HSCI’s research community encompasses several hundred investigators working in laboratories throughout Harvard’s affiliated hospitals and research institutions. To foster communication, collaboration, and a sense of community among this large, diverse group, HSCI held its first annual retreat on June 16.
Attended by some 350 members of the HSCI research community, the retreat took place at the Harvard Business School, adjacent to the site of the 500,000-square-foot science complex that, when completed in a few years, will serve as HSCI’s home.
Following an update of HSCI’s mission and accomplishments by Executive Director Brock C. Reeve, HSCI Scientific Co-Directors Douglas A. Melton, PhD, and David T. Scadden, MD, presented an overview of HSCI’s current status and future scientific directions. Throughout the day, leaders of selected HSCI disease-based and technology programs shared overviews of their areas and key plans for the coming year.
Attendees also learned about HSCI’s Summer Undergraduate Research Internship Program (see page 6) and participated in a Town Hall-type forum with the HSCI Executive Committee. The 13 recipients of the 2006 HSCI Seed Grants (see above) were also announced at the retreat. Andrew McMahon, PhD, and Lee Rubin, PhD, heads of the Genome Modification Facility and the Therapeutic Screening Center, respectively, gave talks about these new core areas, which HSCI is significantly investing in this year.
During the breaks, attendees eagerly gathered around the poster presentations featuring the research of 46 HSCI investigators. An outdoor barbecue capped off the day.