Snapshot of Science for December 2019

Welcome to our Snapshot of Science for December 2019

Here's a quick look at some recent publications, press releases and stories about the Mass General Research Institute community.

In this issue we highlight:

22 new studies published in high impact journals, along with 17 summaries submitted by the research teams
11 new research-related press releases from the Mass General Public Affairs office
8 posts from the Mass General Research Institute blog

Publications

VASOMOTION A MAJOR FACTOR IN PARAVASCULAR DRAINAGE
Vasomotion as a Driving Force for Paravascular Clearance in the Awake Mouse Brain
van Veluw SJ, Hou SS, Calvo-Rodriguez, Arbel-Ornath M, Snyder AC [et al.], Bacskai BJ.
Published in Neuron on December 3, 2019 | *Summary available below | Press Release

ERFE LIMITS HEPCIDIN PRODUCTION
Erythroferrone Lowers Hepcidin by Sequestering BMP2/6 Heterodimer from Binding to the BMP Type I Receptor ALK3
Wang CY, Xu Y, Traeger, Dogan DY, Xiao X [et al.], Babitt JL.
Published in Blood on December 4, 2019 | *Summary available below

COMPLETE RESECTION IMPROVES SURVIVAL FOR PANREOTOMY PATIENTS
Revision of Pancreatic Neck Margins Based on Intraoperative Frozen Section Analysis Is Associated with Improved Survival in Patients Undergoing Pancreatectomy for Ductal Adenocarcinoma
Zhang B, Lee GC, Qadan M, Fong ZV, Mino-Kenudson [et al.], Castillo CF.
Published in Annals of Surgery on December 5, 2019 | *Summary available below

CHECKPOINT INHIBITOR THERAPY IN IBD PATIENTS
Immune Checkpoint Inhibitor therapy in Patients with Preexisting Inflammatory Bowel Disease
Abu-Sbeih H, Faleck DM, Ricciuti B, Mendelsohn RB, Naqash AR [et al.], Wang Y.
Published in Journal of Clinical Oncology on December 4, 2019 | *Summary available below

IMPROVING PROGNOSTIC UNDERSTANDING AMONG PATIENTS WITH HEMATOLOGIC MALIGNANCIES
Patient-Hematologist Discordance in Perceived Chance of Cure in Hematologic Malignancies: A Multicenter Study
Loh KP, Xu H, Back A, Duberstein PR, Gupta Mohile S [et al.], LeBlanc TW.
Published in Cancer on December 6, 2019

MMR VACCINE PRACTICES FOR CHILDREN TRAVELING ABROAD
Clinical Practices for Measles-Mumps-Rubella Vaccination Among US Pediatric International Travelers
Hyle EP, Rao SR, Bangs AC, Gastañaduy P, Fiebelkorn AP [et al.], LaRocque RC.
Published in JAMA Pediatrics on December 9, 2019 | *Summary available below

INPATIENT DISCHARGE PROCESS AIDED BY MACHINE LEARNING
Development and Validation of a Machine Learning Model to Aid Discharge Processes for Inpatient Surgical Care
Safavi KC, Khaniyev T, Copenhaver M, Seelen M, Zenteno Langle AC [et al.], Dunn P.
Published in JAMA Open Network on December 11, 2019

KERATINOCYTES ELICIT EPIGENETIC CHANGES TO PRESERVE SKIN
Functional Interactions Between Mi-2ß and AP1 Complexes Control Response and Recovery from Skin Barrier Disruption
Shibata S, Kashiwagi M, Morgan BA, Georgopoulos K.
Published in Journal of Experimental Medicine on December 13, 2019 | *Summary available below | Press Release

GENDER DIFFERENCES IN HOW RESEARCHERS PRESENT THEIR SCIENCE
Gender Differences in How Scientists Present the Importance of their Research: Observational Study
Lerchenmueller MJ, Sorenson O, Jena AB.
Published in The BMJ on December 16, 2019

