Ragon Institute Our Mission
Bridging Disciplines to Unlock the Immune System’s Potential for Human Health.
Cross-Disciplinary Collaboration
At the Ragon, we provide scientists and engineers from diverse fields with significant resources that enable them to better understand the immune system and support human health. Our mission is to develop strong collaborations between the often-siloed academic disciplines, bringing the collective scientific knowledge base together in order to understand and utilize the immune system’s immense power to support human health.
Our Research Vision
To Harness the Immune System to Prevent and Cure Human Disease.
Collaborate. Research. Cure.
By leveraging cross-disciplinary knowledge, we recognize that significant progress arises from the collective effort of various scientific fields. Through fostering a collaborative and research-intensive environment, we aim to achieve transformative outcomes in global health, pushing the boundaries of science to find cures and improve lives, embodying our commitment to collaboration, research, and curing diseases.
Research Framework
Our thematic programs not only focus on specific research areas but also encompass broader themes that intersect across all of them. By integrating diverse research foci and areas of study within and across our thematic programs, we leverage the collective expertise of our multidisciplinary teams. This dynamic structure fosters innovation and discovery, ultimately enhancing our ability to move the field of immunology forward.
Interdisciplinary Collaboration
We believe that groundbreaking discoveries emerge from the synergy of diverse scientific disciplines working together — from clinicians working hands on with patients to engineers building the tools that push their research forward. The Ragon Institute’s three thematic programs focus our efforts into distinct yet interconnected areas, propelling the field of immunology forward. By fostering a collaborative environment, we accelerate progress and strive to achieve transformative outcomes in global health.
Program for Immunophysiology and Disease
Exploring the complexities of the immune system to prepare for and protect against future global health threats, this program spans three initiatives: Homeostasis: maintaining optimal physical and chemical conditions; Productive responses: effectively eliminating specific threats; and Destructive responses: addressing dysfunctions that create new threats.
Program for Patient Focused Immunology
The program bridges clinical observations and bench research, aiming to translate findings into practical applications worldwide. Our initiatives include Clinical Trials: assessing therapeutic agents’ safety and effectiveness; Translational Studies: developing new ways to prevent, diagnose, and treat diseases; and Social and Behavioral Research: gaining insights into patient experiences and breaking down health equity barriers.
Program for Immune Engineering
The program leverages scientific discoveries to develop cutting-edge treatments and diagnostic tools. Our initiatives encompass Vaccine Development: creating agents for immunity against diseases; Diagnostics & Devices: designing tools for disease identification and research; and Non-Vaccine Immune Therapies: treatments that modulate the immune system.
Areas of Study
Our researchers tackle some of the world’s most pressing health challenges, focusing on diseases that significantly impact global health. These include HIV, tuberculosis, and COVID-19, among other infectious and immune-related diseases. By studying these areas in depth, our teams aim to advance understanding of disease mechanisms, uncover potential treatments, and ultimately drive progress toward prevention and cures. Through a commitment to impactful science, the Ragon Institute strives to push immunology research forward.
More From Ragon
Ragon International
Our commitment to immunology and research extends beyond our home in Cambridge — Global Health is a pillar of our research and outreach, and the Ragon International programs reflect our growing commitment to health equity across the globe.
Our Labs
The Ragon Institute brings together diverse researchers from across Mass General Brigham, MIT, and Harvard whose expertise ranges from developing new tools to studying cell interactions to identifying potential cures for the HIV epidemic and other global diseases.
Centralized Research Services
Cores
Cores are our paid research services available to the Ragon community as well as external researchers, offering our specialized equipment and expertise to advance groundbreaking scientific research.
Platforms
Platforms are research services funded by the Ragon and which are available to Ragon members and affiliates at no charge. They include Biostatistics, Clinical, and Tissue Platforms among others which provide support that pushes science forward.
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.