A Message from the President

“I love my teacher because she is funny.” “My teachers give me hugs and goofs with me.”

These are examples of the rave reviews from some of the Longwood Medical and Academic Area’s (LMA) youngest visitors—for the teachers and staff at the Longwood Medical Area Child Care Center (LMACCC), one of the Longwood Collective’s most important services we provide to our members’ employees.

We were delighted to celebrate the wonderful work of the LMACCC staff members on National Provider Appreciation Day, recognized on May 12. The LMACCC was first created in 1982 to provide full-time and part-time care for up to 96 children, ages two months to five years, for our participating members and their employees and families. LMACCC’s dedicated staff support the bustling academic and medical community as they care for the children of researchers, doctors, nurses, administrators, custodial, office support, and staff members who work in the area. 

Our center Director, Kelly Quinn-Wilson, recently celebrated her 20th year of working at the center. “We know that the first five years of a child’s life are the most important for healthy development and long-term well-being,’’ Kelly says. “It’s a privilege to be able to work alongside talented and devoted teachers that can partner with families in fostering the growth of their children during this period in their lives."

As we continue reading reports about the Boston’s childcare capacity remaining below pre-pandemic levels, I want to remind our members and the community at-large that LMACCC is available as a trusted, community-based resource. Our teachers are integral partners in the lives of these children and families, a rewarding relationship which supports growth and development. With teachers certified by the Massachusetts Department of Early Education and Care (EEC), the LMACCC’s programs are thoughtfully designed to promote each child’s emerging self-confidence and self-esteem.



They work each day to provide welcoming and inviting environments that foster the children’s curiosity. Staff thoughtfully and creatively lay the foundation for learning as they create curriculum. For that, on behalf of Longwood, we say thank you! 

Sincerely,

President and CEO

LMACCC provides quality childcare to members of the LMA community and strives to:



• Foster an environment where children, parents, and staff feel safe to communicate feelings, where they are actively listened to, and their individual needs are attended to.

• Be highly adaptive to the ever-changing and unique needs of a diverse community.

• Create a warm, sincere, and caring environment that promotes children’s self-esteem and social, emotional, physical, and cognitive development.



We provide care for 96 children aged 2 months to 5 years. For more info check out our web site. https://www.lmaccc.org

Dr. Erika Pabo, a parent of an LMACCC student and member of the center’s board of directors, speaks for all of us at the Longwood Collective in a show of our appreciation for the LMACCC, its dedicated staff, and the extraordinary care and education it provides. 

Nationally recognized on May 12th, National Provider Appreciation Day is a day dedicated to recognizing the important work and dedication of childcare providers across the country. It also serves as an opportunity to show our appreciation for those who provide essential care and support to the children of the LMA community with special recognition to Longwood Collective's own Longwood Medical Area Childcare Center (LMACCC) and the childcare facilities operated by our members, including Boston Children's Hospital Child Care Center, Harvard University which operates seven childcare centers in Boston and Cambridge and Boston University's Children's Center.

At Longwood Collective, we believe that our childcare providers are essential members of our community. On this occasion, we would like to take a moment to recognize and thank all the childcare providers who help us raise and care for our children.

This year, Longwood Collective celebrated its childcare providers at LMACCC at their All Staff meeting with a meal and a small token of appreciation for all that they do to care for the children and families of the LMA.

Commencement season has arrived and we would like to wish a heart-felt congratulations to students reaching this incredible milestone in their academic journey! Their hard work, dedication, and perseverance have paid off, and they should be proud of all they have accomplished. As our graduates prepare to take the next step in their lives, we hope they remember to hold onto the knowledge and experiences they have gained during their time here in the LMA. As they move forward, may they use their education to make a positive impact in their communities and beyond. We wish them all the best in their future endeavors and look forward to seeing all they will achieve.

We would like to recognize our member institutions and their 2023 graduating classes, including: Boston University Wheelock College of Education and Human Development, Emmanuel College, Harvard Medical School, Harvard School of Dental Medicine, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Massachusetts College of Art and Design (MassArt), Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences University (MCPHS University), Simmons University, Wentworth Institute of Technology and the Winsor School. To all 2023 graduates, we commend you on your achievements and wish you a bright future.

On Tuesday, May 23rd Simmons University extends an invitation to attend a luncheon at their newly renovated, state-of-the-art science center and library within Lafavour Hall. This is an exciting part of a three-phase campus modernization "One Simmons" project. The reception starts at 11:30 am, followed by the luncheon and optional tour.

