MGH Research Scholars Program

The MGH Research Scholars Program was established to support early career researchers with innovative yet unproven ideas that have the potential to transform the future of medicine. Funded 100% through philanthropy, this program gives researchers the freedom and flexibility they need to follow the science wherever it leads. History has shown that brilliant scientists who are given free rein to explore new frontiers make the greatest, often unexpected, advances.

About the program

Transformative Therapeutics Opportunities by Combining CRISPR Genome Editing, Spatial Technologies and Generative AI

Luca Pinello, PhD
Luca Pinello, PhD
MGH Research Scholar 2024-2029
Investigator, Department of Pathology, Massachusetts General Hospital
Associate Professor of Pathology, Harvard Medical School


Massachusetts General Hospital has provided a fertile environment to shape an innovative and bold research program and has empowered our lab to create powerful platforms for high-throughput genomics and cellular profiling/perturbation using CRISPR-based genome editing and single-cell omics.

Utilizing CRISPR genome editing, we aim to uncover safe and effective therapeutic avenues for various diseases. In parallel, we employ single-cell technologies to delve into the complexities of development and disease, providing insights into cellular heterogeneity, gene regulation, and dynamic gene regulatory networks.

Looking ahead, we're exploring two promising technological advancements:

  • Spatial profiling technologies will enable us to understand tissue structures in various diseases at a fine resolution, guiding the identification of viable therapeutic targets.
  • We're also harnessing generative AI to synthesize novel DNA regulatory sequences, deepening our understanding and manipulation of gene regulation across different cell types, enabling the correction of disease-related misregulation.

The MGH Research Scholar Award will provide crucial support and propel us to explore these promising avenues further, empowering my career and allowing our lab to venture into new technological realms like spatial profiling and generative AI.

Our aim is to advance scientific understanding and translate these discoveries into pioneering therapeutic solutions, improving health outcomes for individuals afflicted with genetic disorders and other diseases.

As a computer scientist, I am grateful that people have believed in my potential to apply my skills to solve challenging biological problems. This award will solidify my dedication and commitment to using advanced data analytical skills and provide me the freedom to explore my creativity in blending the fields of generative AI with emerging genomics and gene editing assays to uncover safe and effective therapeutic solutions that have the potential to transform the lives of patients.

Luca Pinello, PhD
MGH Research Scholar 2024-2029