Looking back at this special moment in Ragon history — here’s what our new building at 600 Main St. looked like over 60 years ago in 1964! That empty plot of land is now home to a world-class scientific institution of researchers, clinicians, and engineers. Up until the 1980s, Kendall Square was mostly an industrial district, with many locations decaying or shuttering as manufacturing and industry in the area moved away. In the 1990s and early 2000s, companies began to build offices and retail spaces in the area, and it soon transformed into the bustling hub of research and technology that we know today. Kendall Square has been called "the most innovative square mile on the planet", and we are excited to continue contributing to its reputation for excellence and achievement. Credit: Joe Runci/Boston Globe Staff #RagonInstitute #History #TBT #BeforeAndAfter #ThrowbackThursday
Ragon Institute of Mass General Brigham, MIT, and Harvard
Research Services
Cambridge, MA 5,345 followers
Harnessing the immune system to prevent and cure human disease.
About us
The Ragon Institute was established in 2009 with a dual mission: to contribute to the accelerated discovery of an HIV/AIDS vaccine and subsequently establish itself as a world leader in the collaborative study of immunology. Founded with a commitment of $100 million from Phillip T. (Terry) and Susan M. Ragon, and with an additional $200 million gift to endow the Institute announced on April 26, 2019, the Institute is structured and positioned to significantly contribute to a global effort to successfully develop an HIV/AIDS vaccine by: • Creating non-traditional partnerships among experts with different but complementary backgrounds; • Providing a means for rapidly funding promising studies; • Integrating key facets of vaccine development efforts that have tended to follow separate tracks; • Providing a substantial pool of accessible, flexible funding that lowers the threshold for scientists to pursue risky, unconventional avenues of study that are unlikely to attract funding from traditional sources. Such funding encourages innovation, compresses the time it takes to conduct bench-to-bedside research and attracts new minds to the field. The Ragon Institute creates a singular opportunity and environment to engage scientists, engineers and clinicians in challenging research for which there is no greater benefit – saving lives and curing the ill.
- Website
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http://www.ragoninstitute.org
External link for Ragon Institute of Mass General Brigham, MIT, and Harvard
- Industry
- Research Services
- Company size
- 201-500 employees
- Headquarters
- Cambridge, MA
- Type
- Nonprofit
- Founded
- 2009
- Specialties
- Immunology, Virology, Research, HIV, Infectious Disease, Global Health, HIV/AIDS research, Vaccine Development, Emerging Infectious Diseases, Clinical Studies, Scientific Research, Public Health, Cross Disciplinary Collaboration , Human Immunology, Break Through Research, Community Engagement, Harvard University, Massachusetts General Hospital, Biomedical Research , and Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Locations
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Primary
400 Technology Square
Cambridge, MA 02139, US
Employees at Ragon Institute of Mass General Brigham, MIT, and Harvard
Updates
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Researchers at the University of Amsterdam, in collaboration with the Batista Lab at the Ragon Institute, have developed a potential new approach for an HIV vaccine. The study, published in Science Immunology, focuses on creating a vaccine component that can stimulate the immune system to produce powerful antibodies against HIV. Titled “Germline-targeting HIV vaccination induces neutralizing antibodies to the CD4 binding site,” the paper details how the researchers designed a vaccine component called BG505 SOSIP GT1.1. This immunogen is engineered to engage and activate a specific type of immune cell that can in turn develop into cells that produce broadly neutralizing antibodies (bnAbs). BnAbs are capable of fighting off diverse strains of HIV. In non-human tests conducted in the study, a single dose of BG505 SOSIP GT1.1 successfully expanded immune cells that specifically target the CD4 binding site on the HIV virus, a site that is key in the virus's ability to infect human cells. The study found that some of the antibodies produced were effective against a variety of HIV strains. These findings provide important preclinical support for ongoing human trials and highlight the potential of this new vaccine approach to advance the development of an effective HIV vaccine. #Research #HIV #Publication #Immunology #ScienceImmunology
