News Archive, 2006

Boston Biomedical Research Institute Partners with the School of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, to Explore the Intersection of Art & Science

WATERTOWN, Mass. - July 11, 2006 -The School of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston’s (SMFA) Institute for Art and Civic Engagement (IACE) and the Boston Biomedical Research Institute (BBRI), today announced a new collaborative partnership in which an advanced SMFA student has been selected to spend a three-month residency at BBRI’s research facility in Watertown, MA.  The goal of the program is to foster a mutual exchange and evolving dialog between the artist and a group of scientists, in which each would explore and learn from the other regarding their work, methods, philosophies, techniques and technologies.

This residency will ultimately result in a new body of work created by the artist to be exhibited in BBRI’s exhibition space in December 2006, a visual representation of the intersection of BBRI’s scientific endeavors and mission with the artist’s unique inspiration and vision. The intersection of art & science represents a special opportunity for both artists and scientists to collaborate to develop new work and to discover new directions for creative exploration and inquiry.

“So much of biological science is visual and many scientists also have a keen interest in art.  We are extremely intrigued by the intersection of art and science and are delighted to be partnering with the School of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, to help broaden the scope of both areas,” said Charlie Emerson, Ph.D., Director and Senior Scientist, Boston Biomedical Research Institute.

About the Boston Biomedical Research Institute
Founded in 1968, Boston Biomedical Research Institute is a not-for-profit basic research institute dedicated to the understanding, treatment and prevention of a wide range of human diseases and conditions including cancer, cardiovascular diseases, and degenerative diseases. For more information visit us at www.bbri.org.

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Boston Biomedical Scientists Discover Promising New Therapeutic Target

WATERTOWN, Mass. - July 10, 2006 -In the July 2006 edition of the American Journal of Physiology - Heart and Circulatory Physiology, scientists at the Boston Biomedical Research Institute identified Puma (p53 upregulated modulator of apoptosis) as a potential new target for the therapeutic intervention of heart disease. In recognition of the possible clinical ramifications of this work and the scientific communities‚ interest in the search for novel therapeutics, the American Journal of Physiology also released an editorial review focusing on this study and the role of Puma in heart disease.

Heart disease is the leading cause of morbidity for both men and women in the United States, and the demand for effective alternatives is high. In their study, Dr. Ambrus Toth, Dr. Phil Nickson, and their principal investigator Dr. Peter Erhardt, all of the Boston Biomedical Research Institute, described how the targeted removal of Puma, a recently discovered cellular protein involved in the promotion of programmed cell death, otherwise known as apoptosis - protects hearts against the damage caused by myocardial infarction. Based on these observations, Dr. Toth and his colleagues propose that specifically blocking the activity of Puma in the heart could promote the recovery of heart disease patients.

In the American Journal of Physiology editorial review, Dr. Keith Webster recognizes the importance of Puma in heart disease and compares it to other candidate therapeutic targets, such as BNIP3 and Noxa. Dr. Webster also speculates on how emerging data may be connected, and how they should be advanced from scientific observations to viable therapeutics.

Dr. Charles Emerson, director of Boston Biomedical, is extremely pleased that the importance of Dr. Toth’s work has been recognized, saying, “This success is a great example of how the pursuit of scientific concepts can lead to the development of novel therapeutics.”

Boston Biomedical Research Institute is a not-for-profit institution dedicated to the understanding, treatment, and prevention of specific human diseases such as cardiovascular disease, cancer, diabetes, and Alzheimer’s disease. For more information visit us on the web at www.bbri.org.

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Two Boston Biomedical Research Institute Scholars Receive Prestigious American Heart Association Fellowship Award

WATERTOWN, Mass. - June 21, 2006 - The American Heart Association (AHA), a nationally recognized voluntary health agency focused on reducing cardiovascular disease and stroke through scientific research, has awarded Boston Biomedical Research Institute’s (BBRI) Drs. Yana Khalina and Susanne Vetterkind with the highly prestigious two-year independent research fellowship award.

