iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Ragon Institute of Mass General Brigham, MIT, and Harvard @ragoninstitute.bsky.social · 08/10/2026

Natural killer cells can kill infected cells, but a new Ndhlovu Lab study finds they're mostly kept out of the lymph node sites where HIV hides. ragoninstitute.org/2026/10/ndhlovu-…

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Ragon Institute of Mass General Brigham, MIT, and Harvard @ragoninstitute.bsky.social · 06/10/2026

Thank you to everyone who visited our stall at Sunday's Cambridge Science Carnival! We greatly appreciate our volunteers for their willingness to share and discuss immunology with curious minds of every age. #CambridgeScienceCarnival

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Ragon Institute of Mass General Brigham, MIT, and Harvard @ragoninstitute.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

Meet Laura Schmidt-Hong, a Gaiha Lab PhD student. She's building a universal T cell vaccine platform for influenza, TB and other diseases, designed to bypass the genetic differences that shape what T cells recognize. Outside the lab, she bakes, thrifts and travels. #WeAreRagon

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Ragon Institute of Mass General Brigham, MIT, and Harvard @ragoninstitute.bsky.social · 25/09/2026

It's Postdoc Appreciation Week! Yesterday we gathered in the Ragon cafe for a brunch celebrating our postdoctoral researchers. Thank you for the work you do every day to advance our science. #PostdocAppreciationWeek

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Ragon Institute of Mass General Brigham, MIT, and Harvard @ragoninstitute.bsky.social · 22/09/2026

New in Immunity: The Sokol Lab finds itch-sensing nerve cells can "remember" past allergens and react more strongly next time, even to unrelated ones. This may help explain why allergies build over time. Read more: ow.ly/SXIs50ZPQMb #Allergies #Immunology #Neuroscience

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Ragon Institute of Mass General Brigham, MIT, and Harvard @ragoninstitute.bsky.social · 10/09/2026

Mark your calendars! The Ragon Institute will be at the Cambridge Science Carnival on Sunday, October 4th. Stop by our stall to meet our volunteers and learn about our immunology research. (Photos from the 2024 carnival.) #CambridgeScienceCarnival #CSC26

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Ragon Institute of Mass General Brigham, MIT, and Harvard @ragoninstitute.bsky.social · 08/09/2026

Meet Dimos Sampatakos, a technician in the Balazs Lab. Born and raised in Greece, he came to the U.S. to study biology and now works on therapeutic approaches to cure HIV. Outside the lab, he rock climbs, watches movies and plays Dungeons & Dragons. #WeAreRagon

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Ragon Institute of Mass General Brigham, MIT, and Harvard @ragoninstitute.bsky.social · 03/09/2026

One week left to apply for SPARK, a new 3D printing workshop for high school students at the Ragon Institute. Six weeks of design, CAD skills and mentorship, starting Sept. 24. Apply by Sept. 11: www.surveymonkey.com/r/Y8PLYDH

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Ragon Institute of Mass General Brigham, MIT, and Harvard @ragoninstitute.bsky.social · 01/09/2026

The HIV reservoir has long been considered invisible to the immune system. A new study from the Lichterfeld and Yu Labs, published in Nature Immunology, finds it is not. Read more: ow.ly/8sYm50ZGfWe

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Ragon Institute of Mass General Brigham, MIT, and Harvard @ragoninstitute.bsky.social · 27/08/2026

It's National Immunization Awareness Month. Dolly Parton, who tragically passed this week, funded COVID-19 research at Vanderbilt before there was a vaccine, then got one on camera to encourage her fans. Her philanthropy and giving will always be remembered. Thank you, Dolly.

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Ragon Institute of Mass General Brigham, MIT, and Harvard @ragoninstitute.bsky.social · 25/08/2026

Mariano Aufiero, PhD, a postdoctoral fellow co-mentored by Eric Dang, PhD, and Charlie Evavold, PhD, has received a CRI Irvington Postdoctoral Fellowship from the Cancer Research Institute. Read more: ow.ly/iEc550ZCIWh #Immunology #Cancer #Mentorship

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Ragon Institute of Mass General Brigham, MIT, and Harvard @ragoninstitute.bsky.social · 21/08/2026

"It showed me the power of collaboration." Lara Schwab, PhD, has worked in labs on three continents. This summer she spent three months at the Ragon as an exchange fellow from the Doherty Institute. Read our Q&A: ow.ly/2Qvu50ZC0eQ

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Ragon Institute of Mass General Brigham, MIT, and Harvard @ragoninstitute.bsky.social · 18/08/2026

RISE 2026 has come to a close. Students from across Greater Boston spent the summer in Ragon labs doing real research. "I think one of the most important things that we do at the Ragon Institute is mentor the next generation of scientists," says Bruce Walker, MD.