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Researchers at The Ndhlovu Lab, part of the Ragon Institute and the Africa Health Research Institute (AHRI), have completed a significant study on the safety and practicality of lymph node excisions for HIV cure research in South Africa. The study — led by Ragon faculty member Zaza Mtine Ndhlovu, PhD, and published in Frontiers in Immunology — provides critical insights into how these procedures can advance our understanding of HIV reservoirs. HIV reservoirs are groups of HIV-infected cells that can remain latent within the body for months or years but can be reactivated if a patient’s treatment with antiretroviral therapy (ART) is stopped. The Ndhlovu Lab paper, titled “Safety and practicality of an excisional lymph node study driving HIV cure research in South Africa,” discusses how the researchers successfully conducted 181 lymph node excisions since 2015. These procedures were minimally invasive and performed under local anesthesia, minimizing risk and discomfort for the participants. The small incisions healed within a week, and most participants were able to resume normal activities the following day. The study reported only a 5.5% occurrence of minor adverse events, such as swelling or prolonged wound healing, all of which were resolved within two weeks. Read More at: https://lnkd.in/eRV79-h5 #Research #FrontiersInImmunology #Immunology #Publication #HIV
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"I've learned more from my failures than I have from my successes." – Terry Ragon, Founder of InterSystems in a recent Forbes article on exploring the multi-disciplinary approach of the Ragon Institute of Mass General Brigham, MIT, and Harvard. The Ragon Institute is delighted to have been featured in this Forbes profile and we are proud to share his story and the impact of his legacy on global health. Read the article below and explore how Terry Ragon's bold commitment is not only propelling scientific advancements but also igniting global hope for an HIV cure. #Innovation #HIVResearch #Leadership #InterSystems #RagonInstitute
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Ragon Institute of Mass General Brigham, MIT, and Harvard reposted this
Life sciences educator, program director, and curriculum developer, advocating for traditionally underserved communities of learners.
So glad thay we at the Ragon Institute of Mass General Brigham, MIT, and Harvard are able to participate in this program and grateful for the support of Massachusetts Life Sciences Center. Looking forward to next year!
As we wrap up the 9th summer of the Massachusetts Life Sciences Center High School Apprenticeship Challenge, I want to acknowledge all of our extraordinary training partners that make this program possible, preparing underrepresented/underresourced youth for internships with life sciences companies and research institutions. This year the program expanded to train a record-high 138 students across 8 cohorts. Congratulations to all of the apprentices that graduated this past spring/summer and special thank you to the faculty/staff at New Bedford Public Schools, Brockton High School, BioBuilder Educational Foundation, Health Resources in Action (HRiA) The LEAH Project/MassBioEd Foundation, Worcester Polytechnic Institute (MeDHigh Program) and Digital Ready/Biogen/Roxbury Community College. Apprentices either transitioned into MLSC-sponsored paid internships or will be seeking opportunities next year. This year's employer partners include Boston Children's Hospital, Ragon Institute of Mass General Brigham, MIT, and Harvard (RISE), Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard (BSSP), Dana-Farber Cancer Institute (CURE), University of Massachusetts Dartmouth, University of Massachusetts Amherst, UMass Boston, University of Massachusetts Lowell (PROPEL), UMass Chan Medical School, UMass Memorial Health, Massachusetts General Hospital, Worcester Polytechnic Institute, Yurogen Biosystems LLC, Mount Holyoke College, and MRN Diagnostics. If your organization is interested in hosting any of these high school students/graduates, please reach out for more information. Massachusetts Executive Office of Economic Development (EOED); Massachusetts Executive Office of Education; The Massachusetts Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development (EOLWD)
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Exchange programs and global collaboration play a vital role in advancing scientific research, allowing researchers to share knowledge, resources, and expertise across borders — a philosophy the Ragon Institute is deeply committed to. For Youry Kim, PhD, the Ragon offered an ideal opportunity to advance her research and professional growth. An exchange fellow from the The Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity (Doherty Institute) in Melbourne, Australia — Kim joined the Ragon Institute this summer for a four-month stay working in the lab of Ragon faculty member Mathias Lichterfeld, MD, PhD, and often collaborating with another Ragon faculty member, Xu Yu, MD. We spoke to Kim to learn more about her background, her research journey, and her experiences at the Ragon Institute over the past few months: https://lnkd.in/eW8Ud7v4 #ExchangeProgram #GlobalHealth #Collaboration #Mentorship #DohertyInstitute
