MGH Research Scholars Notebook: Volume 1

Welcome to Volume 1 of the MGH Research Scholars Notebook, a quarterly roundup of recent news about the investigators in the MGH Research Scholars program.

	Andrew Chan, MD, MPH Stuart and Suzanne Steele MGH Research Scholar 2017-2022 Long-term antibiotic use in early to midlife linked to colorectal edemas later (Medscape) If you want to avoid heart disease, don't even think of going gluten free (Reader's Digest) PPIs not linked to cognitive decline, study finds (Medscape)
	Sekar Kathiresan, MD Ofer and Shelly Nemirovsky MGH Research Scholar 2013-2018 Rare gene mutations inspire new heart drugs (NY Times) Kathiresan and Topol on genomics of heart disease (video) (Medscape)
	Matthais Nahrendorf, MD, PhD Weissman Family MGH Research Scholar 2014-2019 Why we want macrophages in the heart (Labroots)
	Mark Poznansky, MD PhD Steve and Deborah Gorlin MGH Research Scholar Accelerating the development of new vaccines and immunotherapies for cancer (Huffington Post)
	Michael Talkowski, PhD Desmond and Ann Heathwood MGH Research Scholar 2015-2020 Whole genomics may hold clues to autism, but patience is key (Spectrum News) Gene mutations behind lack of a nose identified (Science Daily) Mass General-led team identifies gene mutations behind a lack of a nose (Mass General press release)
	Elsie Taveras, MD, MPH Ofer and Shelly Nemirovsky MGH Research Scholar 2015-2020 Comparative effectiveness of childhood obesity interventions (MedicalResearch.com)

Announcements

Rochelle Walensky, MD, MPH, Steve and Deborah Gorlin MGH Research Scholar 2015-2020, has been named Chief of the Division of Infectious Diseases effective September 5, 2017. Dr. Walensky has served as a member of the Mass General faculty for 16 years and as a Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School since 2012. Read the announcement.

Awards

Sekar Kathiresan, MD, Ofer and Shelly Nemirovsky MGH Research Scholar 2013-2018, was named a 2017 Distinguished Scientist by the American Heart Association.

Matthais Nahrendorf, MD, PhD, Weissman Family MGH Research Scholar 2014-2019, was selected as chair of the 2017 Gordon Research Conference on Arteriosclerosis, one of the top conferences in the field.

Mikael Pittet, PhD, Samana Cay MGH Research Scholar, won the Inaugural Mass General Principal Investigator Mentoring Award for his work contributing to the success of PhD graduate students.

Jayarag Rajagopal, MD, Kevin and Polly Maroni MGH Research Scholar 2014-2019, received the International Society for Stem Cell Research's Dr. Susan Lim Award for Outstanding Young Investigator. This award recognizes an exceptional investigator in the early part of his or her independent career in stem cell research.

Susan A. Slaugenhaupt, PhD, Elizabeth G. Riley and Dan E. Smith Jr. MGH Research Scholar 2013-2018, received the Javits Neuroscience Investigator Award for demonstrating exceptional scientific excellence and productivity in neurological research. She will use the award to support research aimed at finding a treatment for Familial Dysautonomia.

Filip Swirksi, PhD, Patricia and Scott Eston MGH Research Scholar 2016-2021, won the Jeffrey M. Hoeg Award for Basic Science and Clinical Research, and received an Outstanding Investigator Award from the NHLBI.

Lawrence Wald, PhD, Charles and Sara Fabrikant MGH Research Scholar 2015-2020, was voted Vice-President Elect of the International Society of Magnetic Resonance in Medicine (ISMRM). and will rotate into the position of President.