CELL PLASTICITY AND RESPONSE TO PDAC THERAPY
Epithelial to Mesenchymal Plasticity and Differential Response to Therapies in Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma
Porter RL, Magnus NKC, Thapar V, Morris R, Szabolcs A [et al.], Ting DT.
Published in PNAS on December 16, 2019 | *Summary available below

PREDICTION OF HLA EPITOPES IMPROVED BY LARGE DATASET
A Large Peptidome Dataset Improves HLA Class I Epitope Prediction Across Most of the Human Population
Sarkizova S, Klaeger S, Le PM, Li LW, Oliveira G [et al.], Keskin DB.
Published in Nature Biotechnology on December 16, 2019

SINGLE-CELL MODELS AID UNDERSTANDING OF BLOOD LOSS
Single-cell Modeling of Routine Clinical Blood Tests Reveals Transient Dynamics of Human Response to Blood Loss
Chaudhury A, Miller GD, Eichner D, Higgins JM.
Published in eLife on December 17, 2019

MF59 MODIFIED VACCINE STIMULATES PHAGOCYTOSIS
Selective Induction of Antibody Effector Functional Responses Using MF59-Adjuvanted Vaccination
Boudreau CM, Yu WH, Suscovich TJ, Talbot HK, Edwards KM, Alter G.
Published in Journal of Clinical Investigation on December 17, 2019

GENDER DIFFERENCES IN CORONARY RISK FACTORS
Outcomes of Women Compared with Men After Non-ST-Segment Elevation Acute Coronary Syndromes
Sarma AA, Braunwald E, Cannon CP, Guo J, Im K [et al.], O'Donoghue ML.
Published in Journal of the American College of Cardiology on December 17, 2019 | *Summary available below

ANTIRETROVIRAL PRESCRIPTION PRACTICES FOR PREGNANT HIV PATIENTS
Antiretroviral Prescribing Practices Among Pregnant Women Living with HIV in the United States, 2008-2017
Powis KM, Huo Y, Williams PL, Kacanek D, Jao J [et al.], Chadwick EG.
Published in JAMA Open Network on December 18, 2019 | *Summary available below | Press Release

THE NEED FOR SPEED: PHYSICIANS & DRIVING
The Need for Speed: Observational Study of Physician Driving Behaviors
Zimerman A, Worsham C, Woo J, Jena AB.
Published in The BMJ on December 18, 2019

ECM PROTEINS MAY AID IN COLON CANCER DIAGNOSIS
Agrin in the Muscularis Mucosa Serves as a Biomarker Distinguishing Hyperplastic Polyps from Sessile Serrated Lesions
Hynes RO, Rickelt S, Condon C, Mana M, Whittaker C [et al.], Deshpande V.
Published in Clinical Cancer Research on December 18, 2019 | *Summary available below

CARE TRANSITIONS IN SENIOR CANCER PATIENTS
Potentially Burdensome End-of-Life Transitions Among Nursing Home Residents with Poor-Prognosis Cancer
Lage DE, DuMontier C, Lee Y, Nipp RD, Mitchell SL [et al.], Berry SD.
Published in Cancer on December 20, 2019 | *Summary available below

PHASE 1 TRIAL OF CHEMOTHERAPY DRUG FOR R/R AML
A Phase 1 Study of the Antibody-Drug Conjugate Brentuximab Vedotin with Re-Induction Chemotherapy in Patients with CD30-Expressing Relapsed/Refractory Acute Myeloid Leukemia
Narayan R, Blonquist TM, Emadi A, Hasserijan RP, Burke M [et al.], Fathi AT.
Published in Cancer on December 20, 2019 | *Summary available below

PROTEIN EZH2 ENHANCES RIBOZYME ACTIVITY
B2 and ALU Retrotransposons are Self-Cleaving Ribozymes Whose Activity is Enhanced by EZH2
Hernandez AJ, Zovoilis A, Cifuentes-Rojas C, Han L, Bujisic B, Lee JT.
Published in PNAS on December 23, 2019 | *Summary available below

