TabulaSynthase Blog

TabulaSynthase, the blog of Whitehead Institute, brings together ideas and perspectives from the Whitehead community and beyond. Here we feature a guest blog by Jessica Polka, a visiting scholar at Whitehead Institute, Director of ASAPbio, and President of Future of Research.

TabulaSynthase The blog of Whitehead Institute; bringing together ideas and perspectives from the Whitehead community and beyond. As Rudolf Jaenisch and Rick Young appear most happy when taking on some new and not-wholly-calculable risk—whether as pioneering researchers or globe-trekking adventurers. 

TabulaSynthase, the blog of Whitehead Institute, brings together ideas and perspectives from the Whitehead community and beyond. 

TabulaSynthase The blog of Whitehead Institute; bringing together ideas and perspectives from the Whitehead community and beyond. Scientists use a variety of approaches to unravel the functions of organisms, cells, and even molecules, and some of these approaches produce images that are as stunning as they are informative.  Since 2011, the annual Koch Institute Image Awards, conducted by The Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research at MIT, has honored outstanding images created by life science and biomedical researchers in the MIT community.

TabulaSynthase The blog of Whitehead Institute; bringing together ideas and perspectives from the Whitehead community and beyond. Silvi Rouskin, a Whitehead Fellow who studies RNA structure and its implications for health and disease, has been called by her colleagues fearless, relentless, fiercely independent and—if she’d started from a different place—perhaps smarts and curiosity alone would have let her follow a straight path to her goal.

TabulaSynthase, the blog of Whitehead Institute, brings together ideas and perspectives from the Whitehead community and beyond. Basic biomedical research may be in its most fruitful period in history: each year, with new technologies helping scientists advance our understandings of the underlying basis of human disease. At the same time, it’s increasingly difficult to undertake the process of translating promising biomedical discoveries into new drugs or diagnostics, especially those that will help relatively small numbers of people. “The problem rests not in the science,” says Whitehead Institute Founding Member Harvey Lodish, “but with the lack of funding for early-stage development.”

TabulaSynthase, the blog of Whitehead Institute, brings together ideas and perspectives from the Whitehead community and beyond. This guest blog was written by Saima Sidik, a research associate in the lab of Whitehead Institute Member Sebastian Lourido.

TabulaSynthase, the blog of Whitehead Institute, brings together ideas and perspectives from the Whitehead community and beyond. On January 1, 1994, Whitehead Institute Fellow David Bartel officially opened his lab. Since then, his lab has achieved numerous milestones as a trailblazer in RNA research. Initially the lab studied the ability of RNA to catalyze chemical reactions, including reactions that would have been required early in the evolution of life.

TabulaSynthase, the blog of Whitehead Institute, brings together ideas and perspectives from the Whitehead community and beyond. These days, few people spend fifty years working in one organization. Fewer still have loved just about every minute of that time. And only a handful of those have had a huge impact on their field. Harvey Lodish — a powerhouse in the fields of cellular and developmental biology, and a beloved teacher and mentor — considers himself lucky to be among that handful. 

TabulaSynthase, the blog of Whitehead Institute, brings together ideas and perspectives from the Whitehead community and beyond. David Meeker is one of the most respected leaders in the drug development industry. He’s recognized for his business acumen, his clear-sighted understanding of the political and economic issues facing the biotech and pharmaceutical industry, and his calm, personable demeanor. Recently, Meeker visited Whitehead Institute to participate in Whitehead Connects — a speaker series which brings noted leaders of business and science to interact with the Kendall Square community.

TabulaSynthase, the blog of Whitehead Institute, brings together ideas and perspectives from the Whitehead community and beyond. Each year motivated high school students choose to spend those precious hours not at a beach, but at a lab bench at Whitehead Institute, amid scientists and safety glasses during Whitehead’s annual Spring Lecture Series for High School Students.