The AHA subjects applicants to a highly rigorous and competitive peer review process which ranks each candidate’s proposal on scientific novelty, merit and also on the quality of the sponsor and institution. The success of Drs. Khalina and Vetterkind is testament to their scientific expertise and to the effectiveness of BBRI’s unique and collaborative postdoctoral training program. Prior to receiving this prestigious award, Drs. Khalina and Vetterkind were recipients of separate BBRI Scholar awards which recognize and support talented aspiring young scientists.

Dr. Khalina joined the lab of Dr. Albert Wang in 2004 after receiving her Ph.D. in Biophysics from the Pushchino State University, Institute of Theoretical and Experimental Biophysics, Russian Academy of Sciences. Her project will explore the role of smooth muscle regulator Caldesmon (CaD). Preliminary data shows that abnormalities in reproduction such as miscarriage and sterility could reflect a smooth muscle dysfunction caused by the lack of CaD. Due to the significance of smooth muscle tone regulation in many functions of the organism, the results of her research could have potential clinical implications for the development of novel therapies for cardiovascular diseases and some other smooth muscle disorders, including the design of new approaches to combat hypertension, premature labor and female sterility.

Dr. Vetterkind graduated with a Ph.D. from the University of Bonn in Germany and joined the lab of Dr. Kathleen Morgan in June 2005. Her proposal, which ranked within the top 1 percent of all applications reviewed, aims to investigate two proteins - zipper-interacting protein kinase (ZIPK) and prostate apoptosis response-4 (Par-4) - in the context of smooth muscle contraction. Both proteins have been associated with the programmed cell death (apoptosis) in fibroblasts and cancer cells however, their role in smooth muscle contraction is novel and currently unclear. Smooth muscle contraction is a key determinant of blood pressure and blood flow. Gaining further insight into the mechanisms of smooth muscle contraction, it is hoped that her research may lead to the development of innovative strategies to combat hypertension and stroke. 

About the Boston Biomedical Research Institute
BBRI is an independent, non-profit institution dedicated to basic biomedical research to promote the understanding, treatment and prevention of human diseases and conditions, including heart disease, cancer, muscular dystrophy, Alzheimer's, diabetes and obesity. For more information visit us on the web at www.bbri.org.

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Superantigen Findings Advance Therapeutic Development

WATERTOWN, Mass. - June 21, 2006 - Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America (PNAS), one of the worlds most frequently cited multidisciplinary periodicals, has published the findings of Boston Biomedical Research Institute (BBRI) scientists Dr. Beenu Moza, a postdoctoral fellow, and Dr. Eric Sundberg, a principal investigator. These findings are extremely important for the development of computational algorithms to predict protein-protein interactions and consequently, the design of protein-based drugs for the treatment of human disease.

The current focus of Drs. Moza and Sundberg's research is to characterize how proteins interact. This information is then applied to the development of small molecule inhibitors for use against bacterial superantigens. Superantigens are potent T cell activators that are capable of overwhelming the host's immune system, which if left untreated, can result in toxic shock syndrome. In order for a small molecule inhibitor to be effective against a superantigen, it must bind to it more efficiently than the host's T cells- the mediators of the immune response. To begin to engineer such a molecule, Drs. Moza and Sundberg have examined the fundamental biochemical principles of how two proteins, a superantigen and a T cell receptor, interact.

It is known that clusters of amino acids, known as hot spots, (which can be further clustered into hot regions) contribute distinct binding energies to a complex of two interacting proteins, and that the distribution of these binding energies determines how efficiently the two proteins interact. Previously, it was believed that the binding energies within a hot region were cooperative, whereas, those between hot regions were additive. In this study, however, by mutating or changing various amino acids within the interfaces of the two interacting proteins, Drs. Moza and Sundberg have demonstrated that the previous hypothesis is incorrect, and in fact, like the binding energies within a hot region, the binding energies between distinct hot regions are also cooperative. This observation is critical for the development of accurate computational algorithms to predict protein interactions, which are essential tools for designing small molecule inhibitors. This work was funded by a grant from the National Institutes of Health (NIH).

Boston Biomedical Research Institute's Director, Dr. Charles Emerson, is extremely optimistic about this data, stating "This is yet another example of how the high-level basic scientific research conducted here at BBRI is advancing us toward a better tomorrow". 

