Ragon Institute of Mass General, MIT, and Harvard

The Ragon Institute is proud to recognize Upasana Das Adhikari, PhD, a postdoctoral fellow in the Kwon Lab, who has been awarded the prestigious K99 Pathway to Independence Award by the National Institutes of Health (NIH). This highly competitive award identifies trainees with strong potential to become independent scientists and supports them through this critical transition. Das Adhikari joined the Kwon Lab as a postdoctoral fellow in July 2019. Before moving to Boston, she was a Signgene Fellow working on a collaborative project between the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and the Max Delbruck Centre of Molecular Medicine in Berlin. During her PhD, she studied gut epithelial stem cell regeneration, focusing on the crosstalk between reserve and active stem cells.  Her fascination with the interactions between the epithelium, gut associated lymphoid tissue, and the microbiome led her to the lab of Ragon faculty member Doug Kwon, MD. PhD, where she now investigates the imbalance of these interactions during HIV disease progression. The NIH K99 Pathway to Independence Award provides Das Adhikari with up to two years of mentored support followed by up to three years of independent support. This award is designed to help postdoctoral researchers transition to academic positions, facilitating their development into independent researchers. Das Adhikari’s award recognizes her exceptional potential and provides her with the resources to further her innovative research. This support will enable her to continue her critical work in understanding the interactions within the gut during HIV progression and contribute to the development of new strategies to combat HIV and other gut inflammatory diseases. Congratulations, Dr. Adhikari!

We’re making history! SANTHE (Sub-Saharan African Network for TB/HIV Research Excellence) and the US Military HIV Research Program hosted a Consensus Workshop on Analytical Treatment Interruption in HIV Cure Trials at the Trademark Hotel in Nairobi, Kenya. This groundbreaking event, the first of its kind in Africa, gathered experts from five continents, including community advocates, persons living with HIV, scientists, clinicians, and leaders from funding, regulatory, and industry organizations. Over three days, we engaged in dynamic discussions aimed at drafting new international guidelines to standardize analytical treatment interruption (ATI) trials. These guidelines will reshape how ATI trials are designed, ensuring they are more effective and ethically sound. The collaboration and insights shared will undoubtedly enhance our efforts to find a cure for HIV, marking a significant milestone in global health research. Thank you to all the participants who made this event a success. Your contributions pave the way for future advancements in the fight against HIV. Read more about the event here: https://lnkd.in/d82TMhs4

“Future African Scientist” — The Unlikely Friendship Teaching the Next Generation of African Researchers In January 2020, two students from across the world met at the Ragon's “Evolution of an Epidemic” course. Their friendship inspired the creation of a program they hope will benefit African science for years to come. Martin Lubowa was a high school student at the prestigious African Leadership Academy (ALA) when he got an opportunity–the chance to be part of the first cohort of ALA students to join MIT undergraduates on the annual “Evolution of an Epidemic” course. “It was a wonderful opportunity to go and learn about the HIV epidemic up close,” Lubowa said. “I was really happy to be nominated for the program.” Daniel Zhang was a sophomore biology student at MIT when he signed up for the class. “I was interested in the policy side, the research side, and the medicine side of the HIV epidemic,” Zhang said. “But ultimately also the chance to speak to the people there who are at the forefront of dealing with this incredible challenge.” Despite being from opposite ends of the world–Lubowa from Uganda and Zhang from California–the two would become roommates. Then friends. Then partners on a global project to mentor the next generation of African scientists. Read the full article at: https://lnkd.in/e__beUFK To learn more about Future African Scientist, head to https://lnkd.in/geMU-S_3 #Mentorship #AfricanScience #Africa #GlobalHealth #MIT

We are delighted to announce the upcoming launch of the Ragon Child Care Center at our new building at 600 Main Street! Operated by Bright Horizons, the Ragon Child Care Center will offer early childhood education and care right at the heart of our community. With programs tailored for infants, toddlers, and preschool-aged children, this center aims to support our employees' work-life balance by providing a convenient and high-quality child care solution. Located onsite, the center is scheduled to open this September. It will have the capacity to accommodate 45 children, ensuring that our community members have access to reliable and excellent care for their young ones in the same building where they work. The Ragon Child Care Center’s proximity to the workplace allows for active involvement in children’s early education, making it easier for parents to stay connected and engaged. Moreover, the Ragon Institute is proud to subsidize the center’s tuition and offer the Susan Ragon Child Care Scholarship to support eligible families. This needs-based scholarship is designed to make quality child care accessible to all members of our community, ensuring that financial barriers do not stand in the way of a child's education and well-being. This initiative is a testament to our commitment to supporting our employees’ diverse needs and fostering a supportive, inclusive environment. As an additional effort to continue building ties with the Cambridge community, five spots have also been reserved for Ragon Institute neighbors who are Cambridge Housing Authority residents. Stay tuned for more updates and explore Bright Horizons' resources at brighthorizons.com. We can’t wait to see the positive impact this center will have on our community! #RagonInstitute #Childcare #BrightHorizons #CommunitySupport

