Reprogramming biology
Since arriving at MIT last December, James Collins’ biggest challenge has been finding time to take on all of the research projects that appeal to him. “It’s truly an embarrassment of riches here in terms of opportunities,” says Collins, the Termeer Professor of Medical Engineering and Science, who joined MIT after 24 years at Boston University. “Kendall Square has such a high density of great institutions and great people. We’re spoiled here. You can just go walk for lunch and bump into world-class scientists.” Collins, a pioneer in biomedical engineering and synthetic biology, decided to move across the Charles River to become part of MIT’s Institute for Medical Engineering and Science (IMES) and Department of Biological Engineering. Since then, he has also joined forces with the Broad Institute and the Ragon Institute of Harvard, MIT and MGH, which is working to develop HIV vaccines. He has deployed an army of about 35 young...