Dana-Farber's Edward Chouchani selected as a Howard Hughes Medical Institute Investigator

Edward Chouchani, PhD, of Dana-Farber Cancer Institute has been named a Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI) Investigator, joining a prestigious community tackling challenging problems in biomedical research and propelling groundbreaking scientific discoveries.

As an HHMI Investigator, Chouchani will receive approximately $11 million over a seven-year term, which is renewable indefinitely pending successful scientific review. For this year's cohort, HHMI selected 26 new Investigators from 19 U.S. institutions among a pool of nearly 1,000 eligible applicants, paving the way for new scientific and biomedical discoveries in fields ranging from neuroscience and immunology to structural biology.

"We congratulate Edward Chouchani on his selection as an HHMI investigator, one of the most prestigious honors in science," said Laurie H. Glimcher, MD, President and CEO of Dana-Farber. "Dana-Farber proudly shares HHMI's commitment to supporting visionary scientists whose innovative approaches and cutting-edge research have the potential to transform treatment and change lives everywhere."

Chouchani is principal investigator of the Chouchani Lab at Dana-Farber and an Associate Professor of Cell Biology at Harvard Medical School. Chouchani's lab is applying mass spectrometry and biochemical approaches to understand how metabolites regulate cellular function in pre-clinical models of health and disease. The goal is to leverage these newfound mechanisms to develop new therapies for metabolic, inflammatory, and metastatic diseases.

Chouchani has received numerous awards and research grants to support his academic laboratory, including the Mark Foundation Emerging Leader Award to transform the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of cancer.

"When scientists create environments in which others can thrive, we all benefit," said HHMI President Erin O'Shea. "These newest HHMI Investigators are extraordinary, not only because of their outstanding research endeavors, but also because they mentor and empower the next generation of scientists to work alongside them at the cutting edge."

The HHMI Investigator Program currently supports more than 250 Investigators, located at more than 60 research institutions across the United States, who have made significant contributions in biochemistry, molecular biology, plant sciences, cancer biology, cell biology, and many other scientific disciplines. This year's evaluation included a focus on research culture and mentoring, and highlighted individuals' efforts to make science open and accessible to all.