial fibrillation mapping, closed an oversubscribed $37M Series C to speed its next-gen platform. AI in healthcare, locally felt: A pharmacy chain in Vermont rolled out AI and reported delays, incorrect information, and privacy concerns—another reminder that “tech for care” needs guardrails. Policy + science beyond Vermont: Across the country, 25 states (including Vermont) sued over Trump’s new tariffs, and Texas moved to slow data center construction amid grid strain.

Tariff Fight: A coalition of 25 Democratic-led states, including Vermont, sued the Trump administration over new forced-labor tariffs, arguing the move is unlawful and a workaround to replace taxes the Supreme Court struck down. Vermont Forestry & Clean Energy: Vermont’s forest economy gets a jolt as Finch Paper’s planned pulp mill closure in New York raises pressure to find new markets for low-grade wood and forestry waste, with clean-energy and value-added conversion pitched as the path forward. Aerospace Manufacturing Boost: BETA Technologies and the EXIM Bank say they plan to expand financing by up to $1 billion, extending support tied to BETA’s South Burlington facility and aiming to scale electric propulsion and advanced manufacturing jobs. Health Research in Vermont: UVM researchers won an NIH grant to study DNA damage drivers behind melanoma, with the goal of informing prevention and next-gen sunscreen approaches. Waste & Product Stewardship: Reverse Logistics Group secured a Vermont contract to help implement the state’s Household Hazardous Product Stewardship Program under EPR rules. Veterans Care Expansion: Sen. Bernie Sanders announced new VA outpatient clinics in South Burlington and West Chesterfield, with spring 2029 openings. Tech & Policy Watch: Vermont’s data privacy and AI governance themes continue to surface as states and courts grapple with surveillance, facial recognition limits, and AI in public services.

Health & Research: UVM Cancer Center researchers Steven Roberts and Melanie Bui won an NIEHS/NIH R01 to study rare DNA damage pathways behind Vermont’s high melanoma rates, aiming to connect specific exposures to mutation “signatures” and prevention ideas like next-gen sunscreen. Workforce & Care: Crescent Manor in Bennington brought in four bachelor-prepared nurses from Mexico as a step-by-step pipeline toward Vermont licensure, tackling long-term care staffing shortages. Veterans Tech-Adjacent Infrastructure: Sen. Bernie Sanders announced new VA outpatient clinics in South Burlington (at the Technology Park) and West Chesterfield, with spring 2029 patient openings. Public Safety & Local Tech Policy: Burlington’s public safety emergency and a Chittenden County state’s attorney race highlight how data, transparency, and enforcement choices shape day-to-day outcomes. AI & Privacy: A pharmacy AI rollout in Vermont is reported to have caused delays, incorrect info, and privacy concerns, adding to the push for stronger safeguards. Environment & Food/Water: EPA is moving toward a nationwide drinking-water standard for perchlorate (rocket-fuel chemical) using older survey data, while Vermont’s cheese makers racked up record awards at the American Cheese Society.

NIH-Funded Melanoma Research: UVM Cancer Center researchers Steven Roberts and Melanie Bui won an NIEHS R01 to study rare DNA damage patterns behind melanoma, sequencing DNA from individual skin cells to pinpoint what exposures drive mutations—and how to prevent them. Healthcare Workforce in Vermont: Crescent Manor in Bennington began onboarding its first four bachelor-prepared registered nurses recruited from Mexico, using a step-by-step pathway to Vermont licensure through LNA Health Careers. AI in Pharmacy Under Fire: VTDigger reports Kinney Drugs’ AI prescription refill assistant has triggered delays, wrong or unclear refill requests, and privacy concerns, with customers saying they didn’t realize what they were approving. Semiconductor Push for AI: GlobalFoundries secured a $300M CHIPS-related letter of intent with the U.S. Commerce Department to advance silicon photonics for faster, more energy-efficient AI data-center connections. Vermont Tourism Brand Launch: Vermont Tourism rolled out its first dedicated brand, “State of Inspiration,” aiming to close a visibility gap between how appealing travelers find Vermont and how often they plan to visit. El Niño Winter Watch: Multiple reports flag a strengthening Super El Niño, with potential for wetter conditions in the South and more snowfall risk for parts of the Northeast and Vermont.

Melanoma Research: UVM Cancer Center researchers Steven Roberts and Melanie Bui just landed an NIEHS/NIH R01 to study rare DNA damage patterns behind melanoma, using DNA sequencing from skin cells exposed to different cancer-causing conditions—aiming to explain not just what mutations happen, but why, and how to prevent them. Healthcare Workforce: Crescent Manor in Bennington began onboarding its first four bachelor-prepared registered nurses recruited from Mexico, building a step-by-step path toward Vermont licensure to address long-term care staffing shortages. AI in Pharmacy: A Vermont pharmacy chain’s AI refill assistant is drawing complaints after customers say it’s produced confusing, incorrect refill requests and raised privacy concerns. Public Safety Tech: Rhode Island is expanding its license plate reader network with 39 new cameras under a federal grant, adding to a system that currently lacks state rules on data retention and access. Climate & Travel: NOAA forecasts a strengthening “very strong” El Niño this winter, with above-average snow signals for Vermont and neighboring states—plus practical advice that early fall is the best time to plan around the pattern. Local Land Use: A Barre tea farmer’s use of post-flood city land is sparking neighborhood dispute over whether residents had a say before planting.

AI in healthcare: Kinney Drugs rolled out an AI assistant for prescription refills, but Vermont customers report garbled calls, wrong or unclear medication requests, and privacy worries. Public safety tech: Rhode Island is expanding license plate readers with 39 new Flock units, joining a fast-growing camera network with little state law oversight on retention or searches. Cybersecurity: SM Energy disclosed a breach exposing sensitive personal data, including Social Security and tax IDs, with class-action review reportedly underway. Data centers and local fights: A huge proposed data center on a former golf course in California sparked backlash over transparency and community impact—another reminder of how tech infrastructure collides with local planning. Vermont research: UVM Cancer Center researchers won an NIH R01 to study DNA damage pathways behind melanoma, aiming for better prevention strategies. Food & health science: A Vermont-led study finds milk’s nutrient profile varies by label and season, including differences in omega-3 levels. Workforce & training: A new Vermont high school program puts students on a UVM research vessel to study Lake Champlain rotifers, giving hands-on science experience.