The wait is over! Thank you to everyone that participated in the 2022 MGRI Image Awards. We received 64 images from 23 departments, units and centers across Mass General this year. During public voting earlier this month, the gallery of images was viewed 14,151 times and 3,801 votes were cast in the process of selecting the People’s Choice award.
Now we present to you the winners of the 2022 MGRI Image Awards!
A Closer Look Winner
In the Eye of the Storm
Neurons displaying Alzheimer’s disease pathology grown in 3D cell culture. Cell bodies are marked in green and dendrites are marked in pink.
With a little imagination, two entities that normally look very different (brain cells and eyes) look surprisingly alike.
Submitted by Jasmin Richter, MSc, who works as a research technician at the Kim/Tanzi labs within Professor Rudolph Tanzi’s Genetics and Aging Research Unit in the Department of Neurology. She works on characterizing Alzheimer’s Disease pathology in 3D cell culture models.
In her free time, Jasmin enjoys reading and hiking, as well as nature photography.
Mixed Media Winner
The Art of Retroviral Insertional Mutagenesis
A depiction of retroviral DNA integrating into the chromosomes of the human genome, as represented by skyscrapers along the skyline.
This image was created to illustrate the process of random retroviral integration and to provide an artistic and aesthetic summary of our work.
Submitted by David Sykes, MD, PhD, the principal investigator in his lab where the research is focused on understanding white blood cells, especially white blood cell development and their role in infections and cancers.
Outside of the lab, Dr. Sykes enjoys baking chocolate chip cookies and spending time with his Golden Retriever and two cats!
Science as Art Winner
Heart of a Medical Physicist
This picture is a 3D visualization of radiation dose distribution through a helical computed tomography (CT) scan.
Computed Tomography (CT) is the number one medical imaging tool contributing to the amount of radiation in the general population from medical exams in the U.S.
Submitted by Kai Yang, PhD, an American Board of Radiology (ABR) certified diagnostic medical physicist working in the Department of Radiology at MGH. His research interests include the development and evaluation of advanced x-ray imaging modalities, quantitative analysis for medical images, and image guidance for surgical and interventional procedures.
Outside of his work, Dr. Yang enjoys playing basketball, chess, and serving as a coach for his kids’ basketball teams.
Humans of MGRI Winner
Janitor: Avengers of Mass General Hospital
COVID-19 has given a lot of lessons to this world. We must appreciate the real avengers in our hospital: our caring nurses, doctors, protecting police and security, thinking scientists, professors, and wellness-maintaining admins.
The last avengers—but certainly not the least— are janitors. They may not be as expressive as other avengers, but their job is tremendously important to the success of the organization. My sincerest respect and love towards all these janitors.
Submitted by Venkatesh Pooladanda, MS, PhD, a postdoctoral research fellow in the department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, at the Vincent Center for Reproductive Biology. Dr. Pooladanda works under the principal investigator Bo Rueda, PhD, as he investigates the role of extracellular vesicles in the DNA repair mechanism in ovarian cancer.
Outside of the lab, Dr. Pooladanda enjoys hiking, practicing meditation, and cooking.
The People's Choice Winner
Hocus Coccus
Periprosthetic Joint infection (PJI) is a significant complication following joint replacement. Pictured here is bacteria (stained green) aggregating and invading bone cells.
Submitted by Amita Sekar, PhD, who works as a postdoctoral research fellow in Orthopedic Surgery at the Harris Orthopaedics Laboratory. Dr. Sekar works under the principal investigator Ebru Oral, PhD, investigating in vitro and in vivo behaviors of bacteria to stratify infection risk.
Honorable Mention
An abstract depiction of the lab space I spent the summer in
A depiction of the Musolino Lab space in the Center of Genomic Medicine. The chairs are empty because everyone is always on their feet in action and determined to find answers for children with devastating diseases.
I created this painting as a token of appreciation for the people in my lab. I was able to make my goal of pursuing an MD-PhD concrete, solidify my enjoyment in doing research, and will be returning to the lab next summer.
Submitted by Aarushi Gandhi who is an undergraduate summer research intern in the lab of Patricia Musolino, PhD. Aarushi runs her own projects with the guidance of the skilled team in the lab, and learns about the impact research can make for patients, caregivers, and the community.
Her projects include studying the TGF-B pathway that is involved in the blood-brain barrier disruption in patients with cerebral adrenoleukodystrophy, and performing a survey conducted on ACTA2 patients with the R179H mutation to better characterize the disorder.
Outside of the lab, Aarushi enjoys painting, playing the piano, sailing, and watching sunsets by the beach with her friends on her days off.
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