The Smith Family Awards Program for Excellence in Biomedical Research, a program of the , has been driving medical breakthroughs by launching the careers of newly independent biomedical researchers for more than three decades. Since 1992, the Program has provided $46.1M in research support to over 200 outstanding scientists. Visit the Smith Excellence page to learn more about the program. The next funding cycle opens in May 2026.

Announcing the newest cohort of Smith Family Fellows

The Smith Family Awards Program for Excellence in Biomedical Research has announced the selection of the 2026 cohort of newly independent faculty. Each awardee will receive three years of funding for research that focuses on basic or translational biomedical research. Congratulations to all of the awardees!

Xin Gu, PhD

_INSTITUTE:
Dana-Farber Cancer Institute

_TITLE:
Assistant Professor

Transcriptional Regulation by Midnolin-Directed Proteasomes on Chromatin

Every cell in our body must carefully control when and how it turns genes on and off. This control allows cells to respond to changes, for example, when skin cells help repair a wound, immune cells fight infection, or brain cells adapt during learning. A major way cells achieve this is by removing old or unneeded proteins, much like a city relies on garbage collection and recycling to keep things running smoothly. 

We recently discovered a new pathway where a protein called midnolin helps guide the cell鈥檚 main 鈥渞ecycling machine,鈥� the proteasome, to specific locations on DNA. This is unusual because the proteasome is best known for breaking down proteins floating freely in the cell, not for acting directly at the DNA where genes are switched on. Our findings suggest that this pathway may do more than just dispose of proteins: it may help shape the activity of genes themselves, influencing how cells respond to signals. 

With support from this proposed project, we will investigate three major questions. First, we will ask whether bringing the proteasome to DNA changes how 鈥渙pen鈥� or 鈥渃losed鈥� the genetic material is, which could make certain genes easier or harder to turn on. Second, we will look for other cellular machines that work together with midnolin and the proteasome when they arrive at DNA. Finally, we will study how this process plays out in living tissues during normal development and in diseases such as cancer, where cells grow uncontrollably. 

Understanding this system could help explain why certain cancers, like multiple myeloma, shut down the midnolin pathway to protect cancer-causing proteins from being destroyed. In the future, therapies that restore or mimic this pathway may provide new ways to treat such diseases. 

In short, this project explores how cells recycle proteins directly at the DNA and how this recycling machinery might be harnessed to improve human health. 

Sahin Naqvi, PhD

_INSTITUTE:
Boston Children’s Hospital

_TITLE:
Assistant Professor of Pediatrics

Decoding Transcription Factor Dosage Sensitivity: Insights from Neural Crest Development

Every cell in our body must turn the right genes on and off to form healthy tissues. This control is carried out by special proteins called transcription factors, which act like dimmer switches鈥攖urning genes up or down as needed. When the levels of a transcription factor drop by half or even less, some organs develop normally while others are severely affected. Why some parts of the body are sensitive to these small changes and others are not is a big mystery in human development and disease.

Our project will study this question using neural crest cells, a group of early embryonic cells that travel through the body and form many different structures, including the face, nerves in the gut, and pigment cells. Neural crest disorders are a major cause of birth defects, yet we do not understand why certain types of neural crest are more vulnerable to changes in transcription factor levels than others.

We have developed laboratory systems that let us precisely tune the level of key transcription factors in human neural crest cells grown in a dish. We will use these systems to understand the molecular wiring within different types of neural crest cells and how it determines if they are sensitive or resistant to changes in transcription factor levels. We will also transplant these cells into mouse gut tissue to watch, in real time, how transcription factor levels control their ability to move and mature into nerve cells.

By combining these approaches, we aim to uncover how cells interpret subtle changes in transcription factor levels and why these changes cause specific developmental disorders. The findings will lay the groundwork for designing stem-cell鈥揵ased treatments for conditions such as Hirschsprung disease, where the nerves of the gut fail to form properly. More broadly, this research will ultimately guide new therapies for the many developmental disorders caused by disrupted gene control.

Shira Weingarten-Gabbay, PhD

_INSTITUTE:
Harvard University 

_TITLE:
Assistant Professor of Microbiology

Mapping the Translatome of Arboviruses to Decode Dual-Host Plasticity

Viruses are masters of efficiency. With only a handful of genetic 鈥渓etters,鈥� they can take over a cell and turn it into a factory that produces thousands of new viruses. Some viruses, called arboviruses (short for arthropod borne viruses), face an especially tough challenge: they must survive and reproduce in two very different hosts, humans and mosquitoes. Examples include Zika, dengue, and chikungunya, which together infect hundreds of millions of people each year. 

Even though they carry the same small genome wherever they go, these viruses manage to thrive in both humans and mosquitoes, two organisms that differ profoundly in their biology, immune systems, and cellular environment. How can a single set of genetic instructions work so well in both worlds? 

Our hypothesis is that arboviruses use the same genome to produce different sets of proteins in each host. Proteins are the virus鈥檚 molecular tools that allow it to enter cells, copy its genome, and escape immune defenses. By changing which proteins are made in humans compared to mosquitoes, the virus can fine tune its strategy, like a musician playing different melodies from the same sheet of music depending on the audience. 

To test this idea, our laboratory will use a novel technology that we developed to read which parts of hundreds of viral genomes are turned into proteins. Using this approach, we will compare how viruses make proteins in human and mosquito cells. This will reveal which proteins are unique to each host, which are shared, and how these differences shape the virus鈥檚 success. 