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Ragon Institute of Mass General Brigham, MIT, and Harvard @ragoninstitute.bsky.social · 13/08/2026

Applications are open for SPARK, a new 3D printing workshop for high school students at the Ragon Institute of Mass General Brigham, MIT, and Harvard. Six weeks of design, CAD skills and mentorship, starting Sept. 24. Apply by Sept. 11: www.surveymonkey.com/r/Y8PLYDH

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Ragon Institute of Mass General Brigham, MIT, and Harvard @ragoninstitute.bsky.social · 10/08/2026

The 2026 RISE program wrapped up last Friday with our annual symposium, where this summer's interns presented their work through lightning talks followed by a poster session in the lobby. We look forward to all of the incredible things they will accomplish next.

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Ragon Institute of Mass General Brigham, MIT, and Harvard @ragoninstitute.bsky.social · 07/08/2026

Today's malaria vaccines aim at one part of the parasite and skip two our strongest antibodies need. New Batista Lab research broadens protection. ragoninstitute.org/2026/08/batista-… #Malaria #Immunology

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Ragon Institute of Mass General Brigham, MIT, and Harvard @ragoninstitute.bsky.social · 06/08/2026

#WeAreRagon: Meet Isabella Garrett, a lab tech in the Moura-Silva Lab studying how macrophages support tissue homeostasis beyond immunity. A UPenn grad and lifelong gymnast now on MIT's team, she's also into gardening, Broadway, and her dogs Baxter & Ollie.

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Ragon Institute of Mass General Brigham, MIT, and Harvard @ragoninstitute.bsky.social · 04/08/2026

Help us welcome the final group of our 2026 RISE interns! RISE is our summer internship program, which aims to inspire young people from surrounding communities to consider a career in medical research and immunology by offering a mentored internship. (1/2) #Interns #Immunology

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Ragon Institute of Mass General Brigham, MIT, and Harvard @ragoninstitute.bsky.social · 30/07/2026

A new Romero Foundation fund at the Ragon Institute supports Bryan Bryson's lab in developing a tuberculosis vaccine that reflects Peruvian genetic diversity, aiming to reduce TB in Peru and around the world. Read More: ow.ly/7BFN50Zmspo #TB #GlobalHealth #Immunology

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Ragon Institute of Mass General Brigham, MIT, and Harvard @ragoninstitute.bsky.social · 28/07/2026

Meet another amazing cohort of our 2026 RISE interns! Learn more through the link in our bio. #Interns #Immunology #Research #STEM#Researchers

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Ragon Institute of Mass General Brigham, MIT, and Harvard @ragoninstitute.bsky.social · 23/07/2026

The Ragon Institute is pleased to welcome computational protein designer, Bingxu Liu, PhD, as our newest faculty member. Read more: ow.ly/HauA50ZkLIh #ImmuneEngineering #Immunology #Harvard #MIT #RagonInstitute

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Ragon Institute of Mass General Brigham, MIT, and Harvard @ragoninstitute.bsky.social · 21/07/2026

Meet our next group of the 2026 RISE interns! Learn more at the link in our bio. #Interns #Immunology #Research #STEM#Researchers

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Ragon Institute of Mass General Brigham, MIT, and Harvard @ragoninstitute.bsky.social · 17/07/2026

Some immune cells can actually hinder the body's response to threats. New Dang Lab research in Science Immunology points to a new treatment path. Read: ragoninstitute.org/2026/07/dang-lab… #Immunology #FungalInfection

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Ragon Institute of Mass General Brigham, MIT, and Harvard @ragoninstitute.bsky.social · 14/07/2026

Summer is here, and with it a new cohort of RISE interns getting hands-on experience in our labs. Meet Alden, Philip, Daëlie, and Bella in our first group! Learn More: ragoninstitute.org/rise-ragon-insti… #Interns #Immunology #Research #STEM #Researchers

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Ragon Institute of Mass General Brigham, MIT, and Harvard @ragoninstitute.bsky.social · 09/07/2026

Eric Dang, PhD, a Core Member at the Ragon Institute, has been named the 2026 recipient of the Thomas J. Walsh Young Investigator Award by the Medical Mycology Society of American (MMSA). ragoninstitute.org/2026/07/dang-awa…

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Ragon Institute of Mass General Brigham, MIT, and Harvard @ragoninstitute.bsky.social · 06/07/2026

Meet Katie Billington, the Ragon's receptionist, self-proclaimed personal shopper for Institute events and activities, and the driving force behind 'Novel Thoughts,' our beloved community book club. #WeAreRagon

