The Mass General Research Institute (MGRI) is home to a research community of 9,500+ individuals working to understand disease and develop solutions to medicine’s most pressing challenges.

But who are they and what do they do when they’re not conducting research? Learn more about them in the #HumansOfMGRI series.

From clinical research coordinators to postdoctoral fellows, research technicians, graduate students and principal investigators—they are all part of the Mass General Research Institute.

Our next guest in the series is Maryam Azimi Mohammadabadi, PhD

What lab department do you work in?

I joined as a postdoctoral research fellow in the lab of Bo Rueda, PhD, in the Vincent Center for Reproductive Biology at Mass General in August of 2022.

I am currently studying the molecules involved in the development of ovarian cancer.

This disease is, unfortunately, one of the common cancers among women and is often diagnosed at a late stage, which makes treatment more difficult.

However, by identifying the factors that contribute to the development of ovarian cancer, we can take preventive measures and potentially save countless lives.

I firmly believe that every woman in the world deserves access to good healthcare, and our responsibility is to work towards achieving this goal. 

When and why did you get interested in the work that you are doing?

Generally, during high school, I developed an interest in observing cells under the microscope. In our biology course, we were required to construct a small microscope and use it to study onion leaves. This sparked my curiosity and led me to explore other types of cells.

I pursued a bachelor’s degree in biology during a time when cancer cells and cancer stem cells were emerging as hot topics. I found these cells to be incredibly aggressive and invasive, able to survive even in hypoxic conditions.

Their stubborn nature resonated with me on a personal level, and I began studying malignancy and cancer. As a woman, I feel passionate about helping other women and chose to focus on ovarian cancer research.

What do you like to do outside of work? 

Outside of work, I like to work out for a healthy body and mind. When exercising, I look at my hands and tell them to be strong since I need them for experiments.

After the gym on the way home, I like listening to music or podcasts.

Over the weekend, I like to go out in the nature. A quiet environment where just birds are singing helps me to recharge. 

 The image below left depicts my feelings about women worldwide – especially in Iran. These days, Iranian women are showing incredible bravery, which inspires me. They have a famous slogan: ‘Woman, Life, Freedom!’ which means that women strive for a free life, and I believe in their cause. In addition to Iranian women, if you look at women’s efforts throughout history, you can see an unstoppable drive from them.

We can see our mothers teaching us to be independent and sacrificing themselves for us to become good people. An Iranian saying goes, ‘Heaven belongs to mothers,’ but I want to say that heaven belongs to women who strive to show their abilities.”

What is your favorite TV show, podcast, book, or movie? 

My favorite movie is “The Shawshank Redemption.” The film stars Tim Robbins as Andy Dufresne, a banker sentenced to life in Shawshank State Penitentiary for the murder of his wife and her lover, even though he maintains his innocence.

The most amazing point of this movie is that despite all of the challenges and setbacks that he faces, Andy never loses hope.

Whenever I am tired or don’t get good results in the lab, I watch it. I really recommend it.

A fun fact about yourself

I like driving and singing songs loudly. I pretend that I am a singer or one of the music players. So I like driving on highways and singing my favorite songs.

One of my first to-do lists was getting a US driving license to drive and sing!!   

My favorite music playlist is a mix of Iranian singers (Ebi, Hayedeh,..), and my favorite international singer is Adele especially Rolling in the Deep and Set fire to the rain.

About the Mass General Research Institute
Research at Massachusetts General Hospital is interwoven through more than 30 different departments, centers and institutes. Our research includes fundamental, lab-based science; clinical trials to test new drugs, devices and diagnostic tools; and community and population-based research to improve health outcomes across populations and eliminate disparities in care.
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