Boston Biomedical Research Institute is a not-for-profit institution dedicated to the understanding, treatment, and prevention of specific human diseases such as infectious disease, cancer, cardiovascular disease, and Alzheimer's disease. For more information visit us on the web at www.bbri.org.

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New Strategic Initiatives Announced at Boston Biomedical Research Institute

WATERTOWN, Mass. - June 20, 2006 - Boston Biomedical Research Institute (BBRI) has announced the formation of four new interdisciplinary programmatic initiatives that focus on disease-based basic research and build upon, and bring together BBRI’s unique strengths. Under the leadership of its Director, Dr. Charles Emerson, the groundwork for these programs began a year ago as part of a larger strategic plan initiative designed to address questions at the forefront of research that if answered, would ultimately further scientific discovery.

Scientists in each program area are beginning to develop specific plans for pilot projects. The Cancer Program will focus on generating therapies that prevent metastasis of lung, prostate, breast and pancreatic cancers which are among the most deadly. The Cardiovascular Disease Program will search for new clues into the causes of heart failure, stroke and hypertension. The Regeneration, Development and Degenerative Disease Program will work with stem cells to deepen BBRI’s expertise in Muscular Dystrophy and already established research programs in diabetes, aging and trauma. Finally, the Integrative Protein Biology Program will expand BBRI’s core protein technology into systems biology enabling advancement in the areas of smooth muscle biology specifically looking into the cause and treatment of asthma.

Programmatic areas were introduced to BBRI Trustees and members of the Corporation in May by BBRI Faculty members Drs. Janice Dominov, Peter Erhardt, Eric Sundberg and Sarah Wilcox-Adelman and were welcomed with high enthusiasm and energy. BBRI Trustee and renowned cancer research pioneer at Children’s Hospital Boston, Dr. Judah Folkman said “BBRI has raised the bar in scientific excellence to an even higher level. The uniqueness of the Institute and its collaborative nature, combined with the originality of the proposed research projects, will enable BBRI to pursue cutting-edge basic and disease research.” 

Founded in 1968, Boston Biomedical Research Institute is a not-for-profit basic research institute dedicated to the understanding, treatment and prevention of a wide range of human diseases and conditions. For more information visit www.bbri.org.

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Research Study of a Protein as a Potential Therapeutic Target for Cancer Wins Award from the Concern Foundation

WATERTOWN, Mass. - June 20, 2006 - A promising new research project, led by Dr. Xingbin Ai in collaboration with Drs. Charles Emerson and Henry Paulus at Boston Biomedical Research Institute (BBRI) that is studying a protein with the potential to be a therapeutic target for cancer has won a $100,000 "CONquer CancER Now" grant award from the Concern Foundation in California.

The project, entitled "Inhibitors of Hedgehog autoprocessing as endodermal cancer therapeutics" focuses on some of the more devastating and deadly cancers found in the esophagus, stomach, biliary tract, pancreas and prostate that currently have few effective therapeutics. A large majority of these tumors have been found to express hedgehog (Hh) proteins and are dependent on Hh for survival and growth. Specific inhibitors to block the formation of functional Hh will be candidates for further study for efficacy and will provide a new class of small-molecule drugs with minimal side effects for the treatment of these cancers.

Dr. Xingbin Ai, who has also received a grant from the Muscular Dystrophy Association this year, says "funding through the Concern Foundation will enable us to further our research and understanding of the Hh protein, hopefully leading to very exciting results. The basic research conducted at BBRI is the first step in the ultimate quest toward the development of additional therapeutics for cancer and other diseases. Eventually, we want to be able to prevent these deadly cancers and diseases from occurring in the first place.” 

About the Boston Biomedical Research Institute
Founded in 1968, BBRI is an independent, non-profit institution dedicated to basic biomedical research to promote the understanding, treatment and prevention of human diseases and conditions, including cancer, heart disease, muscular dystrophies, Alzheimer's disease, diabetes and obesity. For more information visit us at www.bbri.org.

