Ram Sasisekharan

Ram Sasisekharan is the Alfred H. Caspary Professor of Biological Engineering and Health Sciences and Technology at MIT, affiliated with the School of Engineering. He holds a PhD from Harvard Medical School and has held leadership roles, including Director of the Harvard-MIT Division of Health Sciences and Technology (2008–2013). His research focuses on glycobiology, viral pathogenesis, and biopharmaceutical development, with a focus on translating discoveries into clinical applications.

Education:

• Bachelor of Science in Physical Sciences, Bangalore University
• Master of Science in Biophysics, Harvard University
• Doctor of Philosophy in Medical Sciences, Harvard Medical School

Research Interests:

His lab investigates glycan-protein interactions in diseases like cancer and infectious diseases. Key contributions include technologies for sequencing complex glycans (founding Momenta Pharmaceuticals), engineering antibodies for rapid clinical development (Visterra, Tychan), and nanopharmaceuticals for cancer treatment (Cerulean Pharma). His work addresses drug affordability and accessibility, with a focus on precision medicine and immunotherapy.

Awards:

• Princess Chulabhorn Gold Medal (2007)
• American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering (AIMBE) Fellow (2009)
• NIGMS MERIT Award (2010)
• National Academy of Inventors Fellow (2014)

Advising & Grants:

He has founded six biotech companies, including Momenta (acquired by Johnson & Johnson for $6.5B) and Visterra (acquired by Otsuka Pharmaceuticals for $0.5B). His grants and collaborations span MIT-Skoltech, Singapore’s SMART Centre, and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

Labs & Teams:

His lab, Sasisekharan Lab, develops technologies integrating computational tools with biological insights. Current projects include universal flu vaccines, dengue therapeutics, and rapid response to emerging pathogens like SARS-CoV-2.