August 2025 EIPM Director's Memo

Dear Friends & Members of the Englander Institute,

As I shared in the most recent EIPM Weekly News Roundup newsletter, I've always taken the most pride in the high-quality research our colleagues have published in leading peer-reviewed journals. But July was truly something special, with outstanding papers (below) by dozens of our team members. Congratulations to everyone who contributed to the outstanding...

Uncovering How a Molecule Responsible for Immune “Brakes” Directs Skin Defenses

August 1, 2025

Weill Cornell Medicine researchers have discovered that PD-1—a molecule best known for putting the brakes on immune cells—also plays a critical role in helping T cells become long-term immune defenders in the skin. Early during infection, PD-1 acts like a steering wheel, guiding T cells to become protective resident memory T cells (TRM) that stay in place. These cells remember invading germs or cancer and quickly mount a response if that enemy reappears.

The preclinical ...

$1.1 Million Grant Funds Research on Rare Neurodevelopmental Disorder

July 28, 2025

A $1.1 million grant from the parent-caregiver-led Rare Bird Foundation to Weill Cornell Medicine is supporting the launch of a natural history study for a rare neurodevelopmental disorder that causes developmental delays and seizures called MEF2C Haploinsufficiency syndrome (MCHS).

Currently, there are no specific therapies for MCHS, which affects about 400 people worldwide. Patients with the condition may experience...