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A team of researchers from the Kwon Lab at the Ragon Institute of Mass General Brigham, MIT, and Harvard; the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard; and St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital have discovered that oleic acid, one of the most abundant fatty acids in the body, restores a healthy balance of vaginal microbes in a laboratory model of bacterial vaginosis, a common vaginal infection in women of childbearing age. Kwon Lab postdoctoral fellows Meilin Zhu and Seth Bloom as well as primary investigator Douglas Kwon collaborated with the Broad Institute on the paper published in the journal Cell. Their findings demonstrate that oleic acid and several other unsaturated long-chain fatty acids (uLCFAs) — which are critical components of cell membranes and can have antimicrobial properties — simultaneously inhibit the growth of vaginal microbes associated with negative health effects and promote other species associated with a healthier female genital tract. Treatments that promote this balance of microbes could one day help prevent repeat vaginal infections. Read more at: https://lnkd.in/e2uu-zGh #Research #Cell #BroadInstitute #BacterialVaginosis #OleicAcid
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Introducing our August Employee Spotlight! Meet Tom Guy, MD, PhD, a Fulbright Fellow whose research at the Pillai Lab focuses on identifying novel T cells that drive human diseases. Dr. Guy’s work is helping to advance our understanding of the immune system, particularly in the context of autoimmune disease and cancer. The Pillai Lab has made groundbreaking discoveries in B-cell biology and T-cell-B-cell collaboration, contributing to novel treatments for B-cell leukemias and autoimmune diseases. The lab's research spans a wide array of immune-related conditions, including systemic sclerosis, IgG4-related disease, and COVID-19, with a focus on how B and T cells collaborate to influence immune function and memory. Thank you, Dr. Guy, for your valuable contributions to the Ragon Institute! #RagonInstitute #EmployeeSpotlight #Research #Fulbright
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Ragon Institute of Mass General Brigham, MIT, and Harvard reposted this
Pioneering HIV/TB Researcher | Unveiling Host-Pathogen Secrets to Craft Groundbreaking Therapies and Vaccines | Championing Biomedical Research Capacity in Africa
From my early days at Harvard to my current role at the Africa Health Research Institute (AHRI) and The Ragon Institute of Mass General, MIT, and Harvard my focus has been on impactful research in HIV and TB, aiming to develop effective vaccines and therapeutic strategies that can change the course of these diseases — and we’re making incredible progress. Last year, I was honored to receive the 2023 Leadership in Public Health Practice Award from the Harvard University Public Health Alumni Association. This recognition from my peers is deeply meaningful to me as it highlights our collective efforts in advancing public health. It strengthens my commitment to our research and to mentoring the next generation of scientists and gives me confidence that we’re headed in the right direction. I am grateful for the support from my colleagues around the world as we continue to push for better health outcomes globally. Thank you to everyone who has been part of this journey. Take a look at the other award recipients here: https://lnkd.in/dA29eVvw
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The 2024 RISE program wrapped up last Friday with our annual symposium, where this summer's interns showcased their outstanding work. Over the past three months, these talented students have immersed themselves in research, gained invaluable insights, and created lasting memories at the Ragon Institute. Ragon Director of Education and Outreach, Don Pinkerton, recognized each intern's achievements with a certificate of completion and a special plush-bNAb (broadly neutralizing antibody). During the two-hour event, the RISE interns shared their research findings, favorite experiences, and other highlights, followed by a lunch to say their goodbyes. We are incredibly proud of our RISE interns this year and eagerly anticipate the amazing things they’ll accomplish next! Learn more about the RISE program at: https://lnkd.in/dh4CVY7F #RISE2024 #RagonInstitute #Interns #Education #Research