Mass General Brigham

Enhance your skills with our multidisciplinary CME program focused on musculoskeletal ultrasound! Ideal for orthopedics, sports medicine, rheumatology, and more. Join expert physicians from Massachusetts General Hospital and Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital. Register now: https://spklr.io/6045xcgT

During the annual Boston Bruins Academy Coaching Symposium, Stephen Durant, Ed.D., staff psychologist for the Boston Bruins and co-director of the Massachusetts General Hospital Sports Psychology Program, shared insights on the biological and psychological signs of a healthy adolescent athlete's mind. He highlighted warning signs of mental health challenges, emphasizing the importance of recognizing and addressing them. Stephen also discussed the value of gratitude and the principle that pain and suffering can be overcome—with support from others. The Boston Bruins Coaching Symposium presented by Mass General Brigham, in partnership with Massachusetts Hockey Inc., is a marquee event that brings together coaches from across New England. It offers participants the chance to learn from USA Hockey-certified experts and gain valuable insights to enhance their coaching skills. Photos via Boston Bruins

Early signs of Alzheimer's disease, like memory loss, confusion, and mood changes, can be subtle but significant. Learn more about this disease and as a system, Mass General Brigham will continue to work toward breakthroughs in treatment and care. https://spklr.io/6044xVuQ #EndAlz #AlzheimersAwareness

As an industry leader in sustainable healthcare delivery, we are committed to minimizing our environmental impact. We are joining Harvard University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and PowerOptions, Inc. to collaborate with Apex Clean Energy to enable two new renewable energy facilities and purchase an estimated 1.3 million megawatt-hours of renewable electricity annually by 2026. Beyond generating tangible environmental benefits, the two projects will create approximately $64 million in tax revenue for their communities, 750 jobs during construction, and a new and long-term source of income for local farmers and landowners, totaling $100 million. Learn more about this collaboration: https://spklr.io/6041x5AW

Mass Eye and Ear researchers conducted a clinical trial of an oral medication, sodium oxybate—commonly used for narcolepsy—to treat laryngeal dystonia, an often-debilitating condition that affects speech. Inspired by patients who noticed their symptoms eased after drinking alcohol, researchers explored how this medication, which mimics some alcohol effects on the brain, could help. The results? Voice symptoms improved by an average of 41% in patients with alcohol-responsive laryngeal dystonia. Study lead author Kristina Simonyan, MD, PhD, Dr med, vice chair for clinical research and director of laryngology research in the Department of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery at Mass Eye and Ear, shares insights into this breakthrough in the Annals of Neurology. Learn about this innovative step forward in treating speech-related conditions: https://spklr.io/6041xbOX.

The Mass General Brigham Home Hospital team launched the first phase of proof-of-concept drone flights for the medical delivery project at Brigham and Women’s Faulkner Hospital. This marked a significant milestone in an initiative aimed at assessing the ability to provide delivery of medical equipment, medications, and supplies to Home Hospital patients, improving access to essential services and the overall patient experience. Watch how it works: https://spklr.io/6045xbSx

Congratulations to this year’s Spark Grant recipients! The Mass General Brigham Gene and Cell Therapy Institute has awarded four winning project groups, consisting of seven individuals, a total of $1,150,000, to further their work in important disease fields such as neuroinflammation, cancer, pulmonary disease, tuberous sclerosis and more. “We are thrilled to recognize the cutting-edge achievements of this year's honorees that advance the field of gene and cell therapy,” said Roger Hajjar, MD, head of the Mass General Brigham Gene and Cell Therapy Institute. “Their innovative work not only furthers scientific understanding but also brings hope to patients living with several different diseases and conditions.” Learn more about their innovative research: https://spklr.io/6049xk3t

Unlocking Better Trial Outcomes: Christopher Herrick on the Power of Early Site Collaboration in Protocol Design In a recent interview, Christopher Herrick, VP for the Hospital Integrated Research Organization (HIRO) and Research Systems and Technology at Mass General Brigham, emphasizes how early site collaboration in protocol design can enhance trial outcomes and save significant resources.? ? Key Insights: -Avoiding Costly Amendments: Protocol amendments can cost up to $500,000 each. By involving sites early, sponsors can identify potential issues upfront, avoiding costly changes that slow down the trial process. -Boosting Patient Recruitment: In one study, Mass General Brigham adjusted a chronic disease protocol to align with realistic diagnosis timelines, increasing the eligible patient population. This highlights the value of site input in optimizing recruitment and overcoming barriers. -Improving Real-World Evidence: Traditional ICD-10 codes can misrepresent patient conditions, skewing trial results. Mass General Brigham uses “computed phenotypes,” which integrate diverse data—like biomarkers, clinical notes, and patient-reported outcomes—to more accurately identify patient populations and improve trial design. -Streamlining Processes: Early site involvement helps standardize protocols and accelerate key processes like contract negotiations, IRB processing, and budgeting, reducing delays and administrative bottlenecks. Why It Matters: Integrating site expertise early and leveraging real-world data not only saves time and costs, but also leads to more efficient trials with better outcomes. Read more about the interview:? https://lnkd.in/eThgfnih #ClinicalTrials #ProtocolDesign #PatientRecruitment #MassGeneralBrigham #HealthcareInnovation

Preventing heart attacks starts with a heart-healthy lifestyle and regular checkups. Know your risk factors—family history, cholesterol, blood pressure and more. https://spklr.io/6041xkcX

We’re pleased to announce that more than 80 researchers across the Mass General Brigham system have been named to the annual Highly Cited Researchers 2024 list from Clarivate. See the full list: https://spklr.io/6042xkmj