Woods Hole, Mass. — The Marine Biological Laboratory has expanded its Board of Trustees with the election of six new members as the research organization begins a new chapter as an independent institution.
The appointments follow MBL’s disaffiliation from the University of Chicago on July 1, 2026. The organization said the expanded board will bring additional scientific, strategic, operating and philanthropic expertise as it works to strengthen its research mission and long-term financial sustainability.
The new trustees are Gary B. Ruvkun, Ph.D.; Gary R. Fleisher, M.D.; Ronald D. Vale, Ph.D.; Michael J. Higgins; Rachel Meyers, Ph.D.; and Amir H. Nashat, Sc.D.
“The MBL has always advanced science by bringing together people with different perspectives to tackle complex biological challenges,” said Nipam Patel, Director of the Marine Biological Laboratory. “As we begin this new chapter as an independent institution, these trustees bring the experience, vision, innovation, and leadership that will help us strengthen our scientific mission, expand our impact, and seize new opportunities for the future.”
The appointments add leaders with backgrounds spanning biomedical research, biotechnology, healthcare, entrepreneurship and venture capital.
Ruvkun is a Professor of Genetics at Harvard Medical School and an Investigator in the Department of Molecular Biology at Massachusetts General Hospital. He received the 2024 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for his discovery of microRNA and has longstanding ties to MBL, including serving as faculty and co-director of its Biology of Aging course.
Fleisher recently retired as Physician-in-Chief at Boston Children’s Hospital and is the Egan Professor of Pediatrics at Harvard Medical School. His work has focused on pediatric emergency medicine and infectious diseases.
Vale is a Howard Hughes Medical Institute Investigator, professor of biology at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and a member of the Whitehead Institute. He discovered the motor protein kinesin in 1985 while working at the Marine Biological Laboratory.
Meyers is a scientist and entrepreneur with experience in RNA-based therapeutics. She previously served as Senior Vice President of Research and RNAi Lead Development at Alnylam Pharmaceuticals and later co-founded Faze Medicines.
Higgins is a biopharma executive and entrepreneur who has held leadership roles at Voyager Therapeutics and Ironwood Pharmaceuticals. He currently chairs the boards of Voyager Therapeutics, Pulmatrix and Nocion Therapeutics.
Nashat is an entrepreneur partner at Polaris Partners focused on healthcare investing and biotechnology company development. He is also CEO of Souffle Therapeutics and serves on the boards of several biotechnology companies.
MBL also appointed two officers in July. Damian N. Desiderio was named Chief Financial and Operating Officer, Robert Jeffrey Zimmer Chair for Financial Leadership and Treasurer of the Board, while Alison E. Crawford was appointed Secretary of the Board.