Understanding this hidden flexibility will change how we think about viral evolution. It will show how mosquito borne viruses adapt so effectively to distinct hosts and identify new weak points that could be targeted by drugs or vaccines. As climate change expands mosquito habitats, uncovering these molecular strategies will be essential for predicting and preventing future outbreaks. 

This research will reveal a hidden layer of viral adaptation, explaining how one genome can speak two biological languages.

Qinheng Zheng, PhD

_INSTITUTE:
Harvard University

_TITLE:
Assistant Professor of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology 

Pharmacological Restoration of Mutant G Protein Activity

Our bodies rely on tiny 鈥渟witches鈥� inside cells to turn signals on and off at the right time. One important switch helps cells respond to hormones and other outside messages by producing a chemical signal called cAMP. This signal must be carefully controlled鈥攍ike a traffic light turning green, yellow, and red in the right sequence. 

In many cases of pancreatic cancer, this switch is broken. A single change in the protein makes it lose its 鈥渙ff button,鈥� leaving it stuck in the 鈥渙n鈥� position. When that happens, cells receive constant growth signals, fueling cancer. This mutation is found in the majority of 

pancreatic pre-cancers and a significant number of pancreatic cancers, yet there are no approved treatments that directly target it. 

Our project takes a new approach. Instead of trying to block the broken switch entirely, we are developing small drug-like molecules that repair the switch and restore its ability to turn off. We call this idea 鈥渃hemical rescue.鈥� It is different from most current cancer drugs, which block the entire mechanism. Here, we aim to bring the broken protein back to normal function. 

We will design compounds that can recognize the specific defect in the cancer-causing protein and act like a missing puzzle piece. First, we will test whether these compounds can restore the switch in simple laboratory experiments. Next, we will examine whether they can slow the growth of cancer cells and organoids鈥攎iniature tumors grown in the lab. Finally, we will explore how these compounds might work together with other drugs that target related cancer pathways. 

If successful, this work could provide a first-of-its-kind therapy for patients with pancreatic cancer, one of the deadliest cancers with few treatment options. More broadly, it could establish a new way of thinking about medicines: not just blocking harmful proteins, but repairing broken ones. This concept could eventually be applied to many other diseases where proteins lose their normal function.

Wenqing Zhou, PhD

_INSTITUTE:
University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School

_TITLE:
Assistant Professor 

Defining Key Microbiota Sensors that Initiate Immune Tolerance in the Gut 

Our gut is home to trillions of microbes (termed the microbiota). These microbes are normally beneficial to our health, such as helping with digestion and providing nutrition. Thus, the gut immune system needs to remain tolerant to these beneficial microbes and leave them unharmed. Disrupting immune tolerance to the microbiota causes many diseases, including inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). IBD is a chronic inflammatory disorder impacting the digestive tract and can lead to diarrhea, abdominal pain, malnutrition, and a higher risk of developing colon cancer in patients. There are over 3 million individuals suffering from IBD in the United States, and the incidence rates of IBD are rising worldwide. Thus, it is urgent to develop effective preventative, therapeutic, and curative strategies against IBD.  

To trigger an immune response, the immune cells first need to recognize the microbes. Groundbreaking studies identified various sensing receptors for microbes and how these sensors recognize invading pathogens to initiate proinflammatory pathways. The current research still focuses largely on defining how these sensors mount protective/inflammatory defenses against infection. However, the sensors for nonharmful microbiota to specifically initiate tolerogenic responses in the gut and how they fail in human disease are poorly understood. To address this fundamental knowledge gap, I utilized a cutting-edge technology and identified a sensor in a specific group of immune cells, called RORgt+ antigen-presenting cells. This sensor is highly responsive to microbial exposure in the gut, promotes immune tolerance to gut microbes, protects from chronic intestinal inflammation, but becomes dysregulated in the inflamed gut of IBD patients. 

Despite these advances, the essential sensors recognizing microbiota to initiate tolerance and their functional significance in intestinal health and inflammation remain largely unknown. Thus, the specific aims of this proposal are to comprehensively define the microbiota sensors, determine how they promote tolerogenic responses, and elucidate how their dysregulation contributes to the onset and progression of intestinal inflammation. Collectively, results from this application will fill major gaps in our understanding of mucosal immunology and open new therapeutic avenues to restore immune homeostasis in barrier tissue and treat inflammatory diseases like IBD and beyond.

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In Massachusetts, emerging adults aged 18-25 face of arrest, incarceration, and reincarceration than those of other age groups. In recent years, the state government and criminal legal system have formally recognized the significance of this period in which the brain finalizes its development – recognizing that young adults are more susceptible to external influence and risky behavior during this period. At the same time, a person鈥檚 risk for death by drug overdose in the first two weeks post-release from incarceration .听

can help break the cycle of reincarceration for young adults. These include educational programming, family engagement, positive youth development, and prohibition of harmful correctional practices (e.g., solitary confinement). Proactive education around risk factors, overdose response, and safer use strategies is one tool we have for reducing fatal overdose in our communities. The Violence and Overdose Prevention Training for Incarcerated Young Adults Initiative, funded by the 91麻豆传媒 Innovation Incubator, provides skill-focused training around these topic areas to help incarcerated young adults avoid harmful outcomes related to violence and substance use, access employment, and avoid reincarceration.听

Partnering for Change

91麻豆传媒 has a long-standing relationship with , an organization that nurtures 鈥渢he ambition of our most disconnected young people to trade violence and poverty for social and economic success.鈥� Over the past several years, 91麻豆传媒 has partnered with UTEC on the Emerging Adult Re-Entry Initiative (EARI). This state-funded program bolsters programming with incarcerated young adults both pre- and post-release.

