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Whitehead Institute Main navigation About Overview Our Mission and Values Annual Reports Bionook Diversity and Inclusion Events History Leadership Message from the Director Public Programs Careers, Culture and Benefits Whitehead Fellows Program Research Overview Cancer Campus and Innovation Centers Cell Dynamics Regeneration, Rejuvenation and Aging Genes and Genomes Infectious Disease Nervous System Plant Biology People Members and Fellows Postdoctoral Scholars Whitehead Fellows Program Alumni News All News Series For Journalists Whitehead Institute About Overview Our Mission and Values Annual Reports Bionook Diversity and Inclusion Events History Leadership Message from the Director Public Programs Careers, Culture and Benefits Whitehead Fellows Program Research Overview Cancer Campus and Innovation Centers Cell Dynamics Regeneration, Rejuvenation and Aging Genes and Genomes Infectious Disease Nervous System Plant Biology People Members and Fellows Postdoctoral Scholars Whitehead Fellows Program Alumni News All News Series For Journalists Give Search Search Twitter Facebook Facebook Instagram Linkedin Menu Secondary Menu Give Search Search Whitehead Institute is a world-renowned non-profit research institution dedicated to improving human health through basic biomedical research. Recent News Read All NewsImage Q&A: Whitehead Institute Member Pulin Li on recreating development in the lab Development and regeneration May 01, 2024 The Li lab recreates early developmental events in the Petri dish to study the building blocks of life. But this unique approach to biology carries implications that stretch past embryonic development. Image New findings activate a better understanding of Rett syndrome’s causes Diseases April 25, 2024 Whitehead Institute Founding Member Rudolf Jaenisch and colleagues have uncovered how the Rett syndrome disease gene plays a key role in the expression of many other neuronal genes, expanding our understanding of the biology of Rett syndrome and, potentially, autism spectrum disorder. Targeted therapies outperform hundreds of other drugs in priming” lung cancer cells for destruction Cancer April 12, 2024 Video: Spring 2024 research highlights from Whitehead Institute Development and regeneration Genetics + Genomics Protein form and function Sex differences Stem Cells Technology and methods April 10, 2024 Whitehead Institute celebrates contributions of three distinguished Board members Awards + Announcements April 10, 2024 The Whitehead Innovation Initiative is established to advance the use of artificial intelligence in biomedical research Awards + Announcements April 08, 2024 Our Impact Whitehead Institute specializes in foundational research — solving deep scientific mysteries that unlock the mechanisms underlying many diseases, leading to new approaches in medicine. Learn More Why foundational research? Learn More Why today? Learn More Why us? Learn More Why foundational science? Foundational research — as opposed to applied research — is research conducted not to solve a specific problem, but to satisfy a driving curiosity about the unknown. Seemingly simple queries, such as ‘How do cells divide?’ or ‘How can plants control how their genes are expressed?’ can pave the way for more applied research in therapeutics, cancer biology and genetics, and open up vast new fields of study that reshape the way we understand biology. Scroll Down Explore foundational science discoveries Bob Weinberg’s cancer discoveries Through basic research, Robert Weinberg discovered the first gene known to cause cancer in humans. Robert Weinberg Learn More Ruth Lehmann’s germ cell work Ruth Lehmann Ruth Lehmann has made key discoveries on the biogenesis of piRNAs and their potential role in maintaining germ cell genomic integrity while allowing for genetic variation. Learn More Why prioritize foundational research now? Since its beginnings in 1982, Whitehead Institute has explored the core questions that underlie our basic understanding of biology. And while our mission remains the same, much has changed in the intervening decades; new research tools allow our scientists to look deeper and design better experiments than ever before. The more we understand about how biological systems work, the better we can design informed and effective therapies and treatments to meet the challenges of modern society. Scroll Down Read about our impact: David Page’s sex differences studies Brit d’Arbeloff and David Page (both seated) with Page lab postdoctoral fellow Adrianna San Roman (left) and Sahin Naqvi (rear), then a Page lab graduate student and now a postdoctoral fellow at Stanford University. Research in David Page’s lab explores how sex chromosomes affect women’s health and diseases. Learn More What makes Whitehead Institute uniquely qualified to advance basic science in the biomedical field? Researchers at Whitehead Institute are world-renowned for their contributions to cancer biology, genomics and more, and the impact of our publications positions us as the top research institution in the world for molecular biology and genetics. The Institute’s location in Kendall Square creates an exciting and collaborative scientific environment where our scientists often team up with researchers at Harvard, the Koch Institute, and MIT on cross-disciplinary studies. Whitehead Institute also prioritizes giving back to the community, hosting summer programs, lecture series, and other events for scientists and aspiring scientists. Scroll Down Learn about our role in the scientific community: Award-winning faculty Whitehead Institute’s faculty has received awards from the Genetic Society of America, and National Academy of Medicine, and more, and several PIs are members of the National Academy of Sciences. Seven faculty members are investigators for the Howard Hughes Medical Institute, and four over the past 38 years have won the National Medal of Science. Learn More Community science programs Whitehead’s public programs, for example the Expedition Bio program for middle school students, merge curiosity with real world science through hands-on activities, laboratory modules and discussions with researchers. Learn More Trending Series See All Unusual Labmates Unusual Labmates is a series that explores some of the more unusual models used for research at Whitehead Institute. From rare plants to luminescent beetles to regenerative starfish and worms, these organisms and their unusual traits provide insights into the underlying biology and incredible diversity of living things. Learn More Story Collections Gain a broader perspective on environmental research, epigenetics, COVID-19 and more through these collections of multimedia stories. Learn More Postdoc Profiles Whitehead Institute is dedicated to training the next generation of scientists, especially postdocs. Get to know a few of these remarkable scientists through these profiles. Learn more Research Areas Image Nervous System Development and Function Whitehead Institute researchers are making important insights into the biology of the brain, from how it develops to what goes awry in neurodegenerative diseases and neurodevelopmental disorders. Image Cell Dynamics Our researchers seek to understand the activity of and interactions between the many molecules that make up the complex world of the cell. They investigate how the molecules and specialized structures inside of our cells work in concert with each other, in a precisely choreographed dance, to ensure that biological processes happen when and how they should. Image Cancer Cancer is a disease, or set of diseases, in which abnormal cells in the body experience uncontrolled growth. Cancer biology is complex, with many potential factors contributing to a given cancer’s development and outcome. Researchers at Whitehead Institute are investigating the fundamental biology of cancer cells and have helped drive steady advances in biomedicine’s understanding of cancer,...