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"I would say that the committee is not opening the door to human genome editing, but we are, so to speak, removing the padlock pending possible new applications," says Richard Hynes, a Daniel K. Ludwig Professor for Cancer Research at MIT and co-chair of the NAS study committee that created the Human Genome Editing Report.

3Q: Behind the scenes of the National Academy of Sciences' report on human genome editing

MIT professor and NAS report committee co-chair Richard Hynes gives insight into the report’s recommendations.

February 24, 2017

CEHS postdoc winners, from left to right: Yehuda Brody (2nd place), Supawadee Chawanthayatham (1st place), and Victor Hernandez-Gordillo and Annelien Zweemer (3rd-place tie).

Center for Environmental Health Sciences selects 2017 poster winners

Annual poster session showcases recent work on biological effects of exposure to environmental agents.

February 23, 2017

Charles Jennings, director of the McGovern Institute for Brain Research Neurotechnology program.

3Q: US patent office’s ruling on CRISPR

Charles Jennings of MIT’s McGovern Institute discusses the intellectual property dispute over the gene-editing technique.

February 22, 2017

Seven MIT researchers win 2017 Sloan Research Fellowships

Faculty from four MIT departments among 126 selected from across the U.S. and Canada.

February 21, 2017

Jennifer Chayes, distinguished scientist and managing director of Microsoft Research New England, speaks at the Women in Data Science Conference.

Women in Data Science conference highlights impactful work and builds community

Some 150 academic leaders, industry professionals, and students gather in Cambridge as part of a worldwide Women in Data Science event.

February 21, 2017

“[W]hen I came here for CPW [Campus Preview Weekend], I realized that these people were really passionate about what they were doing, and that they were doing really cool things. It’s nerdy, but it’s my kind of nerdy,” senior Hermoon Worku says.

Future physician-advocate

Senior Hermoon Worku is pursuing a career dedicated to surgery, advocacy, and teaching.

February 20, 2017

Left to right: MIT Professor Angelika Amon, Glenn Foundation President and Director Mark Collins, University of Rochester Professor Vera Gorbunova, and MIT Professor Leonard Guerente.

Vera Gorbunova delivers eighth Paul F. Glenn Lecture

Expert on long-lived rodents provides insights into research on longevity and cancer resistance.

February 16, 2017

Aprille Joy Ericsson, an alumna of MIT’s AeroAstro program and a mission manager at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center, delivered the keynote speech.

“Discrimination affects us all”

Celebration of MLK features NASA mission manager Aprille Joy Ericsson ’86.

February 16, 2017

Eric Lander, an MIT professor of biology, is the 2016-2017 recipient of the James R. Killian Jr. Faculty Achievement Award.

Chronicling the rapid pace of genomics

Professor Eric Lander, pioneer of human genomics, delivers annual Killian Lecture.

February 15, 2017

Researchers have found that the hydrogel’s mostly watery environment helps keep nutrients and programmed bacteria alive and active. When the bacteria reacts to a certain chemical, the bacteria are programmed to light up, as seen on the left.

Living sensors at your fingertips

Cell-infused gloves and bandages light up when in contact with certain chemicals.

February 15, 2017

A new method developed by researchers at MIT could lead to a way of producing high-resolution images of individual biomolecules without requiring crystallization, and it could even allow zoomed-in imaging of specific sites within the molecules.

High-res biomolecule imaging

Technique could provide unique views of single molecules that conventional methods can’t match.

February 14, 2017

This high-resolution transmission electron micrograph of particles made by the research team shows the particles’ highly uniform size and shape. These are iron oxide particles just 3 nanometers across, coated with a zwitterion layer. Their small size means they can easily be cleared through the kidneys after injection.

A new contrast agent for MRI

New iron oxide nanoparticles could help avoid a rare side effect caused by current contrast agents.

February 14, 2017

Harvard University neurobiologist Catherine Dulac will receive the 2017 Scolnick Prize in Neuroscience, awarded by the McGovern Institute at MIT.

McGovern Institute awards 2017 Scolnick Prize to Catherine Dulac

Neurobiologist honored for her work on how pheromones control brain function and behavior.

February 13, 2017

Plants for the people

A new event series is bringing greenery to campus in partnership with the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum.

February 9, 2017

Hock Tan '75 SM '75 (left) and Lisa Yang have made a commitment of $20 million to establish the Hock E. Tan and K. Lisa Yang Center for Autism Research at MIT's McGovern Institute.

New Center for Autism Research established at MIT’s McGovern Institute

A $20 million gift from Lisa Yang and Hock Tan ’75 SM ’75 will catalyze multidisciplinary autism research.