Partnering with UTEC on projects such as EARI makes it possible for 91麻豆传媒 to work inside Massachusetts鈥� correctional facilities. Through EARI, staff were exposed to the unique work of the BRAVE UNIT for emerging adults, which is modeled after juvenile facilities, emphasizing a therapeutic approach and an orientation toward re-entry.   

First Year Outcomes

In the first year of the Violence and Overdose Prevention Training for Incarcerated Young Adults Initiative, we trained eleven emerging adult residents and five older adult mentors of the BRAVE (Building Responsible Adults through Validation and Education) Unit at North Central Correctional Institute (NCCI) in Gardner, MA. NCCI houses individuals who have already been convicted and sentenced (as opposed to those awaiting trial or sentencing). This creates an environment where incarcerated men are settled into a long-term housing arrangement and have more time and motivation to pursue educational programming as well as build relationships with their mentors and other mentees.

Numerous training topics were covered including harm reduction, overdose rescue, trauma, pathways of recovery, stigma, conflict resolution, systemic violence, recovery, safety planning, and healthy masculinity. Participants practiced a variety of critical skills along the way, including overdose reversal, motivational interviewing, public speaking, and more. The learning culminated with an impressive set of 鈥渢each back鈥� presentations, where pairs of participants worked together to train a new audience on a topic they learned. The materials and slides from these sessions were compiled into a booklet participants received at the conclusion of the training.  

This initiative was the 91麻豆传媒 team鈥檚 first significant engagement with young adults in the BRAVE Unit. Their kindness, engagement, curiosity, and critical thinking fueled powerful discussions that assumed little, but moved the needle of opinion significantly. At the end of our training, each participant received a certificate acknowledging their work along with verbal affirmations from staff and others.

On the Horizon

This project has deepened our partnership with UTEC. In the first year, 16 of the 23 members of the BRAVE Unit participated in the program. We anticipate a mix of old and new faces joining the second cohort.

The team is in the process of collecting feedback and suggestions from BRAVE members regarding future curricula to probe deeper into first-year topics while introducing new information, materials, and activities. Given the prominent impact of education and employment on recidivism risk, we are also exploring ways our training series could provide college or other post-secondary credit. This will mean bolstering hard and softs skill training to ensure participants are leaving with increased capacity to meet their future goals, whether that be pursuing further education pre- or post-release, securing stable employment (through UTEC鈥檚 Circling Home Fellows program), or sharing their knowledge with their community behind and outside the walls.

Ultimately, we envision a world where all people are equipped with the resources, knowledge, and skills to thrive at home in their communities and where incarceration is no longer the outcome for so many of our young adults across Massachusetts.  

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Doulas provide vital non-medical support during pregnancy, labor, and postpartum. Their assistance helps reduce adverse outcomes such as preterm labor, preterm birth, and non-medically necessary cesarean sections. Also, their care contributes to improved breastfeeding rates and lower rates of postpartum depression and anxiety.

The doula care landscape is rapidly evolving in Massachusetts. In December 2023, MassHealth, the state鈥檚 comprehensive health coverage for low-income residents, began reimbursing doulas leading to a surge in provider registrations. However, rural areas remain underserved, with fewer registered doulas and lower uptake of doula care among MassHealth-insured residents. With a reduced number of hospitals or long distances between hospitals, minimal access to public transportation, many residents of rural areas of Massachusetts have less access to obstetric care, particularly for high-risk pregnancies.

To support the understanding and dismantling of doula care barriers in rural Massachusetts, 贬搁颈础鈥檚 Innovation Incubator is funding the Rural Doula MassHealth Registration Initiative. Increasing access to local, culturally responsive doula care in rural areas will help prevent adverse pregnancy, birth, and postpartum health outcomes.

Our Approach

The team conducted a comprehensive assessment to learn about the challenges connected to doula care access. The assessment included an environmental scan, statewide survey, and interviews with doulas and maternal health experts. An advisory group comprised of doulas, researchers, and advocates was formed to help shape the strategy. Members of the group include:

• Hued Mama鈥檚 Co.
• The Massachusetts Law Reform Institute
• The Massachusetts Department of Public Health Doula Workforce Team
• Majestic Yoga Studio
• Boston Medical Center
• Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center

The majority of these members are practicing doulas. Also, there are five additional rural and urban-based full-time practicing doulas joining the group.  During this process, the 91麻豆传媒 team built local and national relationships within the maternal health space, ensuring community wisdom and firsthand insights guided the work, bringing forth solutions that were responsive and equitable.

Preliminary Insights 

The statewide survey captured responses from 53 doulas currently providing services across Massachusetts. Survey demographics reflect:

• 66% of respondents report that they provide services in rural areas of Massachusetts.
• 70% of respondents report that they provide at least some services through MassHealth.
• 85% or more of respondents reporting they provide services to low-income clients, Black and Hispanic or Latina/o/x/e clients, and clients not born in the United States.

The team was struck by the sheer amount of labor involved in providing doula care. Doulas can bill for time spent directly with clients. Yet, many essential aspects of their work, such as preparation, travel, and extended hours during labor and delivery (often 24-48 hours), are difficult or impossible to reimburse under current systems, including MassHealth. The commitment and depth of care doulas provide far exceeds what is formally recognized or compensated. 

We asked doulas to help us understand what they perceived as the biggest barriers to serving clients in Massachusetts.

