Ragon Institute
Aug 17, 2022
Key Takeaways Antibodies elicited by a first vaccination in HIV and SARS-CoV mouse models shape the antibody response to later vaccination. This research elucidates the basic biology of the antibody response, which may inform future vaccine development. BOSTON – The human immune system is a library of responses to past exposures. In a new study […]
Aug 10, 2022
Key Takeaways A single genetic variant on human B cell receptors is responsible for differences in immune response to an experimental universal flu vaccine that targets the influenza viral spike protein. Findings suggest some people may not have broadly neutralizing antibody responses to universal flu vaccines, but there is the potential to rescue immune response. […]
Aug 3, 2022
The Ragon’s Biosafety Level 3 lab plays a key role in translational studies of emerging viral infections When scientists want to study potentially dangerous pathogens—bacteria, viruses, or other organisms that can cause disease—they need to use specialized laboratory spaces. At the Ragon Institute, our state-of-the-art Biosafety Level 3 (BSL-3) laboratory is where experiments can be […]
Jul 27, 2022
Key Takeaways Researchers investigated the efficacy of four naturally occurring IgG subclasses against vaginal HIV infection. In a humanized mouse model, the antibody VRC07 IgG2 showed substantially reduced protection relative to other IgG subclasses. BOSTON – Immunoglobulin gamma (IgG) antibodies are produced by the immune system after exposure to HIV. There are four different types […]
Jun 28, 2022
BOSTON – Although pregnant individuals and newborns may face elevated risks of developing more severe cases of COVID-19 following SARS-CoV-2 infection, data indicate that COVID-19 vaccination during pregnancy can help to protect both the mother and child. New research collaboratively led by investigators at Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) and Brigham and Women’s Hospital (BWH) and published […]
Jun 21, 2022
Sikhulile Moyo discusses the benefits of international collaboration and a culture of transparency Last week, the Ragon Institute welcomed virologist Sikhulile Moyo, PhD, laboratory director of the Botswana-Harvard AIDS Institute Partnership (BHP) and research associate at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, for a visit. Moyo is a collaborator with Ragon members Mathias Lichterfeld, […]
Jun 6, 2022 Ragon Culture
May 26 was a sad but exciting day for the Ragon as the Clinical Team said goodbye to four of its team members, who are moving on to their next stages of training. All four will be pursuing further degrees in either science or medicine. Max Barbash worked on mucosal immunology and lymphoid studies at […]
Jun 3, 2022
Ragon member Gaurav Gaiha is a physician and scientist, Indian and American As the son of Indian immigrants, Gaurav Gaiha, MD, DPhil, describes himself as wearing two hats. He was born in the U.S. and grew up in Lake Forest, Illinois, outside of Chicago, which resulted in “a dual identity … at one moment you’re […]
Jun 3, 2022
Research technician Agnes Cheng started a new job during the pandemic—and experienced her Asian identity in a different way amid a troubling rise in violence Graduating from college can be an uncertain and confusing time in any circumstances, but it was especially the case for Agnes Cheng, a research technician in Aaron Schmidt’s lab who […]
Jun 1, 2022
Research technician Liza Vecchiarello seeks knowledge in her personal and professional life Liza Vecchiarello, a research technician in Bruce Walker’s lab, would often get high fevers as a child. It remained a medical mystery until she doubled over in pain during recess in the third grade and was rushed to the hospital. There, doctors discovered […]
May 20, 2022
How does the immune system remember and recognize viral invaders it has encountered in the past? A trio of newly published studies of people infected with SARS-CoV-2, vaccinated against the virus or both, are providing tantalizing new clues about the factors that influence the speed and magnitude of the immune system’s response to subsequent infection […]
May 17, 2022
Researchers including Galit Alter, Boris Juelg, and Alex Shalek have just been awarded a five-year, over $12 million grant from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases’ Human Immunology Project Consortium (HIPC) to study the immunology of pregnancy. This is the first time in the grant’s 12-year history that a project on immunology of […]
May 3, 2022 Ragon Culture
Last Saturday, April 30, was the eighth week of this year’s PRISM Science Club. High school students learned about the importance of diagnostic tools and used gel electrophoresis kits from miniPCR bio to test for a fictional virus. Ragon Institute Director Dr. Bruce Walker also gave a surprise visit and talk! This marks the final […]
Apr 27, 2022
Image from Immunity, courtesy of Elsevier BOSTON – More than 1.7 billion people—or a quarter of the world’s population—are infected with Mycobacterium tuberculosis, the bacterial strain that causes tuberculosis (TB). For years, scientists have been working to develop an effective vaccine, but current TB vaccines are only partially protective. New research by a team including investigators at […]
Apr 15, 2022
When world-record holding marathoner Susan Ragon hit a bump in the road, she looked to Massachusetts General Hospital. In turn, her generosity and tenacity has inspired others in the Mass General community to lace up and join “Team Susan.” Read about Susan Ragon’s passion for running and how she inspired her care team at Mass […]
Apr 11, 2022
BOSTON – Since the first reports of HIV infection in the early 1980s, multiple clinical trials have tested potential vaccines against the virus, but unfortunately, HIV has numerous defense mechanisms that prevent a person’s immune system from mounting an effective response following HIV vaccination. An alternative anti-HIV strategy called vectored immunoprophylaxis (VIP) designed by researchers at […]