May is a special time for cycling enthusiasts across the United States, as it marks National Bike Month. The League of American Bicyclists has been promoting this annual event since 1956, and it has since become a popular celebration in communities from one coast to another. This month-long event provides an opportunity to highlight the many advantages of biking, such as its positive impact on health, the environment, and local economies. It also encourages people to try biking for the first time, either for leisure or as a mode of transportation. So, whether you're an experienced cyclist or just starting, there's never been a better time to dust off your bike and hit the road! Commuters all around Boston and in the LMA have been taking part in National Bike Month by participating in 'Bike to Work Week' which started this past Monday and runs, or rides, until Sunday, May 21st.

In honor of National Bike Month and Mental Health Awareness Month, Bluebikes, in partnership with Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts is shining a light on the inextricable links between outdoor exercise and improved mental health by sponsoring free Bluebike Adventure Passes to Metro Boston residents. Take advantage of free unlimited, two-hour Adventure Passes across the Bluebikes system all day, every Sunday until June. Start by downloading and opening the Bluebikes App on a mobile device and selecting "Adventure Pass."

While we are working with a number of member institutions to host bike tune ups, Longwood Collective is excited to launch our Bike Longwood series from now through end of September on the 375 Longwood Avenue plaza. Right now, dates are available for booking through end of June and we’ll open more dates closer to July 1st.

Please share this 15-min slot registration link with your workplace community!

You may have noticed the return of umbrellas, seating, games and books around the LMA and food trucks coming back as an option for your lunch break with Outside// having launched this season between May 1st - 9th this month. More is in store for June, so follow us on social media for updates on live music, fitness, and dog petting. See you soon, Longwood!

Upcoming Service Changes to the MBTA

Red Line

• Accessible shuttle bus service will replace evening weekday train service between JFK/UMass and Braintree Stations beginning at approximately 8:45 PM on May 19, May 22-25, and May 30-June 1. This service change will allow MBTA crews to perform critical rail and tie replacement work on the Braintree Branch that will alleviate speed restrictions.

• Accessible shuttle buses will replace regular weekend Ashmont and Braintree branch train service between Broadway and Ashmont and Broadway and Braintree Stations during the weekend of May 20-21. This service change will allow MBTA crews to perform work on the Savin Hill Bridge on the Ashmont branch as well as continued rail and tie replacement work on the Braintree branch.

Orange and Green Lines

Due to the continued demolition of the Government Center Garage by private developer HYM Construction, Orange and Green Line service changes will take place in the downtown Boston area during the weekend of May 20-21. 

• Orange Line trains will bypass Haymarket Station. Orange Line riders should instead exit at North Station or State, which are less than a half-mile from Haymarket (or a four- to eight-minute walk) and travel to the Haymarket area. 

• Green Line trolley service will be suspended between North Station and Government Center Station with riders instead asked to walk above ground between these stations – Government Center, Haymarket, and North Station are each less than a half mile from each other (about a five- to 10-minute walk), and the distance between Government Center to North Station is about three-quarters of a mile (about a 13-minute walk).

• Accessibility vans will also be available for on-demand transportation – Orange and Green Line riders should ask MBTA personnel for information and assistance.

Green Line

Green Line service will experience service changes during the weekend of May 27-28.

• On the B Branch, trains will bypass Kenmore Station with riders instead asked to exit at Blandford Street or Hynes Convention Center and travel back to the Kenmore area, which is less than a half mile (or about an eight- to 10-minute walk).

• On the C Branch, accessible shuttle buses will replace regular trolley service between Cleveland Circle and Copley Stations.

• On the D Branch, accessible shuttle bus service will replace regular trolley service between Fenway and Copley Stations. These service changes will allow crews to perform track work in various locations along the Green Line. Crews will be replacing more than 450 feet of rail, more than 150 ties, and perform approximately 350 feet of tamping.

Shuttle Advisory for Memorial Day

Reminder: Longwood Collective shuttles will not operate on Monday, May 29th (Memorial Day). You can view our full and current shuttle holiday schedule on our website and the most up-to-date shuttle information using TransLoc.

Legislature airs ideas for making the T safer -- and bigger

Boston Globe

Tucked away at the end of the hearing was an idea that was new, or at least new to me: legislation filed by state representative Michael J. Moran to create a rapid bus line called the “science corridor,” connecting the Longwood Medical Area, North Brighton, and Kendall Square. It’s an interesting notion. The large educational, medical, and research employers in Longwood already operate their own private shuttles, which carry 2.7 million riders a year — more than the entire ridership of the many of the state’s regional transit agencies.

