The Longwood Happenings newsletter, delivered straight to your inbox each month, delivers informative, engaging, and helpful updates about all things LMA! From local events to commuter resources, we provide everything you need to know about the Longwood Medical and Academic Area. 

Click here to read our July edition.

A Message from the President

Dear Longwood,

August 17 is National Nonprofit Day—a moment to celebrate the incredible impact nonprofits have on communities everywhere. In the LMA, Longwood Collective is proud to represent nearly two dozen nonprofits that are advancing health care, research, culture, and education, and enriching lives here and around the world.

The results speak for themselves: the latest U.S. News & World Report rankings recognized Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Mass Eye and Ear, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, and Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center—affirming Longwood’s leadership in health care locally and nationally.

And with fall around the corner, Longwood is buzzing with the changemakers of tomorrow. Each year, 24,000 students—from preschoolers to postdocs—learn and grow here, preparing to become the next generation of doctors, engineers, artists, and teachers.

Our nonprofits are more than mission-driven—they are economic engines, talent magnets, and the heart of this district. Even in challenging times, our commitment is clear: to make Longwood the most desirable place to work, learn, and heal.

Thank you for your partnership, your passion, and your role in making Longwood a beacon of innovation, discovery, and care.

Sincerely,

David Sweeney

President and CEO

Longwood TMA Attends ACT Conference

Last week, our Director of Transportation Planning, Karen Winger, and TDM Program Manager, Kashia Point Du Jour, participated in the ACT National Annual Meeting in New Orleans. This conference provides a forum for transportation demand management professionals to share insights, ideas, and experience, and is a key resource for inspiration.  

Congratulations to Karen (pictured right) on her presentation, "Easing RTO by Enhancing Support for Commuter Benefits." During this popular session, Karen leveraged her expertise to explain the great impact TMAs can have on campus-style communities like Longwood.

Outside// Library Carts Made Free

As of late July, all the books offered in the district-wide Outside// library carts are free! With a range of novels, magazines, biographies, and everything in between on the shelves, the carts are available to all who come to Longwood, whether you’re a worker, student, patient, or visitor. Plus, the accompanying yellow umbrellas, tables, and chairs at hosting Outside// sites are perfect for diving right into your literary selection. Keep an eye out for rotating titles at Shapiro Plaza, Stoneman Centennial Park, Hunnewell Plaza, and Smith Plaza.

Outside// Goes on the Air

Longwood Collective was grateful to be joined by WBZ NewsRadio reporter Carl Stevens at our July Puppies in the Park Outside// event. After an afternoon spent chatting with members of the community and enjoying the dogs, Carl produced a snapshot of the event for WBZ News Radio. Check out the clip here.

Longwood Collective Staff Celebrate New Seaport Ferry Route

On Tuesday, the Longwood Collective staff took a trip to Pier 10 at the Raymond L. Flynn Marine Park to celebrate new stops added on the Seaport Ferry. The new route connects North Station to Fan Pier and Pier 10, making it easier for everyone to access the waterfront. This is a big improvement for transit mobility—whether for work or play—in the South Boston waterfront. We're proud to have been featured in Mayor Wu's coverage of the ribbon-cutting and congratulate the Seaport TMA, MassDOT, and City of Boston on this initiative.

Learn more about the Ferry. 

Wednesday, September 3rd: Puppies in the Park

Can't get enough puppy love in the LMA? Neither can we! Join us for our next Puppies in the Park dog petting event on Wednesday, September 3rd at Stoneman Centennial Park. Shultz's Guest House will be on-site with a crew of puppies available for pats, cuddles, and playtime from 12pm to 2pm.

Tuesday, August 19th: Back for More Bands on Blackfan

We are excited to announce our next Bands on Blackfan event of the season! Join us on Tuesday, August 19th from 11:30am to 1:30pm for an afternoon of good food, good music, and good vibes. Our feature artist this time is The Eli Cash Band, a talented and versatile Boston-based cover band. Select food trucks include Chicken and Rice Guys, the Frosty Boston Ice Cream Tuck, Twizted Pickle, and Lordya Gourmet.

We’ll be setting up at 33 Avenue Louis Pasteur and welcome everyone in the LMA to join us! 

Member Spotlight: Harvard Medical School Researchers Make Groundbreaking Alzheimer's Finding 

Last week, researchers at Harvard Medical School announced a new finding pertaining to Alzheimer's that is key to both understanding the disease's cause and opens the door to research on disease prevention and harm reversal. The work, published in Nature, is the result of 10 years of research on the disease which has puzzled neuroscientists and devastated patients and their families for decades.

The research finds, for the first time, that the chemical element lithium occurs naturally in the brain, shields it from neurodegeneration, and maintains the normal function of all major brain cells. Similarly, the scientists found that lithium loss in the human brain is one of the earliest detectable changes leading to Alzheimer's, and that a novel lithium compound that avoids capture by degenerating plaques restored memory when tested on mice.