CARDIOVASCULAR EVENTS IN CAR-T CELL TREATMENTS
Cardiovascular Events Among Adults Treated with Chimeric Antigen Receptor T-Cells (CAR-T)
Alvi RM, Frigault MJ, Fradley MG, Jain MD, Mahmood SS [et al.], Neilan TG.
Published in Journal of the American College of Cardiology on December 24, 2019 | *Summary available below

INHIBITING CCR2 SLOWS PROGRESSION OF RESISTANT MURINE GLIOMAS
CCR2 Inhibition Reduces tumor Myeloid Cells and Unmasks a Checkpoint Inhibitor Effect to Slow Progression of Resistant Murine Gliomas
Flores-Toro JA, Luo D, Gopinath A, Sarkisian MR, Campbell JJ [et al.], Harrison JK.
Published in PNAS on December 26 | *Summary available below

Summaries

The small blood vessels in the brain play an important role in clearance of waste products, including amyloid. In this study in experimental mice we found that big fluctuations in vessel pulsations that happen at ultra-low frequency (once every 10 seconds) are a major driving force of waste clearance. In mice with amyloid accumulations in the walls of blood vessels, those vessel pulsations were impaired, likely due to loss of smooth muscle cells, which resulted in reduced clearance alongside those vessels. Our results suggest that improving the health of blood vessels in the brain may slow down the progression of amyloid build-up and possibly dementia.

(Summary submitted by Susanne van Veluw, PhD, Department of Neurology)

Iron is an essential nutrient that is important for red blood cell production; however, excess iron is toxic. This study discovered how signals from the bone marrow communicate with the liver and other organs to increase iron absorption from the diet and iron release from body stores when more red blood cells are needed. This inter-organ communication is essential to provide adequate iron to increase red blood cell production in response to anemia, but excess activation of this pathway contributes to iron overload and consequent organ damage in beta-thalassemia. Understanding these pathways may help us discover new treatments for anemia and beta-thalassemia.

(Summary submitted by Jodie Babitt, MD, Department of Medicine, Division of Nephrology)

For years, the world’s leading pancreatic cancer surgeons have debated whether complete tumor resection—aided by reresection of a margin if necessary—truly benefits pancreatic cancer patients in terms of long-term survival. In this study, we carefully evaluated 986 patients from two high-volume tertiary care centers across the U.S. and Europe, including Mass General, with ductal adenocarcinoma at the head, neck, or uncinate process of the pancreas. Our results reveal that complete tumor extirpation at the pancreatic neck—achieved either en-bloc or non-en-bloc based on intraoperative frozen section analysis—is indeed associated with improved overall survival, without an associated increased perioperative morbidity or mortality..

(Summary submitted by Biqi Zhang, MD, Department of Surgery)

Immunotherapy has been enormously successful in treating a wide range of cancers, but can be limited by inflammatory toxicities that resemble spontaneous autoimmunity and often affect the gastrointestinal tract. Patients with autoimmunity, including inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), were excluded from immunotherapy trials. We performed a multicenter retrospective study of outcomes in patients with IBD treated with immunotherapy as standard of care. We found that patients with IBD had a risk of gastrointestinal toxicities that was four times higher than the general population but derived an important antitumor benefit, supporting treatment of patients with IBD using immunotherapy but with close monitoring.

(Summary submitted by Michael L. Dougan, MD, PhD, Department of Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology)

Children represent less than 10% of U.S. international travelers but account for nearly half of known measles importations to the U.S. that then trigger measles outbreaks. We examined more than 14,000 pretravel consultations of pediatric international travelers attending Global TravEpiNet (GTEN) sites. We found that 20% of children were eligible for pretravel MMR vaccination, yet 60% were not vaccinated because clinicians failed to recognize the child’s eligibility or guardians refused vaccination. Infants and preschool-aged travelers were most frequently MMR-eligible yet were often not vaccinated despite being at highest risk for severe measles infection. there is an urgent need for improved MMR vaccination for pediatric international travelers.

