In this Q&A, you’ll meet (pictured above, from left) Josh Remland, Oscar Jimenez and Sophia Feinerman, clinical research coordinators and research technicians in the lab of Andrea Edlow, MD, MSc at Massachusetts General Hospital, where they study maternal/fetal immunity.
When not biopsying placentas and processing cord blood, Sophia, Josh and Oscar are likely drinking lattes and eating treats from Flour.
Meet Mass General's POD People!
This year’s Celebration of Science at Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) started with a poster session that featured 250+ posters from research staff and trainees. From this impressive group, MGH judges selected 24 finalists to give a brief oral presentation on their paper. From those finalists, 12 Poster of Distinction winners were selected.
Each of the winners received $1,000 that they can use to support travel to a scientific conference or meeting. In this series, you’ll meet the 2025 Poster of Distinction winners (who we have affectionately nicknamed the POD People) and learn more about them and their research.
Can you give us a quick elevator pitch about your poster?
We investigated how timing of maternal vaccination for respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) during pregnancy affects antibody transfer to newborns.
Our findings show that vaccinating earlier in the recommended 32–36 week window — at least five weeks before delivery — results in the most efficient placental antibody transfer.
What inspired this research?
RSV is the leading cause of infant hospitalization in the United States, affecting 2-3% of newborns annually.
To help protect newborns and infants who are most vulnerable to severe RSV infection and even death, a maternal RSV vaccine was developed and first approved for use in September 2023.
However, the transplacental transfer of antibody after maternal RSV vaccination has never been studied week-by-week across the narrower approved vaccine window to examine the impact of maternal vaccine timing on newborn and infant protection.
We sought to investigate how the time from maternal RSV vaccination to delivery impacts placental antibody transfer to the umbilical cord at delivery, as well as the differences between antibodies arising from natural infection versus vaccination.
If somone's new to this topic, what's one key takaway they should walk away with?
Our findings show that vaccination for respiratory syncytial virus earlier within the approved 32- to 36-week window, ideally at least five weeks before delivery, is associated with the most efficient transfer of antibody to the fetus.
This is especially important for those at risk of delivering early, since preterm babies are the most vulnerable to severe RSV illness.
What's a fun or surprising fact about your research not included in your poster?
Antibodies from RSV vaccination lasted longer in babies than those from natural infection.
Specifically, anti-F antibodies (produced by the vaccine) are more durable at two months post-delivery, while anti-G antibodies (a marker of past infection) declined more quickly.
If you could invite one scientist—living or historical—to view your poster, who would it be?
Sophia would invite Dr. Anthony Fauci to view our poster. His expertise in immunology and infectious diseases could spark meaningful discussions and offer valuable insights into maternal immunity during pregnancy.
Oscar would invite virologist Robert Chanock, MD, who discovered the respiratory syncytial virus.
Josh would invite Rosalind Franklin because her pioneering work in structural biology laid the foundation for understanding how molecules like antibodies function. He thinks she would be fascinated to see how far we’ve come in applying that knowledge to protect newborns through maternal vaccination.
What's your go-to order at a coffee shop?
Sophia – Cold brew with oat milk and honey.
Josh – Pistachio Frappuccino
Oscar – Iced strawberry matcha latte
Be honest—how many tabs do you have open (on average) per day?
Around 20 and then our computers start to crash!
What's your go-to karaoke song?
Sophia – Over My Head – The Fray
Josh – I Can Do It With a Broken Heart - Taylor Swift
Oscar – Cooler Than Me - Mike Posner
What's your most-used emoji?
Josh – 🕺
Sophia – 👯♀️
Oscar - 😂
Research at Mass General Brigham
At Mass General Brigham, research isn’t just about discovery—it’s about transforming patient care worldwide.
With a community of more than 3,700 Principal Investigators and 16,000 scientists, we are pioneering discoveries in fields ranging from AI and gene therapy to cancer, neuroscience, and global health.
Through collaboration, innovation, and a relentless pursuit of knowledge, we turn groundbreaking ideas into real-world impact. Follow us for the latest research insights, clinical advancements, and stories of discovery from across Mass General Brigham.
Leave a Comment