News

Whitney Henry Named 2026 Pew Scholar

MIT News

June 29, 2026

Congratulations to Koch Institute faculty member Whitney Henry on being named a 2026 Pew Scholar in the Biomedical Sciences. The prestigious program supports early-career investigators with four years of flexible funding to pursue innovative research. Henry studies ferroptosis in cell fate and tissue remodeling, with implications for disease and regeneration.

A dynaMIT Summer of Discovery

MIT News

June 26, 2026

This summer, the Koch Institute is partnering with MIT’s student-run dynaMIT program to bring hands-on cancer research experiences to local middle school students. Through lab tours, interactive experiments, and conversations with scientists, students will get an inside look at the exciting work happening at the Koch Institute.

A Strong First Year for New Manufacturing

MIT News

June 16, 2026

MIT's Initiative for New Manufacturing (INM), co-directed by Christopher Love, marked its first anniversary with Manufacturing Week, a series of events exploring topics in AI, entrepreneurship, and workforce innovation. The week's strong turnout reflected growing enthusiasm for the initiative. “The response and participation level has been huge. MIT Manufacturing Week proved that the appetite for change — from students to chief executives — is real and urgent,” says Paula T. Hammond, dean of MIT’s School of Engineering and co-chair of INM’s Steering Committee.

MIT Koch Institute and the Research Institute, National Cancer Center Japan launch strategic collaboration

MIT Koch Institute

June 1, 2026

The MIT Koch Institute and the Research Institute, National Cancer Center Japan, a leading national research institute focused on advancing oncology through basic and translational research, have signed a Memorandum of Understanding. The collaboration will leverage both parties’ excellence in research to solve the most pressing problems in cancer and shape the future of convergence science in oncology, specifically in the areas of immune-oncology, basic and epidemiologic cancer research, as well as prevention, diagnosis, screening, treatment, cancer control, and survivorship.

Hammond Lab alum Claire Underwood wins Fulbright award

MIT News

May 26, 2026

Claire Underwood, a senior studying chemical-biological engineering and former researcher in the Hammond Lab, has received a Fulbright award to conduct research at the University of Minho in Portugal. There, she will study high-throughput fabrication techniques for cell-embedded microtissues with applications in drug discovery before pursuing a PhD in chemical engineering.

Whitney Henry Named 2026 Searle Scholar

MIT News

May 20, 2026

Congratulations to Koch Institute faculty member Whitney Henry, one of four MIT scientists named a 2026 Searle Scholar and among just 15 selected nationwide. Henry's lab investigates ferroptosis, an iron-dependent form of cell death, to target therapy-resistant cancer cells driving tumor relapse. The award provides $450,000 in flexible funding over three years to support her work.

Robert Langer Wins 2026 Welch Award in Chemistry

The Welch Foundation

May 19, 2026

Robert Langer has been named the 2026 recipient of the Robert A. Welch Award in Chemistry, established to recognize chemical research that meaningfully benefits humankind and carrying a $500,000 prize. His pioneering work in controlled drug release and tissue engineering has transformed patient care worldwide, generating tens of companies, licensing to over 400 organizations globally, and inspiring hundreds of researchers who now lead their own labs.

The Marble Center for Cancer Nanomedicine Turns 10

MIT News

May 15, 2026

An anniversary symposium last month gathered Marble Center faculty, alumni and industry collaborators to celebrate a decade of using tiny technologies to make big advances for patients.

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MIT welcomes Astellas to the BioConvergence Cancer Alliance 

May 15, 2026

The Koch Institute announced that Astellas Pharma has joined the BioConvergence Cancer Alliance. As a member of the alliance, Astellas will closely engage with a thriving research community at the Koch Institute and flagship initiatives, as well as explore opportunities for formal scientific collaborations with faculty members at the Institute.

Elazer Edelman Receives the 2026-2027 Killian Award

MIT News

May 13, 2026

Elazer Edelman received the James R. Killian Jr. Faculty Achievement Award, the highest honor awarded to MIT faculty members. Edelman is recognized for pioneering advances in cardiovascular medicine and medical devices, including research adapting drug-coated stents for pancreatic cancer treatment. PanTher Therapeutics, which he co-founded, is testing the stents in clinical trials.