Thanks to you and your generous support, our MGH Research Scholars are accomplishing extraordinary things each day. Together, we’re taking new discoveries as far as we can, as fast as we can — toward new possibilities in disease prediction, prevention, diagnosis and treatment.
We hope you find this update informative and inspiring.
Congrats to these MGH Research Scholars Included Among the World's Most Influential Researchers
Each year, Web of Science Group releases a list of Highly Cited Researchers to identify scientists who have demonstrated significant global influence through publication of multiple papers, highly cited by their peers, during the last decade. Seven MGH Research Scholars were included on the 2019 list of Highly Cited Researchers. Join us in congratulating them!
Andrew Chan, MD, MPH,Stuart and Suzanne Steele MGH Research Scholar 2017-2022
Filip Swirski, PhD,Patricia and Scott Eston MGH Research Scholar 2016-2021
Galit Alter, PhD, Samana Cay MGH Research Scholar 2017-2022
Keith Joung, MD, PhD,Desmond and Ann Heathwood MGH Research Scholar 2016-2021
Matthias Nahrendorf, MD, PhD, Weissman Family MGH Research Scholar 2014-2019
Mikael Pittet, PhD,Samana Cay MGH Research Scholar 2015-2020
Stephen Haggarty, PhD, Stuart and Suzanne Steele MGH Research Scholar 2017-2022
A Paradigm Shift in Palliative Care
In a recent YouTube video, Jennifer Temel, MD, Hostetter MGH Research Scholar 2017-2022, shares her experience leading the Cancer Outcomes Research Program and how their interdisciplinary team can change the future of palliative care through research and mentorship.
Research Continues to Support Positive Effects of Exercise
Jordan Smoller, MD, ScD, Tepper Family MGH Research Scholar 2014-2019, was senior author to a second paper detailing the protective affects of exercise. His research team found that exercising at least 3 hours per week could reduce an individual's risk of developing depression even if the individual is genetically predisposed. Learn more.
Matthias Nahrendorf, MD, PhD, Tepper Family MGH Research Scholar 2014-2019, published a study in Nature that was the first to identify a specific pathway that promotes inflammation, which can lead to a heart attack or stroke. They found that regular exercise helps to block this harmful pathway and could provide a form of protection or lead to the devlopment of new therapies for cardiovascular disease. Learn more.
Celebrating Female Leadership
This past summer, Anne Klibanski, MD, was named CEO of Mass General Brigham after a nationwide search and became the first female CEO in Mass General Brigham history. As a former mentee of Kilbanski, Karen Miller, MD, Laurie and Mason Tenaglia MGH Research Scholar 2018-2023, wrote a thoughtful reponse on the importance of advocacy for women and mentorship. Learn more.
MGH Research Scholars Volume 8 Email
Thanks to you and your generous support, our MGH Research Scholars are accomplishing extraordinary things each day. We hope you find this update informative and inspiring.
Please email us your comments and questions, and be sure to visit our website for more news and updates.
LAB DAY 2019:A Behind-the-Scenes Look at Mass General Research
The second annual Mass General Research Institute LAB DAY event on September 26 gave friends and supporters of Mass General research an up-close look at science with the potential to revolutionize medicine for patients.
In an action-packed day, participants met with scientists exploring promising new research in mental health, cancer, genetics, imaging and infectious diseases. Learn more.
DISCOVERY Study Seeks to Learn More About the Causes of Post-Stroke Cognitive Disability
Natalia Rost, MD, MPH, Samana Cay MGH Research Scholar 2019-2024, has become Principal Investigator of DISCOVERY, a $39M grant to support the DISCOVERY Network, a landmark, multi-institutional nationwide study to understand mechanisms of post-stroke vascular cognitive impairment and dementia (VCID).
"The foundation of my MGH Research Scholar award, 'Brain Resilience in Stroke' is at the core of this study and the DISCOVERY Network will allow us to extend and explore this concept further," says Rost.
"Ultimately, I see a world where each patient has a chance at successful recovery after stroke." Learn more.
How a Small Fish Could Make a Big Difference in the Future of Cancer Research
When determining the best treatments for a given cancer, replicating the cancer in laboratory models to observe the effects of different drugs is crucial.
A team led by David Langenau, PhD, MGH Research Scholar 2017-2022, has developed a new zebrafish model that allows scientists to transplant cancer cells from humans and observe how they grow, spread and respond to treatment in real time.
"We can now witness how an individual cancer cell responds to a drug in a live animal," says Langenau. "That's going to be a major step forward for the cancer field." Learn more.
How Mothers Build the Immune Systems Of Their Children During Pregnancy
A research team from the Ragon Institute of MGH, MIT and Harvard led by Galit Alter, PhD, Samana Cay MGH Research Scholar 2017-2022, recently published a paper detailing the mechanisms through which mothers transfer immune cells to their children during pregnancy.
Alter's team made key discoveries related to how the placenta filters out and passes down the most effective immune cells, which serve as the foundation of a child's immune system.
“For the first time we are starting to understand how the immune system is really working, and how antibodies are leveraging and directing immune function,” says Alter. “It allows us to think about how we can make maternal vaccines in a completely new way driven by our basic understanding of how antibodies are fighting disease.” Learn more.
Daphne Holt Receives SPARC Award for Psychiatric Research
Daphne Holt, MD, PhD, MGH Research Scholar 2018-2023, was named a Scientific Projects to Accelerate Research and Collaboration (SPARC) awardee during Mass General's second annual Neuroscience Day earlier this fall. The SPARC awards were established by the Henry and Allison McCance Center for Brain Health to support collaboration across disciplines.
Holt and her team were recognized for a program designed to help young people better manage their emotions and cope with the stress and demands of work, school and new social experiences. The goal is to identify new strategies to help reduce the risk of developing neuropsychiatric disorders. Learn more about her research.
Walensky Continues Impassioned Advocacy for HIV Prevention Funding
Rochelle Walensky, MD, MPH, Steve and Deborah Gorlin MGH Research Scholar 2015-2020, is a vocal leader in the campaign for widespread HIV prevention. She is a noted expert in HIV research, policy and prevention and her recent advocacy efforts have gained national attention. Learn more about Dr. Walensky and her work.
