Ragon Institute of MGH, MIT and Harvard

The Ragon Institute of Mass General Brigham, MIT and Harvard is a Cambridge research institute dedicated to harnessing the immune system to prevent and cure human disease. It brings together scientists, clinicians and engineers from different fields and gives faculty flexible funding so that discovery can move faster than it would inside traditional academic silos. Its work focuses heavily on global infectious diseases, from HIV and tuberculosis to malaria and pandemic preparedness.

Founded in 2009 with support from the Phillip T. and Susan M. Ragon Foundation, the institute began with an emphasis on HIV/AIDS and has broadened to other diseases of global importance. Ragon researchers contributed to COVID-19 vaccine development and pursue a universal flu vaccine, therapies for cancer and autoimmune disease, and the health effects of climate change. Research is organized into programs in immunophysiology and disease, patient-focused immunology and immune engineering.

What to Know

• The institute’s building sits in the center of Kendall Square.
• A Governance Board includes the presidents of Mass General Brigham, MIT and Harvard plus founding benefactor Phillip Ragon.
• Faculty include core members based at Ragon plus associate members at other institutions.
• Global health partnerships, including work in Africa, are a pillar of its research.