The Center for Systems Biology (CSB) at Massachusetts General Hospital is one of five thematic research centers where clinicians and scientists conduct innovative biomedical research to treat and prevent human disease and bring the latest advances to patient care. 

The CSB focuses on analyzing how the human body’s biological and physiological functions work together to impact health and disease.

Here are five things to know:

Ralph Weissleder, MD, PhD, is the director of the CSB. Dr. Weissleder is a renowned radiologist working on reconciling the gap that exists between traditional cell biology and human biology.

His work on imaging, nanomaterials and miniaturized chips has led to a number of advanced clinical trials and he serves as co-founder and advisor to several biotech companies.

Unlike some specialties that require focusing on one specific organ, systems biology encompasses several. Researchers working in systems biology analyze how molecules, proteins and cells interact in throughout the body in both health and disease.

Systems biology approaches are generalizable to a variety of diseases, but the Mass General CSB specializes in complex human conditions such as cancer, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, autoimmune disease, and renal disease.

The Center for Systems Biology is home to over 200 researchers in 12 PI groups who are pursuing systems-level research that is at once fundamental and yet immediately linked to the diagnosis and treatment of disease.

• Bradley E. Bernstein, MD, PhD,
• Dennis Brown, PhD
• Sylvie Breton, PhD, MSc, Charles and Ann Sanders MGH Research Scholar 2011-2016
• John Higgins, MD
• Hakho Lee, PhD, Hostetter MGH Research Scholar 2017-2022
• Charles Lin, PhD
• Herbert Lin, MD, PhD
• Miles Miller, PhD
• Matthias Nahrendorf, MD, PhD, Weissman Family MGH Research Scholar 2014-2019
• Kamila Naxerova, PhD
• Mikael Pittet, PhD, Samana Cay MGH Research Scholar 2015-2020
• Filip Swirski, PhD, Patricia and Scott Eston MGH Research Scholar 2016-2021

The CSB frequently partners with the Harvard Medical School Department of Systems Biology, clinical departments at Mass General, other Mass General thematic centers, MIT, and the Broad Institute.

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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