Public health

This graphic of a simulated disease outbreak illustrates how a rapid public health response triggered by PRESAGED's early warning of pathogen exposures can significantly reduce the spread of a disease.

Early warning of disease exposure could improve public health responses

Lincoln Laboratory researchers explore the impact of technology that detects a person's exposure to disease-causing pathogens before symptoms manifest.

March 19, 2020

This scanning electron microscope image shows SARS-CoV-2 (yellow)—also known as 2019-nCoV, the virus that causes COVID-19—isolated from a patient, emerging from the surface of cells (blue/pink) cultured in the lab.

Covid-19 diagnostic based on MIT technology might be tested on patient samples soon

A variety of MIT research projects could aid efforts to detect and prevent the spread of coronavirus.

March 12, 2020

A billboard in Liberia urges people to help stop the spread of Ebola, which was widespread in 2014-2015. A new study shows how a public awareness campaign helped people understand and cooperate with government efforts to control the disease.

How door-to-door canvassing slowed an epidemic

Study finds that in Liberia, volunteers limited damage from Ebola by distributing information within their own communities.

February 26, 2020

Most facilities for handwashing are located inside restrooms, which tend to be highly contaminated areas, the researchers say. Separate handwashing sinks outside of restrooms could help improve hand hygiene at airports, they suggest.

Study: To slow an epidemic, focus on handwashing

Improving the rate of handwashing at just 10 major airports could significantly slow the spread of a viral disease, researchers estimate.

February 6, 2020

“A lot of what has defined my time at MIT has been the different things that I’ve been able to get involved in,” says senior Adedoyin Olateru-Olagbegi.

Exploring the human side of health care

Senior and “people person” Adedoyin Olateru-Olagbegi brings a human touch to caring for people dealing with medical crises.

November 20, 2019

A new study co-authored by MIT researchers, looking at the spread of dengue fever in Singapore, shows how commuting affects the spread of illness in urban settings.

Tracking contagion in cities, using mobile phone data

Study shows how commuting and other forms of everyday travel help spread mosquito-borne disease in urban settings.

November 20, 2019

MIT alumnus Steven Keating has died. Keating conducted research on additive manufacturing and synthetic biology. He developed a technology that could 3-D print the foundation of a building.

Celebrating a curious mind: Steven Keating 1988-2019

Steven Keating SM'12, PhD '16 inspired millions with his research-driven approach to battling cancer and his advocacy for open patient health data.

July 22, 2019

A patient receives an ultrasound at MDaaS Global's clinic in Ibadan, Nigeria. MDaaS provides diagnostic services to low-income communities that were previously inaccessible.

World-class diagnostics for low-income communities in sub-Saharan Africa

MDaaS Global works to transform health care in Africa by bringing high-end medical diagnostics to low-income communities.

July 11, 2019

"The efficacy and success of medical advances must always be evaluated within a larger social context,” says Ankita Reddy ’19, who aims to be a physician-anthropologist. “In order to do the most good for individual patients and to slow the spread of disease, our interventions need to take into consideration the public health capacity of communities as well as local ideas of health and sickne...

Ankita Reddy ’19 blends anthropology and biology to improve public health

Recent graduate says culturally-aware approaches lead to more-effective medical interventions.

July 3, 2019

Judges and sponsors of the Rabobank-MIT Food and Agribusiness Innovation Prize pose with members of the winning team, Gramhal. Team members pictured include advisor Russell DeLucia (third from left); head of operations Simeen Kaleem (fourth from left); CEO and founder Vikas Birhma (fourth from right). Not pictured is Gramhal chief program officer Pankaj Mahalle.

Mobile solution for farmers and plan for global shrimp marketplace win agribusiness prize

Seven finalist teams pitched their business ideas at the Rabobank-MIT Food and Agribusiness Innovation Prize competition.

May 3, 2019

Kate Trimble (left), associate dean and senior director of the PKG Center, poses with the founders of Myco Diagnostics, (from left to right) Nhat Nguyen, Aditi Trehan, and Eric Miller.

IDEAS challenge showcases social ventures at MIT

Ten student teams receive $100,000 in combined awards to pursue their impact-driven projects.

April 30, 2019

PlateJoy's platform sends recipes straight to users' phones and also features educational videos on topics such as sleep, nutrition, and fitness.

Healthy eating made easy

Startup PlateJoy sends users personalized meal plans to help them achieve health goals.

November 21, 2018

This wearable water quality test kit (early prototype pictured at left) provides a simple, accessible way to test the presence of E. coli in drinking water. A J-WAFS Solutions grant will enable an MIT research team to develop a regionally-appropriate commercialization strategy to ensure that these test kits can be accessible to rural and urban communities in Nepal as well as the other areas in Sou...

J-WAFS awards grants for commercialization of food and water technologies

Solutions grants will aid commercialization of novel MIT technologies to test water safety and improve agricultural productivity.

September 11, 2018

Left to right: Center for Environmental Health Sciences poster winners in the postdoc category included Helene Angot (1st place), Ben Crawford (2nd place), and Mary Andorfer (3rd place).

Center for Environmental Health Sciences selects 2018 poster winners

Annual poster session showcases recent work on biological effects of exposure to environmental agents.

April 20, 2018

“The thing that drew me to [biological engineering] in the first place was being able to help people,” Joseph says, “and [MIT] was the only school where I felt that goal was actually true of the curriculum.”

Jasmin Joseph: “I love the idea of making an impact on global health”

MIT senior and varsity softball co-captain brings positivity and determination to life-saving biology research.

April 9, 2018

MIT News | Massachusetts Institute of Technology

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