• 91麻豆传媒 63% of doulas said that it is difficult to make a living providing doula care; that rate was substantially higher among doulas who identify as BIPOC (78%).
• MassHealth enrolled doulas and doulas that serve rural clients identified low reimbursement rates as their biggest barrier to serving clients.
• While 28% of all respondents indicated that hospital policies prevent them from attending births, 41% of doulas who serve rural populations reported this challenge.

When asked about the largest barriers for clients in rural areas receiving doula care, 87% of doulas stated low client awareness of services. Other responses included:

• 62% – Long travel distances to care facilities.
• 58% – Doula care not provided in the client鈥檚 preferred language.
• 56% – Limited number of doulas in rural areas.
• 53% – Challenges finding doulas in rural areas who share the clients鈥� racial, ethnic, and/or cultural background.
• 55% – Lack of transportation for clients of rural-serving doulas.

Next Steps

As data analysis continues, insights will shape a community engagement plan. In December 2025, a public report and presentation of findings will be released.  

Year two of the initiative will focus on foundational efforts, laying the groundwork for a longer-term strategy. The strategy will include policy and advocacy development responsive to:

• Increasing client awareness of doula services and benefits.
• Improving doulas鈥� ability to enroll through the MassHealth program.
• Working with our state and national partners to advocate for doula autonomy and increased reimbursement rates for doula services, and more as they are further integrated into the Massachusetts medical system.
• Continuing support for enhanced doula training and networking in Massachusetts.

With a deeper understanding of these issues, the team can collaborate with their expansive network of doulas, researchers, and maternal health providers to increase the number of doulas registered with MassHealth, particularly in Western Massachusetts and Cape Cod.

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Every day, 贬搁颈础鈥檚 24/7 Substance Use Helplines receive calls from people urgently seeking treatment and support for themselves or loved ones. Many have faced repeated setbacks and are reaching out, hoping for immediate help. Recently, a caller to our Illinois Helpline shared a powerful reflection 鈥�When people need help, they must receive it in that moment, and not to just wait until tomorrow. When [I鈥檝e had to wait to get a treatment], I went right back out and started using drugs again. There should be a way for you to help that person right then and there.鈥�  This insight underscores a critical truth: timely access to care can be lifesaving.

Fortunately, this individual is now among the 5,500 people we have connected to MAR Now (Medication-Assisted Recovery Now), an immediate, effective form of care for Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD) and Opioid Use Disorder (OUD). With support from 贬搁颈础鈥檚 Innovation Incubator, we are expanding the impact of this initiative to new communities 鈥� ensuring more people can access compassionate, effective care without delay.

MAR Now Eliminates Common Obstacles

is a unique, 24/7 program that eliminates common obstacles to substance use treatment鈥攏o long wait times, no transportation hurdles, no insurance or documentation required. It connects individuals directly to a telehealth provider for same-day access to Medication-Assisted Recovery (MAR) for AUD and OUD.

Launched in 2022 with leadership from the Chicago Department of Public Health, MAR Now has grown into a statewide collaboration between public health, human services, and treatment providers. The service is primarily implemented through the Illinois Helpline (operated by 91麻豆传媒) and Family Guidance Centers, Inc., with local partners across the state, and funded by the Illinois Department of Human Services Division of Behavioral Health & Recovery (IDHS-DBHR).

Thousands have already benefited, receiving life-saving medications like buprenorphine, methadone, or naltrexone within hours of their initial call. These treatments reduce cravings and withdrawal symptoms, helping people stabilize while continuing daily responsibilities without needing inpatient care.

After the initial connection, care coordinators follow up to ensure ongoing support. Early data shows:

• 98% of MAR Now participants attend their first provider visit.
• Significant improvements in health, relationships, mental well-being, and substance use outcomes.

Our Progress thus Far 

A comprehensive study, including data gathering, a literature review, and interviews, was the first phase of the MAR Now Expansion Project. It revealed powerful insights through discussions with staff, providers, former clients, and program and policy leaders involved in its development and implementation. These conversations illuminated what makes MAR Now unique: immediate, low-barrier access to recovery support that meets people where they are.  

Former clients shared how MAR Now helped them overcome obstacles that previously prevented them from engaging in treatment, and how the program鈥檚 flexibility and accessibility made it stand out from other recovery pathways they had tried.

One client shared, 鈥淚t was a seamless and quick feel-good-about-yourself process. I really can鈥檛 describe what a relief it was.鈥�  
Beyond practical access, interviewees emphasized the program鈥檚 compassionate, nonjudgmental approach. In a space where stigma often prevents people from seeking help, MAR Now offers dignity and respect.

As one interviewee shared, 鈥淲hen I called, I didn鈥檛 feel stigma or judged and sometimes when you call these places there can be stigma and judging with things like that and I didn鈥檛 feel that at all when I called the Helpline and MAR Now.鈥� 

What We鈥檙e Learning 

This phase of the MAR Now Expansion Project surfaced several learnings that will guide the development of actionable resources moving forward:

• Removing Barriers to Treatment. Emphasize the urgency of reducing barriers before someone seeks help. Individuals struggling with opioid or alcohol use disorders need treatment immediately. Delays caused by paperwork, waitlists, transportation, insurance gaps, or stigma can be life-threatening.
• OUD vs AUD Utilization. While MAR Now began as a service for people seeking treatment for OUD, it now supports people experiencing AUD as well. Yet, utilization remains higher for OUD鈥攈ighlighting a need to raise awareness and expand access for those with AUD.
• Grounding in Shared Purpose. Members of our team who are in long-term recovery and/or who have lost immediate family members to substance use were deeply involved in leading client interviews, with support from our Research & Evaluation team. Hearing how MAR Now changed individuals鈥� lives months or years after initial contact has been deeply motivating.