(Summary submitted by Emily Hyle, MD, Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases)

Your skin, the barrier between you and the outside world, is ready to respond to scrapes and minor cuts by immediately initiating repair and combating any microbes that might gain entry. We found it can do so rapidly because the genes required for this stress response are held ready for action by a protein encoded by the dermatomyositis gene 2 (Mi-2b). When the skin barrier is compromised, Mi-2b is selectively removed from these genes causing their activation and allowing rapid skin repair. Once the damage is contained, Mi-2b returns these genes to an inactive state. Several skin diseases are caused by failure to shut down this stress response, and insights from this work may provide a novel avenue for treatment.

(Summary submitted by Katia Georgopoulos, PhD, Department of Dermatology, Cutaneous Biology Research Center)

CELL PLASTICITY AND RESPONSE TO PDAC THERAPY
Epithelial to Mesenchymal Plasticity and Differential Response to therapies in Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma
Porter RL, Magnus NKC, Thapar V, Morris R, Szabolcs A [et al.], Ting DT.
Published in PNAS on December 16, 2019

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) exists as distinct molecular subtypes being classical epithelial (E) or quasi-mesenchymal (QM) as defined by RNA expression profiling. Here, we demonstrate E and QM PDAC tumors respond differently to therapies the ability of PDAC tumors to switch between E and QM cell states in response to these therapies. We uncover subtype specific response to Vitamin D, which has implications for pancreatic cancer patients being evaluated in clinical trials with this agent. these data highlight the critical importance of both defining the initial E/QM subtype, currently not part of clinical practice, and monitoring the plasticity of these states in guiding clinical trial design to target different subtypes of PDAC.

(Summary submitted by David Ting, MD, Cancer Center)

Anemia, low blood count, can be an early sign of serious health conditions like cancer and infection, and early detection of falling blood count would enable more precise treatment. We developed a mathematical model describing how the circulating blood cell population changes in response to a falling blood count by studying healthy volunteers before and after blood donation. the model showed that blood loss triggers increased production as well as reduced elimination of existing cells. Our approach uses routinely collected clinical data and may help provide earlier detection of anemia and more precise characterization each individual’s response.

(Summary submitted by John Higgins, MD, Department of Pathology)

Current seasonal influenza vaccination strategies provide poor protection for the very young and the elderly, but the vaccine could be improved with the addition of immune-boosting compounds, known as adjuvants. Here, MF59 was studied because it increased immunity, but showed weaker than expected protection. To investigate, we applied a Ragon technology, Systems Serology, to compare the vaccine-induced antibody response with and without MF59. While the levels of antibodies were increased following MF59 immunization, the killing of infected cells was not increased. Our use of Systems Serology shows this technology’s capacity to inform the development of future vaccines against influenza and beyond.

(Summary submitted by Carolyn Boudreau, Ragon Institute)

Prior studies suggest that outcomes after acute coronary syndromes (ACS) are worse for women than men, but the underlying reason for this disparity was not well understood. Unadjusted data revealed that women were at similar risk for major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) but higher risk of all-cause death. After adjusting for baseline differences (rates of hypertension, diabetes, heart failure history and renal impairment), we discovered that the risk of MACE and all-cause death was significantly lower among women, suggesting that the baseline differences account for the disparity in outcomes rather than female sex. We also found that women are less commonly treated with standard, guideline-directed therapies as compared to men, highlighting an ongoing care gap for women.

