Fengfeng Bei, PhD	Tanya Mayadas, PhD

Fengfeng Bei, PhD, of the Department of Neurosurgery, and Tanya Mayadas, PhD, of the Department of Pathology, were awarded Mass General Brigham Innovation Discovery Grants (IDG) based on their proposed projects鈥� potentials to improve health outcomes, meet articulated milestones and achieve follow-up investment support as assessed by outside industry experts.

IDGs are awarded to projects demonstrating the potential to transform health care delivery systems and help patients fight challenging diseases. This year the grant is focusing exclusively on cell and gene therapy.

Bei, a principal investigator at the Brigham, was awarded based on his proposal, 鈥淏rain Penetrant AAV Vectors for CNS Gene Therapy.鈥� With this project, Bei strives to advance gene therapy delivery methods for use in the central nervous system (CNS). Bei鈥檚 research focuses on brain circuitry regeneration and repair.

Mayadas is a senior scientist at the Brigham and won the grant for her project, 鈥淗arnessing Neutrophil Plasticity for the Treatment of Cancer.鈥� Mayadas鈥檚 project aims to increase T-cell immunity to different types of tumors. Mayadas鈥檚 research interests include understanding the molecular and functional mechanisms of inflammation and immune cell functioning.

The IDG program aims to enhance commercial outcomes of the Mass General Brigham community and increase its innovative potential. It is designed to stimulate new inventive concepts, identify areas of commercially significant scientific strength and accelerate commercialization of Mass General Brigham intellectual assets.