Ragon Institute Initiatives
Our initiatives aim to inspire and engage students from surrounding communities with economic need, providing them with opportunities to explore careers in medical research, immunology, and STEM fields. By partnering with local schools, organizations, and community groups, we create pathways for students to gain hands-on experience, mentorship, and exposure to cutting-edge scientific research. Our commitment extends beyond education; we also focus on building strong community connections, ensuring that science becomes accessible and impactful beyond the walls of the Ragon Institute.
Ragon Institute Summer Experience (RISE)
The Ragon Institute Summer Experience (RISE) internship program engages high school and undergraduate students who are interested in learning about immunology and related fields. RISE aims to inspire young people from the Greater Boston area to consider a career in medical research and immunology by offering a paid, structured, and mentored internship with extended supports. Applications for Summer 2026 are open now.
Catherine Othieno Sempa Memorial Post Baccalaureate Scholars Program
This two-year program engages talented graduates from Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and Puerto Rican universities in immersive immunology research experiences. Participants work as full-time research technicians under the mentorship of Ragon Institute Principal Investigators or Post-Doctoral Research Fellows, receiving a competitive salary, benefits, and a $3,000 travel allowance. In addition to hands-on research, scholars benefit from academic and professional development activities, including scientific communication training, seminars, workshops, and graduate school preparation. This program aims to enrich the field of academic research by providing recent graduates with the skills and knowledge necessary for successful careers in scientific research.
The Program of Ragon and IMES in Science and Medicine (PRISM) Science Club
The PRISM Science Club, for high school students from surrounding communities with economic need, meets on Saturdays in March and April. PRISM is a joint effort between the Ragon Institute, MIT’s Institute for Medical Engineering and Science (IMES), and the Harvard-MIT Program in Health Sciences and Technology (HST), housed at IMES which launched in 2022.
Each week features a different program, with a talk, discussion, and an activity. The club is facilitated by graduate students from IMES/HST.
Application: December 15th, 2025
Application Deadline: January 18th, 2026
Program Dates: Saturday, March 7th, 2026 – Saturday, April 25th, 2026
Other Programs
STEM Scholars
STEM Scholars is an after-school program in collaboration with the Cambridge Housing Authority. Ragon scientists and staff have the opportunity to volunteer by assisting students in grades 8-12 with their homework in STEM subjects and providing mentorship over two hours each week during the school year. STEM Scholars aims to foster a supportive learning environment and build strong relationships with students, giving back to the community around us and helping mold the scientists of tomorrow.
Support Our Vital Research
As a non-profit institution, the Ragon relies on the generosity of our benefactors to advance our world-changing research. Whether giving to labs at the Ragon, outreach programs in the Boston area, or research programs in South Africa, one of the greatest catalysts in going from novel ideas to treatments and cures is flexible philanthropic support from donors — and your gift could make all the difference.
Ragon News
Announcing the 2026 Giuliani Scholars Taking on Global Health Challenges
Mar 17, 2026 Features
The Ragon Institute is proud to announce the 2026 recipients of the Giammaria and Sabrina Giuliani Faculty Support Fund, an endowed fund dedicated to advancing transformative research at the Institute. This year’s awardees are Amy Barczak, MD, Gaurav Gaiha, MD, DPhil, Douglas Kwon, MD, PhD, and Sophia Liu, PhD, four exceptional scientists whose work is […]
Caroline Sokol, MD, PhD, Joins Ragon Institute Faculty to Advance Research in Allergy and Immunology
Mar 12, 2026 Features
The Ragon Institute is pleased to welcome Caroline Sokol, MD, PhD, as a new faculty member. Sokol will lead the Sokol Lab as a Member of the Ragon Institute, while also serving as an Assistant Physician at Massachusetts General Hospital and an Assistant Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School. A physician-scientist with expertise in […]
New Statistical Method from Ghebremichael Lab Improves Evaluation of HIV Treatment Outcomes
Mar 6, 2026 Features
A new study from the Ghebremichael Lab at the Ragon Institute, published in the Biometrical Journal, introduces a statistical method that evaluates biologically linked outcomes jointly rather than relying on separate analyses that ignore their interdependence. The researchers demonstrated their methodology using data from a longitudinal pediatric HIV study examining the efficacy of antiretroviral therapy (ART). […]
Balazs Lab Study Reveals HIV Escapes Antibody Therapy Through Predictable Paths, and Blocking Them Can Achieve Sustained Viral Suppression
Feb 25, 2026 Research Highlights
A new study from the Balazs Lab at the Ragon Institute, published in Immunity, demonstrates that HIV escapes broadly neutralizing antibodies (bNAbs) through a limited set of conserved mutation paths, and that manipulating the cost of those paths can dramatically improve therapeutic outcomes. Broadly neutralizing antibodies are among the most promising tools for treating and […]