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Ragon Institute of Mass General Brigham, MIT, and Harvard @ragoninstitute.bsky.social · 02/07/2026

In May, the Idris Lab welcomed Dr. Bartholomew Ondigo, a visiting scholar from Kenya, to assist in Dr. Azza Idris’s ongoing research regarding the effects of malaria on pregnant women. ragoninstitute.org/2026/06/idris-la…

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Ragon Institute of Mass General Brigham, MIT, and Harvard @ragoninstitute.bsky.social · 26/06/2026

Welcome to the 18 students joining us this summer through the Ragon Institute Summer Experience. RISE is a paid, mentored program introducing Greater Boston students to immunology research, starting this week with their first Introduction to Immunology class.

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Ragon Institute of Mass General Brigham, MIT, and Harvard @ragoninstitute.bsky.social · 23/06/2026

Congratulations to Batista Lab research fellow Raphael Reyes, who has been awarded the 2026 Warren Alpert Distinguished Scholar Fellowship in Immunotherapy. The fellowship provides a stipend over two years to support his research. Learn more: ow.ly/krzT50ZcUE8

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Ragon Institute of Mass General Brigham, MIT, and Harvard @ragoninstitute.bsky.social · 18/06/2026

We are now accepting applications for this 2-year postdoctoral fellowship, which provides full salary and benefits to study under the guidance of a Ragon faculty member. Fellows pursue research in HIV, infectious disease, and more. Apply through Sep 30: ow.ly/AuhX50Zc8KI

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Ragon Institute of Mass General Brigham, MIT, and Harvard @ragoninstitute.bsky.social · 16/06/2026

Harikesh Wong has been named a 2026 Pew Scholar in the Biomedical Sciences, one of 21 chosen from 211 nominees this year. Read More: ragoninstitute.org/2026/06/wong-nam… #RagonInstitute #Immunology #MIT #EarlyCareerScientists #Biology

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Ragon Institute of Mass General Brigham, MIT, and Harvard @ragoninstitute.bsky.social · 11/06/2026

Meet Liza Reizis, a PhD student in the MIT Bio program and member of the Batista Lab. Liza heads Ragon Runners, creating a fun, welcoming space for Ragonites to connect and get some fresh air. We couldn't be luckier to have people like Liza building our community! #WeAreRagon

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Ragon Institute of Mass General Brigham, MIT, and Harvard @ragoninstitute.bsky.social · 04/06/2026

Congratulations to Gaurav Gaiha, MD, DPhil, who has been named an inaugural 2026 MGB Research Scholar! For the next five years, he will hold the title of the Giammaria and Sabrina Giuliani MGB Research Scholar. Read more: ow.ly/Uobu50Z7vaU #Immunology #HIVResearch

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Ragon Institute of Mass General Brigham, MIT, and Harvard @ragoninstitute.bsky.social · 01/06/2026

On May 20th, we welcomed the Board of Trustees and senior leadership of Tec de Monterrey to the Ragon as part of their visit to Boston. Conversations focused on immunology, global health, and mentorship, reaffirming a partnership built to reach across borders.

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Ragon Institute of Mass General Brigham, MIT, and Harvard @ragoninstitute.bsky.social · 27/05/2026

Congratulations to Facundo Batista, Scientific and Associate Director of the Ragon, on his election as a Fellow of the Royal Society — the UK's national academy of sciences, founded in 1660, whose Fellows have included Newton, Darwin, and Einstein. ow.ly/42jE50Z4t8L

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Ragon Institute of Mass General Brigham, MIT, and Harvard @ragoninstitute.bsky.social · 26/05/2026

Kerrie Collette, a senior grants administrator at the Ragon, has received the NCURA Emerging Excellence Award for developing the Portfolio Workload Index, a data-driven tool transforming how grant administration workloads are measured and resourced. ow.ly/CSTn50Z3of8

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Ragon Institute of Mass General Brigham, MIT, and Harvard @ragoninstitute.bsky.social · 21/05/2026

This June, students from across Greater Boston will join us for RISE, our paid summer internship pairing high schoolers and undergrads with Ragon labs and mentors. Learn more about the program and why it matters: ragoninstitute.org/rise-ragon-insti…

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Ragon Institute of Mass General Brigham, MIT, and Harvard @ragoninstitute.bsky.social · 19/05/2026

Hear from our inaugural FEMSA Fellows, Jennie Ruelas Castillo and Jonathan Padilla Gómez. In our latest Q&A, they share their paths to the Ragon, their TB research, and what it means to strengthen scientific ties between Mexico and the US. ow.ly/fIrg50Z18lb