Longer naps tied to higher risk for obesity, high blood pressure: Brigham research

Boston Herald

People who take longer midday naps are at a higher risk for obesity and high blood pressure, according to Boston researchers who found that “not all siestas are the same.” The Brigham and Women’s Hospital scientists looked at more than 3,000 adults from a Mediterranean population, examining the relationship of midday naps with obesity and other conditions tied to heart disease and diabetes.

Report: Boston's child care capacity remains below pre-pandemic levels

WBUR

While the height of the COVID-19 pandemic might be a few years behind us, Massachusetts' child care industry is still struggling to recover. According to a new report out Wednesday, much of the industry's struggles can be linked to a lingering early educator shortage. Statewide, there were 5,000 fewer early-childhood educators in 2021 than in 2019. And as of spring 2022, 35% of center-based child care programs reported being unable to operate at full capacity.

NIH investment as effective as private sector for biopharma innovation, Bentley report shows

Boston Business Journal

The federal government is just as effective an investor as private-sector players when it comes to biopharmaceutical innovation, according to a new report from Bentley University.

NIH funding played a role in all but two drugs approved over the course of a decade, with an average of $1.4 billion spent on each drug. The public funding yielded savings of $2.9 billion per drug, compared with $1.5 billion in private-industry investment on each new drug and savings of $2.8 billion, the research showed.

New hope for breast cancer survivors: Study finds a break in hormone suppression therapy to bear children is relatively safe

Boston Globe

Young women who recover from breast cancer have long faced an agonizing choice: jeopardize their chances of having children or risk the possibility of their cancer quickly returning.

The powerful hormone blockers many take for years after their tumors are removed help keep the cancer from recurring, but the drugs can be toxic for a developing fetus.

Brigham and Women’s creates new center for asthma and pulmonary disease

Boston Business Journal

Brigham and Women's Hospital is creating a new asthma research center with a $17.5 million grant. The Charles and Amelia Gould Center for Asthma and Pulmonary Disease Research, named for the donors, has the goal of developing better treatments for these conditions.

The donation came from the Charles and Amelia Gould Revocable Trust. Amelia “Margie” Gould lost her husband to an asthma attack in 1989, when the couple was in their sixties. When she died in 2017, she left money to support asthma research. 

Mass General Brigham to expand its reach into United Arab Emirates

Boston Business Journal

Massachusetts’ largest health system is expanding its reach into the United Arab Emirates.

Mass General Brigham, in collaboration with the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and UAE-based environmental management company Beeah Group, have announced plans to build the Jawaher Boston Medical District in Sharjah, the third-largest city in the country.

Brigham creates institute focused on immunology with record $100 million gift

Boston Globe

Brigham and Women’s Hospital will launch a new institute focused on immunology and inflammation, thanks to a $100 million gift, the largest in the hospital’s history.

The donation, from Gene Lay, founder and CEO of San Diego-based company BioLegend, will establish the Gene Lay Institute of Immunology and Inflammation.

Kidney cancer patients have ‘more and more hope’ after promising Dana-Farber study

Boston Herald

A promising new study out of Dana-Farber Cancer Institute showing that a three-drug combination slows the progression of advanced kidney cancer gives patients “more and more hope,” the lead researcher told the Herald on Wednesday.

As pandemic declaration ends, experts urge continued vigilance on what may come next

Boston Globe

The national COVID-19 emergency finally came to an end on Thursday, and the virus that caused it seems to be a waning force, but public health leaders are clear on one thing: This is no time to celebrate. It is time to prepare. This won’t be the last pandemic. Those who have toiled at the heart of the current catastrophe are already looking ahead to the next, seeking to learn from what went wrong and prepare for an unknowable pathogen that could strike tomorrow, or two years from now, or 50 years in the future.

Alzheimer’s groundbreaking research: Boston scientists discover genetic variant that protects against Alzheimer’s disease symptoms

Boston Herald

Researchers have made another breakthrough in their effort to help Alzheimer’s patients, as Boston scientists on Monday reported they have found a new genetic variant that protects against Alzheimer’s disease symptoms. Meanwhile, other researchers in the city recently discovered how the FDA-approved Alzheimer’s drug lecanemab slows cognitive decline, and the FDA gave the green light for a drug to treat agitation symptoms that are associated with dementia.