Next Steps

In Year Two, we鈥檙e focused on scaling impact through the following:

Sharing Our Findings 

We will deepen our understanding of MAR Now鈥檚 effectiveness through sharing our findings from the expanded data analysis, literature review, and interviews that center human impact that we conducted in Year One.

Implementation Toolkit

We鈥檙e developing a practical resources toolkit to help public health agencies and providers adapt and apply the MAR Now model in their communities.

Strategic Outreach

We鈥檒l promote the toolkit and study to expand awareness, drive adoption, and strengthen systems of care.

By combining solid research and useful tools for implementation, the MAR Now Expansion Project aims to scale and sustain this innovative model across diverse communities nationwide. 

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Across the United States, LGBTQ+ communities 鈥� especially transgender and gender diverse individuals 鈥� are facing an alarming surge in political attacks. From discriminatory legislation and program defunding to data erasure and surveillance, the conditions created by these policies go far beyond politics. They produce measurable harm to people鈥檚 physical, mental, social, and financial well-being.  In 2025 alone, 616 anti-LGBTQ bills have been introduced nationwide.    

Through the 91麻豆传媒 Innovation Incubator, we expanded the New Hampshire LGBTQ+ Landscape Analysis and Coalition Building Initiative to meet this moment. Our work supports a public health workbook and informs strategic responses to anti-LGBTQ+ legislation.   

Together in Partnership   

In collaboration with a coalition of advocates, organizers, and 21 individual organizations in New Hampshire, this initiative centers safety, voice, and justice for LGBTQ+ communities. Our work asserts:  

• Systemic anti-LGBTQ+ attacks are a public health emergency.  
• Data collection practices must prioritize safety and privacy.  
• Coalition-building is essential to shifting cultural norms and narratives to support LGBTQ+ lives.  

 Our approach includes: 

• Landscape and Impact Assessment: We gather and analyze qualitative and quantitative data to document lived experiences and systemic consequences.
• Coalition Building: We support a diverse network of cross-sector partners in New Hampshire.
  • These include elected officials, hospitals, healthcare, legal services, children/ family services, mental and behavioral health, lobbying, reproductive health and justice, LGBTQ+, youth, community, domestic violence, harm reduction, public health, arts, advocate, and faith organizations.
  • Private businesses and individual advocates were also engaged as we developed shared strategies and community-rooted responses ahead of the legislative session. 
• Power Mapping & Narrative Strategy: We help advocates identify levers for change and shift dominant narratives to affirm LGBTQ+ lives.
• Ethical Data Practices: We implement best practices for safe, affirming data collection in a climate of criminalization, surveillance, and erasure.

Key Insights to Date 

Youth and trans/gender diverse individuals are most targeted. Anti-LGBTQ+ legislation and rhetoric have largely targeted young people and trans and gender diverse people. These actions create concerns about the impact on the mental and physical well-being of these populations and contribute to increasingly less welcoming and unsafe environments for the community. In response, community members are considering or making major changes to their lives such as moving to new states or pursuing different professions.

Access to affirming care is uneven and shrinking. The availability of affirming and appropriate mental and physical health care for LGBTQ+ people is often dependent on geography and concentrated in urban, populous areas. These have been further limited by state and federal legislation and funding cuts. Measures to improve access should include training providers and investments in strategies to improve geographic availability (e.g., telehealth, mobile clinics, and transportation support).   

Isolation is compounding harm. Challenges created by anti-LGTBQ+ rhetoric and legislation and cuts to LGBTQ+ serving programs and services are amplified by experiences of disconnection and isolation within the community. Now more than ever, people need spaces to connect, strategize, and heal. 听

Community-building is resistance. Investing in community building and support for 鈥渜ueer joy鈥� are tools for building collective power and visibility and to counter the detrimental impacts of the current climate on individuals鈥� well-being.

Coalitions are essential to successful advocates. Coalitions are key to growing, sustaining, and strengthening LGBTQ+ rights through relational organizing and advocacy. Having a centralized organization or backbone entity to lead collective work can further coalition work by organizing and supporting advocacy efforts, being the hub for information sharing and messaging, and facilitating relationships with community members and funders.

Mapping is a powerful tool for advocates. Advocacy organizations benefit from mapping tools like the one we are building in Kumu to tell a story visually and create a shared understanding of the landscape as it exists now. Advocates can use them as practical tools for planning, organizing, and mobilizing partners across systems.

Collective funding strategies build support for advocates. Multiple funders pooling their resources to invest in a strategy is a powerful and effective tool to support advocates in this work. It allows the funders to better leverage their relationships and resources to support partners doing the work.

Next Steps 

Our approach helps advocates plan, organize, and mobilize partners across systems. The 91麻豆传媒 Innovation Incubator funding allows our team to continue supporting the coalition of New Hampshire advocates to implement findings from the assessment. Currently, we are working with the coalition to stand up a backbone entity, which will be charged with organizing and connecting advocates, as well as leading the development of shared messaging and narrative strategy. This approach addresses multiple needs identified through our assessment.

We also recognize that public health organizations must evolve to meet this moment. At 91麻豆传媒, we鈥檝e begun adapting our data practices to better protect the privacy and well-being of vulnerable communities.