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Ragon Institute of Mass General Brigham, MIT, and Harvard @ragoninstitute.bsky.social · 14/05/2026

The 2026 Ragon PRISM Science Club has officially come to a close! Thank you to our 2026 cohort and to every researcher, grad student, and collaborator who showed up to make it happen. Learn more here: ragoninstitute.org/education-outrea… #Education #Outreach #PRISM #Mentorship

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Ragon Institute of Mass General Brigham, MIT, and Harvard @ragoninstitute.bsky.social · 12/05/2026

The Ragon is pleased to announce Carlos Casquero as the latest recipient of the Ramón Areces Foundation Research Fellowship. Read more: ragoninstitute.org/2026/05/ragon-in…

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Ragon Institute of Mass General Brigham, MIT, and Harvard @ragoninstitute.bsky.social · 05/05/2026

Meet Rosie Garvey, Ragon Senior HR Coordinator! When she's not running along the Charles outside of work, she's behind the scenes making sure the world's brightest scientists have everything they need to focus on the science. Thanks for everything you do, Rosie! #WeAreRagon

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Ragon Institute of Mass General Brigham, MIT, and Harvard @ragoninstitute.bsky.social · 30/04/2026

New in Science from the Shalek Lab: a screen of 132 versions of the T cell protein LAT shows it keeps immune signals in balance. Disrupting any one part weakens all downstream pathways together, helping T cells avoid faulty responses. ow.ly/zGLw50YOFFR

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Ragon Institute of Mass General Brigham, MIT, and Harvard @ragoninstitute.bsky.social · 28/04/2026

In a new Q&A, we spoke to our newest faculty member Dr. Caroline Sokol, MD, PhD, about what drew her to allergy and immunology, the unexpected moment that pivoted her research toward neuroscience, and what she hopes to accomplish in her new role ow.ly/LyU850YNwyg

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Ragon Institute of Mass General Brigham, MIT, and Harvard @ragoninstitute.bsky.social · 22/04/2026

A small number of people living with HIV are able to durably suppress the virus after stopping ARV's. A new study from the Gaiha Lab published in Science Translational Medicine helps explain why. Read More: ow.ly/ZKwn50YJ1yK #immunology #HIV #globalhealth

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Ragon Institute of Mass General Brigham, MIT, and Harvard @ragoninstitute.bsky.social · 20/04/2026

A new study from the Dang Lab at the Ragon Institute, published in the Journal of Experimental Medicine, has found that the body's immune system inadvertently protects a dangerous fungus from being destroyed. Read more: ow.ly/wZ4B50YK3Kj

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Ragon Institute of Mass General Brigham, MIT, and Harvard @ragoninstitute.bsky.social · 14/04/2026

This past weekend, Ragon founding director Bruce Walker and core member Hernandez Moura Silva joined the Brasil Project at Harvard & MIT for a panel titled "How Breakthroughs Happen: Lessons from HIV for Global Health." Learn more: brasil-project.com #immunology #brazil

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Ragon Institute of Mass General Brigham, MIT, and Harvard @ragoninstitute.bsky.social · 09/04/2026

This week is Graduate Student Appreciation Week, and on Tuesday we celebrated with a brunch in their honor. With breakfast sandwiches, munchkins, and a mocktail mimosa bar, it was the perfect chance for our students to step away from the bench and connect with one another.

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Ragon Institute of Mass General Brigham, MIT, and Harvard @ragoninstitute.bsky.social · 07/04/2026

Meet Ted Lawrence, one of our Plant Operators! Ted and his team are the unseen force behind the Ragon. Plant Operators maintain the boilers and chillers, manage the equipment, and ensure the building stays safe and operational around the clock. #WeAreRagon

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Ragon Institute of Mass General Brigham, MIT, and Harvard @ragoninstitute.bsky.social · 03/04/2026

We're proud to welcome Jennie Ruelas Castillo and Jonathan Padilla Gómez as the inaugural FEMSA Fellows at the Ragon Institute. Supported by FEMSA and Tecnológico de Monterrey, this fellowship invites postdocs who have conducted studies in Mexico to pursue immunology research.

ragoninstitute.org

Tecnológico de Monterrey Fellowship and FEMSA Fellowship at the Ragon Institute | Ragon Institute

Current Fellows

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Ragon Institute of Mass General Brigham, MIT, and Harvard @ragoninstitute.bsky.social · 01/04/2026

Last week we welcomed 9th graders from the Cambridge Housing Authority to the Ragon for career conversations. Volunteers from across the institute sat down with students for informational interviews, sharing what they do, how they got here, and lessons learned along the way.

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