MIT Affiliates Elected to National Academy of Medicine for 2023: Honoring Excellence in Health Sciences

The National Academy of Medicine has recently announced the election of 100 distinguished members in 2023, including five faculty members from MIT and seven additional affiliates. This prestigious recognition highlights their exceptional contributions to the fields of health and medicine.

MIT Faculty Members Elected

Five outstanding faculty members from MIT have been honored for their pioneering work spanning chemical engineering, artificial intelligence, brain research, biological engineering, and synaptic signaling.

• Daniel Anderson: A professor in Chemical Engineering and Medical Engineering at MIT, Anderson has been recognized for his groundbreaking work in non-viral gene therapy and cellular delivery, resulting in over 500 publications and patents, along with the development of numerous clinical technologies.
• Regina Barzilay: The Distinguished Professor for AI and Health, Barzilay is celebrated for creating transformative machine learning tools that enhance breast cancer screening and drug discovery processes, serving as a leader in AI applications within health care.
• Guoping Feng: As an associate director of the McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Feng has made significant discoveries related to neurodevelopmental disorders, aiding in the search for effective treatments for conditions like OCD and ADHD.
• Darrell Irvine: A leader in Biological Engineering, Irvine’s innovations in immunotherapy and vaccine delivery are pivotal in advancing treatments for cancer and infectious diseases.
• Morgen Sheng: Sheng has transformed our understanding of synaptic signaling through his research on excitatory synapses, establishing critical paradigms for synaptic regulation.

Additional Affiliates Recognized

Seven affiliates have also been elected, recognized for their impactful research in ophthalmology, drug delivery, health equity, immunotherapy, biomaterials, and epigenetics.

• Michael Chiang: Director of the National Eye Institute, Chiang’s pioneering work in biomedical informatics has revolutionized pediatric ophthalmology through AI and telehealth solutions.
• Justin Hanes: An expert in drug delivery systems, Hanes has made notable advancements in mucosal and CNS drug delivery technologies while leading innovative research at the intersection of engineering and medicine.
• Said Ibrahim: A respected figure in health services research, Ibrahim’s work on racial disparities in joint replacements has set a national standard for addressing health equity.
• Siddhartha Mukherjee: As an associate professor at Columbia University, Mukherjee has contributed significantly to immunotherapy research for myeloid malignancies and childhood cancers.
• Robert Vonderheide: Vonderheide has advanced immune combination therapies for pancreatic cancer while improving minority access to clinical trials.
• Jennifer West: A professor of biomedical engineering at UVA, West is recognized for her innovative biomaterials research that includes hydrogels and theranostic nanoparticles.
• Yi Zhang: Zhang’s contributions to the field of epigenetics have led to breakthroughs in chromatin modifying enzymes, including the development of tazemetostat, a drug approved for specific cancers.

“Their unparalleled expertise and leadership will be crucial in addressing pressing health challenges and promoting health equity worldwide.”

Looking Ahead

Victor J. Dzau, President of the National Academy of Medicine, expressed his pride in welcoming this remarkable group of new members. Their expertise will play a vital role in tackling global health issues and advancing medical innovation.