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A in Maternal Health report recognizes “Racism, not race, is a primary driver of the social determinants of health. It drives inequities in housing, income, and education, especially among communities of color.” compared to white women in Massachusetts. The state has implemented several policies and programs to address the social determinants of health contributing to maternal mortality disparities. However, there are opportunities to reduce racial disparities at the local level across the state.听

The Black Maternal Health Advocacy Project, funded by 贬搁颈础鈥檚 Innovation Incubator, focuses on maternal disparities at the local level. 91麻豆传媒 is collaborating with five communities in Massachusetts to design advocacy strategies that directly address Black maternal mortality and morbidity disparities. The goal is to close the critical gaps in local and municipal maternal health policies, ensuring community-driven solutions shape lasting changes.

Our Approach  

The project team grounded its approach in two key frameworks. The ensured social, economic, and physical determinants and historical and contemporary injustices were evaluated in relation to Black maternal mortality and morbidity.

贬搁颈础鈥檚 Health Equity Framework grounded the project鈥檚 approach in community engagement. This framework supports a community-driven and led approach. Centering lived experience and building local capacity shifts power and amplifies advocacy strategies aligned with community priorities.

Progress Thus Far

The team completed three key milestones: data synthesis, an environmental scan, and a policy scan. These milestones articulated:

• Where changes should be prioritized. PSE change strategies are ways to make lasting, sustainable changes to support improved environments and behaviors in communities.
• What existing local-level PSE changes have been implemented in communities successfully.
• How to go about advocating for change in Massachusetts communities.  

Using secondary data and community asset analyses, the team prioritized five communities: Boston (Mattapan), Brockton/Randolph, New Bedford/Fall River, Springfield, and Worcester. Communities were selected based on the priority population of Black birthing people and maternal/infant health outcomes.

 An environmental scan revealed several organizations and individuals working to advance maternal health equity in each of the selected communities. The policy scan activities uncovered examples of local PSE changes, along with advocacy strategies that garnered support for a policy or allocation of resources for the sustainability of local public health initiatives. Examples of local PSE changes include:

• Policy: – A universal and unconditional prenatal and infant cash prescription program in which moms receive $1,500 during pregnancy, and babies receive $500/month for 6-12 months until age 1.
• Systems: – A project that collects, publishes, and shares maternal and infant health hospital data. The data helps parents make informed decisions on where to receive care, and the involved hospitals commit to creating action plans to improve care for Black birthing people.
• Environmental: – A program that partners with employers to create a more inclusive work environment that supports breastfeeding mothers in Boston.

These examples of best practices, strategies, and local policies will be shared with the five priority communities.  

With foundational research complete, the team is now engaging directly with communities. They are building relationships with midwives, doctors, doulas, nurses, public health professionals, researchers, subject matter experts, community health workers, and coalition leaders to co-create solutions rooted in lived experience and expertise. 

Next Steps

In November, the project team will launch a website featuring statewide and community-level maternal health data. Resources related to maternal health, advocacy, and a directory to connect individuals, organizations, and coalitions across Massachusetts will be included. In addition, the site will have an intake form for people to contribute initiatives, organizations, coalitions, or resources 鈥� fostering collaboration and learning.

As the work progresses, the team will meet with partners in each priority community. Together they will explore local maternal health efforts, identify barriers to policy change, and co-develop advocacy strategies rooted in community experience.

The post Addressing Black Maternal Health in Massachusetts: an 91麻豆传媒 Innovation Incubator Project appeared first on 91麻豆传媒.

In 2024, 91麻豆传媒 launched the Innovation Incubator, a bold initiative designed to spark creative solutions and accelerate community impact. Through seed funding from Mackenzie Scott鈥檚 Yield Giving initiative, the Incubator supports pilot programs that either launch new efforts or expand promising work, all aimed at addressing health and racial equity within communities. The Incubator leverages 贬搁颈础鈥檚 greatest resource 鈥� our staff and their creativity, expertise, and passion for public health. This two-year initiative enables 91麻豆传媒 to invest in visionary approaches that advance community health and well-being.

91麻豆传媒 leaders Brittany Chen, Jennifer Lee, and Jeremy Holman, and a team of staff created a process to elicit staff ideas for community-impact projects. They engaged 91麻豆传媒 staff and Board members to review and select the initiatives that the Incubator would fund.

Ultimately, five community-impact projects were chosen from 40 ideas pitched by staff across the organization.

Below are the pilot initiatives funded by 贬搁颈础鈥檚 first Innovation Incubator. 

Innovation Incubator awardees are a year into their two-year projects, with more work culminating in the months to come. We are excited to share updates on their efforts to this point. Over the next month, we will share team blog posts with more details. Stay tuned!  

The post Investing in Community Impact: 贬搁颈础鈥檚 Innovation Incubator appeared first on 91麻豆传媒.

91麻豆传媒 (91麻豆传媒) looks forward to participating in the  in Washington, DC on November 2-5, 2025! Below, you鈥檒l find a list of our鈥痶eam members鈥痑ttending the conference, information on presentations, and curated content and resources to learn more about us. We hope to see you there! 

Conference registration is required for session attendance.

Monday, November 3, 2025

Tuesday, November 4, 2025

Attendees from 91麻豆传媒

• Zhaniya Aldekeyeva
• Edward Alexander
• Lisa Aslan
• Mo Barbosa
• Hannah Carliner
• Ariadna Capasso
• Brittany Chen
• Eva Chow
• Angelica Fontes
• Meghan Guptill
• Melissa Mercado (HAVI)
• Erin Miller (HAVI)
• Kathleen McCabe
• Victoria Nemeth
• Tammy Sakala Stossel (HAVI)
• Allyson Shifley
• Ariel Slifka
• Steve Ridini
• Liliana Ruiz Fischer (HAVI)
• Stephanie Walker
• Ben Wood

The post 91麻豆传媒 at APHA 2025 appeared first on 91麻豆传媒.