(Summary submitted by Amy Sarma, MD, Department of Medicine, Division of Cardiology)

ANTIRETROVIRAL PERSCRIPTION PRACTICES FOR PREGNANT HIV PATIENTS
Antiretroviral Prescribing Practices Among Pregnant Women Living with HIV in the United States, 2008-2017
Powis KM, Huo Y, Williams PL, Kacanek D, Jao J [et al.], Chadwick EG.
Published in JAMA Open Network on December 18, 2019

Since 1994, the United States Department of Health and Human Services has issued safety guidelines for antiretroviral medications for use in pregnancy. These guidelines also indicate which drugs have either insufficient information for use in pregnancy or are known to be unsafe or ineffective. In a recent analysis involving pregnant women with HIV, antiretroviral prescribing practices were compared with U.S. treatment guidelines. For women starting antiretroviral medications in pregnancy, 20% were prescribed a medication with insufficient safety or effectiveness data, rather than a recommended medication. This analysis highlights the need to understand poor alignment between prescribing practices for pregnant women with HIV and national treatment guidelines.

(Summary submitted by Kathleen Powis, MD, Department of Medicine and Department of Pediatrics)

Sessile serrated lesions (SSLs) are precursors of colon carcinoma. their distinction from other less concerning polyps such as hyperplastic polyps may present a significant diagnostic challenge and histological evaluation shows only weak inter-observer agreement among experts. We evaluated expression patterns of extracellular matrix proteins to identify markers distinguishing SSLs from other polyps and identified agrin in the muscularis-mucosae (MM) of SSL biopsies. Immunohistochemical staining of the MM for agrin represents a novel biomarker that assists in diagnosis of morphologically challenging colonic polyps.

(Summary submitted by Vikram Deshpande, MBBS, Department of Pathology and Cancer Center)

PALLIATIVE BURDENS AMONG SENIOR CANCER PATIENTS
Potentially Burdensome End-of-Life Transitions Among Nursing Home Residents with Poor-Prognosis Cancer
Lage DE, DuMontier C, Lee Y, Nipp RD, Mitchell SL [et al.], Berry SD.
Published in Cancer on December 20, 2019

In this study of over 30,000 nursing home residents with poor prognosis cancer, we found that over half of patients had moderate to severe cognitive impairment and two thirds had impairment in all activities of daily living. Despite this population’s frailty, over one-third of patients experienced a burdensome transition of care in the last 90 days of life—defined as two or more hospitalizations or one intensive care unit admission. these findings point to the need to develop supportive care interventions for patients with poor prognosis cancer, and points to the importance of advanced care planning in this vulnerable population.

(Summary submitted by Daniel Lage, MD, MSc, Department of Hematology-Oncology)

Outcomes for relapsed or refractory acute myeloid leukemia are exceptionally poor, but new and emerging treatment combinations are actively being studied in an effort to improve outcomes. We examined a combination of brentuximab vedotin and mitoxantrone, etoposide, and cytarabine (MEC)—an antibody product that recognizes a marker called CD30 and a common chemotherapy regimen, respectively—in patients with relapsed, refractory leukemia expressing the CD30 marker. We found that the combination was safe and well-tolerated. Future studies comparing this new combination to MEC alone will help inform its effectiveness for this patient population.

(Summary submitted by Rupa Narayan, MD, Cancer Center and Department of Medicine, Division of Hematology-Oncology)

Ninety-eight percent of our genome is made up of sequences that do not encode a protein, and about half of these sequences are "jumping genes.” The purpose of jumping genes is still not clear. However, we recently showed that RNAs made from one class of jumping genes—called "B2" and "ALU"—play an important role in stress to activate genes that help combat environmental agents. Our results also show that jumping gene RNAs cut themselves to pieces during stress, allowing stress genes to be turned on. This discovery shows the noncoding portion of the genome is far from "junk DNA," and actually encodes vital information that is critical to our health.