On July 9, Ragon faculty member and Early Independence Fellow Charles Evavold, PhD, participated in a special seminar as part of the Science Seminar Series @RCCHU titled “Synthetic Biology Strategies for Human Health: From Yeasts to Immune Cells.” Hosted by the Real Colegio Complutense at Harvard (RCCHU) and Harvard Medical School, this seminar explored innovative approaches to engineering living cells, using advanced techniques like CRISPR-Cas genomic editing. Evavold highlighted the potential of engineered mRNA to reprogram cell death. Victor J. Cid, PhD, of the Complutense University of Madrid shared insights on humanized yeast models for genetic and pharmacological research. And Jon Kagan, PhD, of Boston Children’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School, discussed how re-wiring pathways in lymphoid cells can lead to new therapeutic designs. The event showcased the collaborative efforts of top researchers and institutions, emphasizing the transformative potential of synthetic biology in medical and pharmaceutical sciences. The RCC is the sponsor of Dr. Cid for his sabbatical in the Evavold lab and sponsor for this special seminar. #RagonInstitute #SyntheticBiology #MedicalResearch #HealthInnovation

On July 9th, the Ragon Institute had the pleasure of hosting a special seminar by Matteo Iannacone, MD, PhD, Professor and Head of the Division of Immunology at San Raffaele Scientific Institute & University in Milan, Italy. Dr. Iannacone's seminar, held in the Schwartz Auditorium, focused on the critical topic of "Immune Surveillance of the Liver." Iannacone's illustrious career spans a M.D. degree from the University of Milan, a residency in Internal Medicine, and a Ph.D. in Immunology from Vita-Salute San Raffaele University. With postdoctoral training at The Scripps Research Institute and Harvard Medical School, he now leads the Dynamics of Immune Responses Laboratory in Milan. His pioneering research uses cutting-edge in vivo imaging techniques and advanced animal models to unravel the complexities of immune responses and viral-induced immunopathology. We are proud to have hosted Dr. Iannacone and to continue fostering scientific excellence and collaboration at the Ragon Institute. #RagonInstitute #Seminars #Immunology #MedicalResearch #HealthInnovation

The years immediately after completing a doctorate are one of the most pivotal times in any researcher’s career — a period where they set the course of their research and grow beyond their time as a graduate student. For Gema González Rubio, the Ragon Institute was the perfect place to take that initial step as an early-career researcher. Originally from Madrid, Spain, González Rubio was selected as the first Ramón Areces Foundation Research Fellow at the Ragon and joined the Institute in March. Over the next two years, she’ll be working in the lab of Ragon Early Independence Fellow Charles Evavold, PhD. There, she hopes to kickstart her career and learn as much as she can with her research into yeasts and eukaryotic cells. Read our interview with Gema here: https://lnkd.in/gwfb-sK8 #PostDoc #Fellow #Spain #Research

We are proud to announce that Shivang Parikh, PhD, a postdoctoral fellow in the Batista Lab, has been awarded a prestigious Human Frontier Science Program (HFSP) Fellowship. This fellowship sponsored by the HFSP supports cutting-edge research in the life sciences, encouraging innovative and interdisciplinary projects that challenge existing paradigms. The HFSP fellowship program is designed to promote transformative research by supporting early career scientists as they broaden their research skills and embark on novel projects in new countries. Parikh’s work exemplifies this spirit of innovation and scientific excellence. The fellowship provides a living allowance, research and travel funds, and additional support for family and relocation expenses, enabling fellows to fully dedicate themselves to their groundbreaking research. HFSP fellowships are highly competitive and are awarded based on the potential of the proposed research to make significant contributions to the field. We are excited to see the impactful research that Parikh will undertake through this fellowship and proud of his achievements and contributions to the scientific community. #RagonInstitute #HFSPFellowship #InnovativeResearch #LifeSciences #PostDoc

Researchers at the Ragon Institute’s System Serology Lab have conducted a comprehensive study on how infants develop immunity to Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV). Postdoctoral fellow Nadège Nziza was the first author of the study, published in Immunity, which explores how the immune responses of infants to RSV change over time. The paper, titled “Longitudinal humoral analysis in RSV-infected infants identifies pre-existing RSV strain-specific G and evolving cross-reactive F antibodies,” provides a detailed analysis of the antibodies that infants produce when infected with RSV. The researchers found significant age-dependent differences in these immune responses. In younger infants, maternal antibodies provide initial protection but wane after a few months, creating a window of vulnerability between 3 and 6 months of age. As infants grow older, they start developing their own antibodies, which become more specific and effective over time. This research sheds light on the importance of both G-specific and F-specific antibodies in controlling RSV infections. G-specific antibodies, which are strain-specific, appear early and contribute to initial control, while F-specific antibodies, which are more cross-reactive, evolve later and are crucial for the resolution of the infection. These findings offer valuable insights into the mechanisms of immune protection against RSV and underscore the need for age-targeted treatment strategies. Read the paper here: https://lnkd.in/eywZUQN2 #RSV #Pediatrics #Immunology #Research

We are grateful to have the ribbon-cutting of our new building featured in MIT News and the Harvard Gazette. Read the articles at the links below, including a recap of the event itself as well as an in-depth Q&A with our founding director, Bruce D Walker, MD. MIT News - New Ragon Institute building opens in the heart of Kendall Square https://lnkd.in/eK6JFEYC Harvard Gazette - How Ragon Institute's new home aids mission https://lnkd.in/e4fSeNHi