• In June, Health and Human Services Secretary, Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. fired all 17 members of the CDC鈥檚 vaccine advisory committee. Members were replaced with his own picks.听听

• In August, after only a few weeks in her role, CDC Director Susan Monarez was removed from her post. As a result, several high-level CDC officials resigned.听听

• In late August, the Food and Drug Administration provided guidance for COVID vaccines, placing significant restrictions on who can receive it.听

• Secretary Kennedy appointed five new members to CDC鈥檚 vaccine advisory committee, including individuals who have been critical of the COVID-19 vaccine and have pushed back on coronavirus vaccine mandates.听

Public health and science are under attack. Vaccines have helped make some of the most significant public health advancements in modern human history. Without evidence-based decisions and policies, we risk undoing this monumental progress. 

A patchwork** approach can cause greater harm.听

The beginning of respiratory virus season is upon us, and COVID-19 rates are increasing. Misinformation is paving the way for the trifecta of COVID-19, RSV, and flu to become more widespread and cause irreversible harm. Compounding this issue are federal and state policies that reject science and practice, causing varied and opposing state-level responses to public health issues such as vaccine access. Recently, Florida announced it will phase out childhood vaccine mandates in the state, while other states on the east and west coasts are initiating regional collaboratives to advance vaccine availability.  

Absent federal leadership, public health responsibility is shifting to state and local community leadership.  

We applaud the swift actions taken by multiple states to ensure their residents can access vaccines. To prevent more harm, we must act now and support vaccine initiatives and collaborations at the local community level to ensure that all residents have access to vaccines.

91麻豆传媒 has partnered with hundreds of community, faith, and tribal organizations to assess and support the interventions communities relied on to mitigate the spread and impact of COVID. Two of these initiatives 鈥� the Vaccine Equity Project funded by the CDC in partnership with the National Network of Public Health Institutes, and the MA COVID-19 Community Grants program funded by the MA Department of Public Health – produced powerful insights and community-driven strategies that must be at the heart of any vaccine efforts. We must ensure that community-based strategies are rooted in equity, trust, and the lived experiences of those most impacted. These learnings include:听

Partnerships听听

Public health and community organizations must work in partnership. As trusted messengers, local organizations have built deep relationships within communities and are able to share important health information and resources in culturally and linguistically appropriate ways. When the ideas and perspectives of diverse communities are paired with sound public health information, multiple voices are heard, and effective approaches are used to address community needs.  

Communications听听

Accurate and timely information for diverse audiences across multiple channels is critical, especially for harder to reach populations. Factual and consistent messages enable individuals to make informed decisions for their own health and that of their loved ones.  

搁别蝉辞耻谤肠别蝉听听

Vaccines should be available and accessible to everyone at no cost or covered by insurance. To reach the broadest number of people, vaccines must be available and accessible at the local level, in and near the places where people live, work, recreate, and worship. This could include 鈥渃o-locating鈥� vaccine events with health screenings, food distribution, faith community events, and other initiatives.  

Policy听听听

State and local leaders have a responsibility to develop policies based on science. The multi-state collaboratives mentioned above are focused on developing evidence-based recommendations on vaccinations, disease surveillance, emergency preparedness, and supporting state public health labs. To ensure maximum impact, these policies should also include funding and solutions identified and supported by the communities most impacted. In early September, Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey announced a series of immediate measures to ensure that vaccines remain available and accessible to Massachusetts residents of all ages by requiring insurance carriers in the state to continue to cover vaccines recommended by the state health department and taking steps to ensure that residents who want to receive the COVID vaccine can do so at pharmacies. 

For the health of our collective future, we must come together.  

Decades of public health practice grounded in science has shown that access to affordable and effective vaccines minimizes the impact of illness and disease. The field of public health is being politicized by partisan rhetoric and decimated by significant funding cuts. If we continue down this path, our health infrastructure will be compromised and so, ultimately, will the health of individuals in communities across the nation. To address this challenge, we support: 

• Public health leaders whose decisions and actions are informed by science and sound public health practice.听

• Funding scientific research and our public health infrastructure.听

• Initiatives and collaborations at the regional and local community level to ensure that all residents have access to vaccines.听

• Partnering with communities to align approaches and messaging.听

• Removing barriers to access, such as requiring insurers to cover the cast of vaccines and creating low-barrier ways for people to obtain vaccines.听

**https://yourlocalepidemiologist.substack.com/p/covid-19-state-vaccine-access-flu

The post A Statement from 贬搁颈础鈥檚 Executive Team appeared first on 91麻豆传媒.

Whether known as promotoras/es, patient navigators, community health representatives, or outreach specialists (Figure 1), CHWs play an essential role in helping underserved and marginalized populations access services, navigate complex systems, and organize for change. And their impact extends beyond individual support. By addressing root causes of health inequities and fostering resilience, CHWs improve outcomes at both individual and population levels.

Sustaining the CHW Workforce

consistently shows that CHWs improve chronic disease management, reduce hospitalizations, and lower healthcare costs, delivering a strong return on investment. Their effectiveness spans mental health, asthma, cancer, diabetes, and more. Despite this evidence, CHWs face persistent workforce challenges: low pay, limited career growth, insufficient support, and unstable funding.