(Summary submitted by Jeannie Lee, MD, PhD, Department of Molecular Biology)

CAR-T therapy leverages genetically modified T-cells targeting tumor cells; however, patients can develop a cytokine release syndrome (CRS) with elevated heart rates and low blood pressure. Working with the Mass General Cellular Immunotherapy Program, we showed for the first time that cardiac injury and cardiovascular events were common with CAR-T, were related to CRS, and may be reduced by early administration of an IL-6 receptor inhibitor. As CAR T-cell therapy expands, careful patient selection, pre-treatment cardiac evaluation and optimization may need to be considered. Our data also suggest that measurement of troponin and EF may be useful in those with CRS.

(Summary submitted by Tomas Neilan, MD, MPH, Department of Medicine, Division of Cardiology)

INHIBITING CCR2 SLOWS PROGRESSION OF MYELOID GLIOMA
CCR2 Inhibition Reduces tumor Myeloid Cells and Unmasks a Checkpoint Inhibitor Effect to Slow Progression of Resistant Murine Gliomas
Flores-Toro JA, Luo D, Gopinath A, Sarkisian MR, Campbell JJ [et al.], Harrison JK.
Published in PNAS on December 26, 2019

Immunotherapy has failed to produce lasting effects in patients with glioblastoma, a deadly brain cancer for which there is no cure. To understand why this happens and how to improve immunotherapy outcomes, investigators at Mass General and the University of Florida recently showed that myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) infiltrate glioblastoma in large numbers and wreak havoc by promoting immunosuppression, tumor progression, and treatment resistance. They found that targeting these MDSCs – using a drug to block chemokine receptor 2 (CCR2) – can significantly improve glioblastoma response to immunotherapy in mice. Thus, CCR2-blocking agents, which are already in clinical trials for cancer patients, should be tested in combination with immunotherapy for glioblastoma.

(Summary submitted by Rakesh Jain, PhD, Department of Radiation Oncology and Cancer Center)

Press Releases

Study Finds Improving Blood Vessel Health in the Brain May Help Combat Alzheimer’s Disease
Featuring Susanne van Veluw, PhD

In experiments conducted in mice, investigators at Mass General have found that very slow spontaneous vessel pulsations – also known as ‘vasomotion’ – drive the clearance of substances from the brain, indicating that targeting and improving this process may help to prevent or treat amyloid-beta accumulation.

Mass General Researchers Uncover Early Adherence Step “Hidden in Plain Sight” in Intestinal Transit of Shigella Pathogen
Featuring Christina Faherty, PhD

Although scientists have been studying Shigella for decades, no effective vaccine has been developed, and the pathogen has acquired resistance to many antibiotics. the recent discovery of an early adherence step in the infection cycle by researchers at Mass General could provide a new therapeutic target or even a new method for vaccine development.

Inaugural Mass General Hospital HEALEY Center International Prize for Innovation in ALS Awarded at 2019 MND Meeting in Perth, Australia
Featuring Merit Cudkowicz, MD, MSc

The Sean M. Healey & AMG Center for ALS at Mass General awarded the inaugural annual Healey Center International Prize for Innovation in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) to the team that brought to trial the first antisense oligonucleotide therapy for ALS.

Largest Study of its Kind Reveals that Many Psychiatric Disorders Arise from Common Genes
Featuring Jordan Smoller, MD, ScD

Psychiatric disorders affect more than 25% of the population in a given year. In the largest-ever study of its kind, published in the journal Cell, researchers identified more than 100 genetic variants that affect the risk for more than one mental health condition.

Study Helps Doctors Recognize Risk Factors, Symptoms of Underdiagnosed Food Avoidance/Restriction Disorder
Featuring Helen Murray, MS

A paper published in Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology helps doctors to recognize the symptoms and risk factors for avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder (ARFID) in adults, which was added to the DSM-5 in 2013, so patients can be properly diagnosed and get help.

Study Provides Insight into Malpractice Risk for Physicians in Training
Featuring Laura C. Myers MD, MPH

A recently published study in Academic Medicine performed by Mass General investigators has identified areas in which physician trainees are at particularly high risk of being involved in malpractice claims.

