Merck

East Lansing – October 29, 2026 -- The Inner Circle has named David R. Neff, DO, a Pinnacle Lifetime Member for contributions in medicine, education and research, citing a career of more than 45 years that spans clinical practice, pharmaceutical leadership and academia.

Neff spent 15 years in pharmaceutical leadership after 20 years in clinical practice

Neff worked in direct clinical practice for about 20 years before moving into the pharmaceutical industry. There he held leadership roles for 15 years, including Medical Science Liaison at Merck and Senior Chief Medical Director for Medicaid Medical Affairs.

When the COVID-19 pandemic emerged, he returned to patient care in urgent care and family medicine settings.

Washington – September 29, 2026 -- The Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA) has named former House Majority Leader Eric Cantor as its next president and chief executive officer, effective November 9. Cantor succeeds Stephen J. Ubl, who has led the trade group since 2015 and will remain as a strategic advisor through January 15, 2027.

Dahlem-Marienau – September 13, 2026 -- One in four 15-year-olds in Germany now fails to meet basic science competency standards, according to the newly released PISA 2026 study, which recorded the country's worst results since the assessment began. In response, private boarding school Schule Marienau in Lower Saxony is investing roughly €800,000 in a new STEM facility designed to reverse the decline in scientific literacy among students.

PISA 2026 data show only 10% of German students rank as high performers in science

The study found science performance at an all-time low nationally, with the top-performing segment stagnant while the broader student base loses ground. Marienau's leadership frames the results as a structural problem rather than statistical noise, arguing that schools have shifted too far from applied, problem-solving education toward rote knowledge transfer.