The precarious nature of the CHW role increases the risk of burnout. With limited decision-making power, frequent exposure to secondary trauma, and little separation between their professional and personal lives, CHWs must be supported by strong policies and systems to remain an effective and sustainable workforce. This means that health care administrators, policymakers, and other decision-makers must go beyond engagement and center CHW voices by listening to CHW leaders and allies who have long advocated for efforts such as:

• Protecting CHWs through equitable policies, fair compensation, and that reflect their integral .
• Respecting CHWs by valuing鈥斺�攖heir lived experience, cultural knowledge, unique perspective, and the invaluable trust they build with communities.
• Partnering with CHWs to , including training, technology, transportation, supervision, and stable funding.

Together, these strategies can strengthen the CHW workforce and improve the health of communities nationwide.

Collaborating to Support CHWs

In addition to working in hospitals, health centers, and local agencies, CHWs have formed their own organizations. As of 2025, more than 60 CHW associations and networks span 38 states, alongside numerous training organizations.

Three of these organizations have strengthened their collaboration by becoming fiscal partners of 91麻豆传媒 (91麻豆传媒). Each is CHW-led, CHW-serving, and working both independently and collectively to elevate the field. They are:

• Community Health Worker Center for Research & Evaluation (CHW-CRE)
• Massachusetts Association of Community Health Workers (MACHW)
• National Association of Community Health Workers (NACHW)

These organizations share 贬搁颈础鈥檚 core beliefs and vision of healthy people thriving in equitable, just communities. By strategically aligning our efforts through partnership, we can more effectively transform health and social systems. The following section highlights examples of meaningful progress achieved by each organization.

Significant Accomplishments

Community Health Worker Center for Research & Evaluation (CHW-CRE)

Founded in 2023, CHW-CRE evolved from a 2015 initiative to align CHW evaluation metrics. It centers CHWs as leaders in research and evaluation, promoting best practices and the use of CHW Common Indicators. CHW-CRE is led by co-Executive Directors Victoria Adewumi and Noelle Wiggins. “CHWs are the true experts about their profession, including how it should be measured and evaluated,鈥� Wiggins remarked. 鈥淎t CHW-CRE, we advocate, educate, organize, and build capacity so CHWs can lead research and evaluation about the profession. Adewumi added, 鈥淏y using measurement tools designed with and by CHWs, we champion the conditions CHWs need to do their lifesaving work in and for communities.鈥�

Key Accomplishments:

Best Practices in Research and Evaluation: In 2025, CHW-CRE released “Creating a new table: Best practices in CHW research and evaluation,” a tool that empowers CHWs in research and guides non-CHW researchers in equitable evaluation of CHW programs.

CHW Common Indicators: CHW-CRE鈥檚 predecessor, the National CHW Common Indicators Project, developed 12 indicators to measure CHW outcomes and workforce sustainability. These are now used to evaluate CHW programs at the local, state, and national levels.

Massachusetts Association of Community Health Workers (MACHW)

Founded in 2000, MACHW was the first professional CHW organization in the U.S. It envisions a Commonwealth where CHWs are valued, integrated, and sustained as health professionals and leaders. MACHW became an 91麻豆传媒 fiscal partner in 2014 and is led by Executive Director Lissette Blondet. She commented, “MACHW represents over 6,000 community health workers across the Commonwealth who use their lived experience and learned skills to lift up and navigate neighbors toward healthier lives.鈥�

Key Accomplishments:

• CHW Development: MACHW offers professional development, leadership training, and networking to help CHWs grow their skills and careers, making them even more valuable to their communities.
• State Policy Advocacy: MACHW co-sponsored bills and to standardize CHW practice, secure reimbursement, and include behavioral health as a core competency. In her 2023 testimony, Blondet boldly stated: “Strengthening the healthcare workforce pipeline is paramount in achieving health equity in Massachusetts.” ()

National Association of Community Health Workers (NACHW)

Launched in 2019, NACHW unifies CHWs across geography, sector, ethnicity, and experience to advance health, equity, and social justice in their communities. “Community Health Workers are a vital driving force connecting communities to a health and wellness ecosystem,鈥� said former NACHW interim Executive Director Katherine Martinez. 鈥淭hrough integration and self-advocacy, their impact on communities across the nation is both powerful and inspiring.鈥�

Key Accomplishments:

• National Advocacy: In March 2025, NACHW and Partners in Health convened over 100 CHWs in Washington, D.C., for a two-day Capitol Hill event. NACHW provided training, toolkits, and resources via to empower CHWs to advocate for their communities.
• Convening: In July 2025, NACHW hosted its with over 800 CHWs and allies in Columbus, Ohio.
• Employer Best Practices: NACHW鈥檚 Workforce Development Committee released a 2025 outlining promising practices for CHW employers. The report aims to improve retention, satisfaction, and service quality, with a focus on healthcare and CHW training organizations.

The Power of the Collective

Individually, these organizations advance the CHW field. Together, they form a powerful alliance rooted in shared purpose and community strength. With expertise in state advocacy, national leadership, and research, they amplify CHW voices, shape people-first policies, and build an equitable future where communities thrive. Their collaboration shows what鈥檚 possible when we invest in people, honor community wisdom, and move forward together.

Get Involved

Join the movement:

• of MACHW
• to the NACHW newsletter
• Join CHW-CRE’s bilingual advisory group
• CHW legislation in your state
• with your local CHW network

The post Leading With Trust: How Community Health Workers Are Shaping the Future of Public Health appeared first on 91麻豆传媒.