Mass General Team Detects Alzheimer’s Early Using Electronic Health Records
Featuring Thomas McCoy Jr, MD

A team of scientists from Mass General has developed a software-based method of scanning electronic health records to estimate the risk that a healthy person will receive a dementia diagnosis in the future.

Researchers Outline New Method to Predict Future Risk for Mental Illness Using Teeth
Featuring Erin Dunn, ScD, MPH

A team of researchers is among the first to ask if baby teeth can be used to explore if there are certain ages at which being exposed to childhood adversity is even more harmful.

Amylyx Pharmaceuticals Announces AMX0035 Demonstrated Statistically Significant Treatment Benefit for People with ALS in the CENTAUR Trial
Featuring Sabrina Paganoni, MD, PhD

Amylyx Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a pharmaceutical company focused on developing new treatments for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and other neurodegenerative diseases, and the Sean M. Healey & AMG Center for ALS at Mass General announced that AMX0035 demonstrated a significant treatment benefit for people with ALS in the CENTAUR study.

Pregnant Women with HIV Often Not Given Recommended Treatment, Mass General Study Shows
Featuring Kathleen Powis, MD

Few studies have compared actual prescribing patterns of HIV medications for pregnant women to national treatment guidelines. This study suggests that physicians may be prescribing ahead of the published recommendations and using drugs or drug combinations they have seen work in the adult population in general.

Molecule Governing Skin Repair is Pinpointed by Mass General Researchers
Featuring Katia Georgopoulos, PhD

An essential step in skin healing has been revealed by researchers at the Mass General Cutaneous Biology Research Center, opening up new avenues for developing skin injury treatments. For the first time, the researchers describe how the molecule Mi-2beta normally represses skin cells’ responses to stress or injury.

Blog Posts

5 Things to Know About the Yvonne L. Munn Center for Nursing Research
Featuring Guardia Banister, PhD, RN, NEA-BC, FAAN

Nursing research at Mass General is conducted with the support and guidance of the Yvonne L. Munn Center for Nursing Research.

Mass General is Home to 55 of the World’s Most Influential Researchers

Web of Science Group’s annual list of Highly Cited Researchers was released, and we are pleased to announce that 55 investigators from the Mass General Research Institute made the list.

Building a Support Network for Women Scientists: A Q&A with the Women in Science Coalition

there is no doubt that women have made significant contributions to science and other fields, but women remain vastly underrepresented and face a number of challenges. That’s why two women from the Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging decided to band together and form a coalition.

Mass General Research Wrapped for 2019

To reflect on this past year and celebrate the beginning of a new one, we wanted to share some highlights and milestones with you in our second annual Mass General Research Wrapped.

Study Suggests Diabetes Interventions Reduce Cardiovascular Risk Factors Regardless of Genetic Predisposition to Coronary Artery Disease
Featuring Jordi Merino, PhD, and Jose Florez, MD, PhD

Two strategies for reducing cardiovascular risk in diabetes patients appear to work equally well regardless of that patient’s genetic risk for coronary artery disease.

Best Research Stories of 2019 (Part 1)

2019 has been a record-breaking year for the Mass General Research Institute blog. We received a gold award for best blog from the NESHCo Lamplighter Awards, a gold award for best healthcare content for one of our posts and a distinction for the blog from the eHealthcare Leadership Awards.

Best Research Stories of 2019 (Part 2)

Our last post covered half of our top ten research stories of 2019, and now it’s time to share the top five! Read on to learn more about some of the most exciting work our researchers have done within the past year.

Looking to Fill Time During the Holiday Lull? Check out these “Best Of” Science Lists

If you’re working between Christmas and New Year's, chances are your office or lab is pretty quiet. OK, it’s probably more of a ghost town. If you’re looking for ways to pass the time—and you’ve already cleared out your inbox and cleaned up your desk—check out these science favorites from around the web in 2019!

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Snapshot of Science for December 2019