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Boston Biomedical Research Institute Appoints Paul Airasian to Board

WATERTOWN, Mass. - June 5, 2006 - Boston Biomedical Research Institute (BBRI), a Watertown-based non-profit institution dedicated to the understanding, treatment and prevention of specific human diseases, today announced it has elected local businessman, Paul Airasian, to its Board of Trustees.  Mr. Airasian brings more than 30 years of experience developing business strategies and corporate solutions for marketing development, sales support and strategic alliances.

Previously, Mr. Airasian was co-owner of Eastern Clothing Co., Inc.  He has also worked as a consultant at the CIP Group, a provider of employee benefit plans and services for businesses.  There, Mr. Airasian served as a certified Long Term Care Consultant, expanding the company's client development and marketing presence in the Long Term Care industry.  He has served on a number of Boston-area boards, including Oakley Country Club, Catholic Charities and The Genesis Fund.  Additionally, he held the position of corporator for Mt. Auburn Hospital.

“We are thrilled to have Mr. Airasian as part of our leadership team as we continue to partner with the Watertown community in our efforts to solve the mysteries of the human body,” said Jake Layton, Board President, Boston Biomedical Research Institute. “Mr. Airasian’s breadth of business experience in the Boston area is truly noteworthy.  He will make a welcome addition to our Board.” 

About the Boston Biomedical Research Institute
BBRI is an independent, non-profit institution dedicated to basic biomedical research to promote the understanding, treatment and prevention of human diseases, including heart disease, cancer, muscular dystrophy and Alzheimer's. Areas of research include biochemical and cellular mechanisms, muscle contractility and cell motility, the genetic control of cell growth and differentiation, and tissue damage and regeneration. For more information visit www.bbri.org.

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Using Bioinformatics, Scientists at Boston Biomedical Research Institute Elucidate the Kinome of a Key Model Organism

WATERTOWN, Mass. - March 31, 2006 - The journal PLoS Genetics has published the findings of a team of scientists at the nonprofit  Boston Biomedical Research Institute that provides a whole genome analysis of the protein kinases from a scientifically valuable model organism known as Dictyostelium.

Led by Dr. Janet Smith, this study offers important insights into the evolution of kinases, which are enzymes involved in cell communication pathways.  Approximately 2.5% of human genes code for protein kinases, and mutations in many of these genes are at the root of a range of human diseases. Dictyostelium is a widely used model organism for scientific study, as it is remarkably similar to mammalian cells, and it is amenable to a range of laboratory techniques.

To solve the kinome of Dictyostelium, Dr. Smith and her colleagues at Boston Biomedical utilized the power of bioinformatics, a cutting edge scientific technique which employs databases and computer algorithms to allow researchers to gain information and compile data about genes and kinases in a fast and efficient way, which can be very useful for drug discovery and development.

According to Dr. Smith, Dictyostelium provides a simple model in which to study conserved cellular processes, and illuminates a period in the evolutionary history of the metazoa after the divergence of the plants but before that of the fungi.  “Our findings document the impressive evolutionary creativity of the Dictyostelium kinome- a large portion of the kinases are unique to Dictyostelium, and are probably involved in unique aspects of this organism's biology,” said Dr. Smith.

But conservation is also a major theme. By comparing the Dictyostelium kinome with those of other organisms, the authors find 46 types of kinases that appear to be conserved in all organisms, and are likely to be involved in fundamental cellular processes. “We believe this study will be very useful to researchers who are studying cell communication pathways in other organisms, including vertebrates, by demonstrating what aspects of signaling are conserved, and revealing opportunities to use Dictyostelium to understand important human proteins.”

Boston Biomedical Research Institute is a not-for-profit institution dedicated to the understanding, treatment and prevention of specific human diseases including cancer, Alzheimer’s disease, muscular dystrophy, diabetes and conditions such as obesity and reproductive health problems.  For more information visit www.bbri.org.

Media Contact: Terence McGowan, 617-658-7707, mcgowan@bbri.org.

Publication Details:
Citation: Goldberg JM, Manning G, Liu A, Fey P, Pilcher KE, et al. (2006) The Dictyostelium Kinome—Analysis of the protein kinases from a simple model organism. PLoS Genet 2(3): e38. (PDF).

