The Koch Institute's Top Research Stories of 2025

As the year draws to a close, we’re excited to spotlight some of the most innovative and impactful research from the Koch Institute this year. 

Some highlights from 2025 include:

Ovarian Immunotherapy Hits the Gas — Nanoparticles delivering IL‑12 with checkpoint therapy cleared metastatic ovarian tumors in mice and generated immune memory. https://ki.mit.edu/news/2025/ovarian-immunotherapy-hits-the-gas
 

A Better, Faster, Cheaper CAR — A streamlined CAR‑NK cell platform could bring off‑the-shelf immunotherapy closer to reality. https://ki.mit.edu/news/2025/a-better-faster-cheaper-car
 

Antibodies make better bottlebrushes — Antibody‑guided polymer “bottlebrushes” deliver concentrated chemotherapy directly to cancer cells, eradicating most tumors in mouse models. https://ki.mit.edu/news/2025/antibodies-make-better-bottlebrushes
 

Machine learning helps nanoparticles make the grade — Researchers applied machine learning to design more efficient lipid nanoparticles for RNA therapies, blending AI and nanomedicine to accelerate drug delivery innovation. https://ki.mit.edu/news/2025/machine-learning-helps-nanoparticles-make-the-grade
 

From Dormant to Dangerous — New insight into how dormant cancer cells “wake up”: inflammation and certain immune cell signals trigger reactivation. Cells may retain an “awakening memory,” a key clue to preventing relapse. https://ki.mit.edu/news/2025/from-dormant-to-dangerous
 

We’re looking forward to the breakthroughs of 2026. Subscribe to our newsletter to keep up with the latest news: ​​https://ki.mit.edu/news/newsletter/subscription