Ragon Institute Initiatives
Our initiatives aim to inspire and engage students from underrepresented communities, providing them with opportunities to explore careers in medical research, immunology, and STEM fields. By partnering with local schools, organizations, and community groups, we create pathways for students to gain hands-on experience, mentorship, and exposure to cutting-edge scientific research. Our commitment extends beyond education; we also focus on building strong community connections, ensuring that science becomes accessible and impactful beyond the walls of the Ragon Institute.
Ragon Institute Summer Experience (RISE)
The Ragon Institute Summer Experience (RISE) internship program engages high school and undergraduate students underrepresented in medical research who are interested in learning about immunology and related fields. RISE aims to inspire young people from underrepresented communities in the Greater Boston area to consider a career in medical research and immunology by offering a paid, structured, and mentored internship with extended supports. Applications for Summer 2025 will be available in late January.
Catherine Othieno Sempa Memorial Post Baccalaureate Scholars Program
This two-year program engages talented graduates from Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and Puerto Rican universities in immersive immunology research experiences. Participants work as full-time research technicians under the mentorship of Ragon Institute Principal Investigators or Post-Doctoral Research Fellows, receiving a competitive salary, benefits, and a $3,000 travel allowance. In addition to hands-on research, scholars benefit from academic and professional development activities, including scientific communication training, seminars, workshops, and graduate school preparation. This program aims to diversify the field of academic research by providing recent graduates with the skills and knowledge necessary for successful careers in scientific research.
The Program of Ragon and IMES in Science and Medicine (PRISM) Science Club
The PRISM Science Club, for high school students from underrepresented communities in the Greater Boston area, meets on Saturdays in March and April. PRISM is a joint effort between the Ragon Institute, MIT’s Institute for Medical Engineering and Science (IMES), and the Harvard-MIT Program in Health Sciences and Technology (HST), housed at IMES which launched in 2022.
Each week features a different program, with a talk, discussion, and an activity. The club is facilitated by graduate students from IMES/HST.
Other Programs
STEM Scholars
STEM Scholars is an after-school program in collaboration with the Cambridge Housing Authority. Ragon scientists and staff have the opportunity to volunteer by assisting students in grades 8-12 with their homework in STEM subjects and providing mentorship over two hours each week during the school year. STEM Scholars aims to foster a supportive learning environment and build strong relationships with students, giving back to the community around us and helping mold the scientists of tomorrow.
Support Our Vital Research
As a non-profit institution, the Ragon relies on the generosity of our benefactors to advance our world-changing research. Whether giving to labs at the Ragon, outreach programs in the Boston area, or research programs in South Africa, one of the greatest catalysts in going from novel ideas to treatments and cures is flexible philanthropic support from donors — and your gift could make all the difference.
Ragon News
Leveraging Artificial Intelligence for Vaccine Development: A Ragon-MIT Advancement in T cell Epitope Prediction
Jan 29, 2025 Features
An exciting collaboration between the Ragon Institute and the Jameel Clinic at MIT has achieved a significant milestone in leveraging artificial intelligence (AI) to aid the development of T cell vaccine candidates. Ragon faculty member Gaurav Gaiha, MD, DPhil, and MIT Professor Regina Barzilay, PhD, AI lead of the Jameel Clinic for AI and Health, […]
Shalek Co-Authors Nature Immunology Study on Nasal Immunity and SARS-CoV-2 Variants
Jan 27, 2025 Features
A recent study published in Nature Immunology, co-authored by Ragon Institute faculty member Alex K. Shalek, PhD, provides critical insights into how SARS-CoV-2 variants and vaccination status shape immune responses in the nasal mucosa. This research, which utilized advanced single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) approaches, explores how cellular responses in the human nasal cavity differ across […]
Announcing the 2025 Giuliani Scholars: Advancing Global Health Through Groundbreaking Research
Jan 16, 2025 Features
The Ragon Institute is proud to announce the 2025 recipients of the Giammaria and Sabrina Giuliani Faculty Support Fund, an endowed fund dedicated to advancing transformative research at the Institute. This year’s awardees are Gaurav Gaiha, MD, DPhil, Azza Idris, MD, PhD, Aaron Schmidt, PhD, and Hernandez Moura Silva, PhD, four exceptional scientists whose work […]
Amy Barczak Awarded CFD Excellence in Mentoring Award
Jan 13, 2025 Features
We are delighted to celebrate Ragon faculty Amy Barczak, MD , for receiving the CFD Excellence in Mentoring Ally for Women Faculty Award! This prestigious recognition, presented by the MGH Center for Faculty Development, honors her extraordinary commitment to supporting and advancing women faculty. Amy’s dedication to mentorship is evident in her tireless efforts to […]