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Using Two local students praised for their interest in Science
Boston Biomedical Research Institute awards two scholarships

WATERTOWN, Mass. - On Thursday, May 18, Boston Biomedical Research Institute (BBRI) awarded $2500 scholarships to two Watertown High School seniors.  Stephanie Colantonio and Helen Pham, both of Watertown have previously participated in the BBRI/Watertown High School Student Science Expo and look to continue their education and interests in Science at Yale University and Northeastern University respectively this fall.  Director of Boston Biomedical Research Institute, Charles P. Emerson, Jr., Ph.D. states, "As a person who has dedicated his life to the pursuit of scientific knowledge, there is nothing more rewarding than seeing the young people interested in the field.  As Director of BBRI, I am honored to support the education of the individuals who will bring about the discoveries of the future.”.

BBRI’s education outreach program benefits students and encourages more young people to consider careers in research science.  It includes scholarships, internships for students and teachers, an annual student math and science expo, and visits from our scientists to local classrooms.

For more information, contact Terry McGowan at 617-658-7707 or email mcgowan@bbri.org.

About the Boston Biomedical Research Institute
BBRI is an independent, non-profit institution dedicated to basic biomedical research to promote the understanding, treatment and prevention of human diseases, including heart disease, cancer, muscular dystrophy and Alzheimer's. Areas of research include biochemical and cellular mechanisms, muscle contractility and cell motility, the genetic control of cell growth and differentiation, and tissue damage and regeneration.

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National Academy of Sciences Publishes Cancer Findings of Boston Biomedical Research Institute

WATERTOWN, Mass. - March 8, 2006 - Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America (PNAS), one of the world’s most frequently cited multidisciplinary scientific periodicals, has published the findings of Dr. Charles P. Emerson, Jr., Ph.D., Senior Scientist and Director, Xingbin Ai, Ph.D. and Ke Lu, M.S. of the not-for-profit Boston Biomedical Research Institute (BBRI) and Dr. Natalia Riobo, a postdoctoral research fellow at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine. In this innovative study, Dr. Emerson and his colleagues highlight new potential targets for the therapeutic intervention of a diverse range of human cancers by describing a novel synergistic association between two important cellular signaling pathways.

This research focuses on characterizing a form of cellular communication known as Hedgehog signaling. The Hedgehog signaling pathway is activated when Sonic Hedgehog, a well known signaling molecule, binds to its receptor Patched, ultimately leading to the activation of a family of transcription factors known as Glis (Gli1, Gli2, and Gli3). Normally this pathway regulates fundamental developmental processes such as embryonic tissue patterning and stem cell maintenance. However, inappropriate Hedgehog signaling is causal in a number of important human cancers, including pancreatic, lung, skin, muscle, and digestive tract cancer - all of which remain largely untreatable.

In their study, Dr. Emerson and collaborators describe a synergistic association between the Hedgehog signaling pathway and the insulin-like growth factor (IGF)/phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3-kinase)/Akt pathway. By demonstrating that the PI3-kinase pathway potentiates Hedgehog signaling by inhibiting the inactivation of Gli, They have shed light on an important association between PI3-kinase pathway signaling and Hedgehog dependent developmental processes. In addition, this result implies that PI3-kinase activity, coupled with inappropriate Hedgehog signaling, may lead to enhanced Hedgehog dependent tumor formation.

“Understanding the key components of the Hedgehog signaling pathway and how it is associated with other cellular signaling pathways is crucial for the development of novel therapeutic approaches to treat this devastating group of cancers. These preliminary findings offer great promise for the development of preventative and curative treatments by identifying new therapeutic targets,” said Dr. Emerson. This work was supported by a National Cancer Institute grant.

Boston Biomedical Research Institute is a not-for-profit institution dedicated to the understanding, treatment and prevention of specific human diseases such as cancer, cardiovascular disease, muscular dystrophy, Alzheimer’s disease, diabetes and conditions such as obesity and reproductive health problems. For more information visit www.bbri.org. Media contact: Terence McGowan, 617-658-7707, mcgowan@bbri.org.  

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Discovery by Research Group at Boston Biomedical Research Institute Opens Doors to New Treatments for the most Lethal Cancers

WATERTOWN, Mass. - February 27, 2006 - Cancer Research, a top tier journal that publishes biologically significant findings with relevance to cancer, recently published the findings of Dr. Charles P. Emerson, Jr., a Senior Scientist and Director of the not-for-profit Boston Biomedical Research Institute and Dr. Natalia Riobo, a postdoctoral fellow at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine.  The discovery holds promise for identification of new drug targets to treat a group of the most lethal cancers known as Hedgehog cancers.

Drs. Emerson and Riobo’s research focuses on understanding a type of cell communication know as Hedgehog signaling. Hedgehog signaling has an essential role in the control of stem cell growth and in the promotion of tumor growth.  Excessive activation of the Hedgehog signaling pathway has been observed to be responsible for tumor growth in the most lethal of human cancers, including pancreatic, lung, skin, muscle and digestive tract cancer – all of which remain largely untreatable. These researchers now show that two kinases, known as PKC-deltaand MEK-1, cooperate with Hedgehog signaling to activate GLI transcription factors to regulate key genes that control stem cell and tumor growth.

“Understanding the key components of the Hedgehog signaling pathway, and how mutations in this pathway can lead to the growth of cancer cells, highlights the power of basic science and disease model research to reveal new therapeutic approaches for human disease, which is a hallmark of BBRI research,” says BBRI’s Director Dr. Charles Emerson.  “Our preliminary findings offer tremendous promise for development of preventative and curative treatments for these devastating cancers.”  The work is being supported by a grant from the National Cancer Institute.

Boston Biomedical Research Institute is a not-for-profit institution dedicated to the understanding, treatment and prevention of specific human diseases including cancer, cardiovascular disease, Alzheimer’s disease, muscular dystrophy, diabetes and conditions such as obesity and reproductive health problems.  For more information visit www.bbri.org.

Media Contact: Terence McGowan, 617-658-7707, mcgowan@bbri.org.

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Innovative Cancer Treatment Pilot Study at Boston Biomedical Research Institute Receives Highly Competitive Simeon J. Fortin Charitable Foundation Award

WATERTOWN, Mass. - January 19, 2006 - An innovative pilot study at Boston Biomedical Research Institute aimed at developing novel cancer immunotherapies has received the highly competitive Simeon J. Fortin Charitable Foundation award.   This novel approach by Boston Biomedical’s Dr. Eric Sundberg aims to engineer superantigens, which are potent stimulators of the immune system, to bind specifically to tumor cell markers, and thus direct a specific, targeted immune response to the tumor.

Dr. Sundberg’s innovative research is focused on understanding the molecular mechanisms by which superantigens cause disease and on the development of drugs that can counteract superantigen-mediated illness.  “Modification of superantigens by protein engineering techniques can produce novel molecules that are capable of stimulating a potent immune response targeted to specific cells” says Dr. Sundberg.  In this pilot study, Dr. Sundberg’s group is focused on engineering superantigens that specifically target tumors for destruction by the immune system.

"Dr. Sundberg is one of the world’s foremost authorities on superantigens and their interactions with the immune system," says Dr. Charles Emerson, Jr., BBRI’s Director, "We are very pleased to have his work recognized by the Simeon J. Fortin Charitable Foundation, and expect that this pilot study will yield very promising results for the development of an effective new treatment for cancer."  Combined with his expertise in molecular recognition and protein design, Dr. Sundberg is poised to develop protein therapeutics that target not only cancer but a wide range of human diseases.

Boston Biomedical Research Institute is a not-for-profit institution dedicated to the understanding, treatment and prevention of specific human diseases including cancer, Alzheimer’s disease, muscular dystrophy, diabetes and conditions such as obesity and reproductive health problems. When appropriate, the Institute collaborates in clinical studies of patients to apply the results of basic research to the cure of disease. For more information visit www.bbri.org.

Media Contact: Terence McGowan, 617-658-7707, mcgowan@bbri.org.

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