The results have made a big splash among the medical community and beyond, receiving coverage in the Boston Globe, 7 News, CBS News, and more, drawing attention to the discoveries that stand to be harmed by federal funding cuts. The study unifies decades-long observations in patients, providing a new theory of the disease and a new strategy for early diagnosis, prevention, and treatment.

Read the full HMS announcement. 

In Case You Missed It: New to the Longwood Collective Team this Summer

Daniel has joined our Area Planning and Development team as an operations professional with extensive experience in higher education, organizational leadership, facilities operations, and vendor management. He holds a bachelor's degree from Suffolk University and a Project Management Certificate from UMass Lowell. He now leads field operations and infrastructure projects in the LMA.

Rhone-Ann is a junior at Tufts University majoring in Applied Environmental Studies with a double-minor in Urban Studies and Architectural Studies. She has work experience in urban planning, environmental science, and laboratory research, and now joins the Longwood Collective transportation team. Using key performance metrics from Longwood's transportation system, Rhone-Ann works with data to improve transportation in the district. 

MBTA Updates Near the District

Blue Line

• Shuttle buses are replacing service between Airport and Wonderland through August 17th for maintenance work. Riders should expect longer travel times during this work.

Orange Line

• Service between Wellington and Back Bay will be suspended during the weekend of August 23rd-24th. Local shuttle buses will make all stops between Wellington and North Station. Express shuttle buses will operate directly between Wellington and North Station.

MBTA Extends Late Night Service

The MBTA recently announced a change in service across subway lines, buses, ferries, and free Ride trips. Across all T lines, service will be extended "by about an hour" on Friday and Saturday nights beginning August 24th. Select bus and ferry routes will also see an increased nighttime service. This marks an important step toward accommodating the transit needs of key second and third shift commuters in the LMA, with the MBTA"s announcement citing Longwood Collective's own Director of Transportation Planning Karen Winger:

"Thousands of employees and visitors rely on public transit to get to and from the LMA every day, and these added hours—paired with fare-free weekends in September—will give our community greater flexibility and help support the safety and well-being of those traveling late at night."

— Karen Winger
Longwood Collective Director of Transportation Planning

Free Bike Tune Ups Through Fall

This month marks the return of Bike Longwood tune ups to the 375 Longwood Avenue Plaza for the season! Take advantage of the summer weather and transition to a commute on two wheels. We'll ensure your bike is safe and ready to go during a free, 15-minute long service appointment.

Time slots are now open through the fall, so take a look at your calendar and receive the tune up ABCs: air, brake, and chain checks!

• Monday, August 18th
• Wednesday, September 3rd
• Tuesday, September 9th
• Tuesday, September 16th
• Wednesday, October 8th
• Wednesday, October 29th

Register for a tune up. 

Emmanuel College Psychology Course Urges Students to Make Friends

Inside Higher Ed

Emmanuel College psychology professor Linda Lin said she’s seen students reluctant to engage with peers in public spaces, including on their own dorm floor, out of fear of being perceived as odd or intrusive. In response, she designed a course on positive psychology and happiness to demonstrate the evidence-based practices that can improve student well-being and push them out of their comfort zones.

Simmons University and Skanska Celebrate Topping Off of New Living and Learning Center

New England Real Estate Journal

Simmons University marked a major milestone with a "topping off" ceremony for its new Living and Learning Center -- the centerpiece of its One Simmons project, alongside construction and development partner Skanska. The event celebrated the placement of the final steel beam on the 19-story building -- a key moment for a project that will shape the future of Simmons by unifying and modernizing the university's Longwood Medical and Academic area campus.

Youth Mental Health Program Designed to Bring Fast Results to Families

The Bay State Banner

The program, offered by the Baker Center to young people aged 2 to 22, uses short-term, high-quality, evidence-based treatments that are designed to get families results fast. The work is intended to help make a difference for the kids going through the program and their parents as well.

Brigham and Women's Study Finds Vitamin D May Slow Biological Aging

WBUR

An intriguing new study suggests vitamin D may slow aging inside the body’s cells. The research comes from the Vitamin D and Omega-3 Trial (VITAL), a huge randomized, controlled trial out of Brigham and Women’s Hospital. It found that people who took a daily 2,000 IU supplement of vitamin D3 for four years had less telomere shortening than a control group, a protective cap on DNA that keeps cell division running smoothly.

Dana-Farber Cancer Institute Launches Collaborative Pediatric Cancer Research Initiative

OncoDaily

Dana-Farber Cancer Institute shared on LinkedIn the launch of a collaborative precision genomics initiative with Boston Children's Hospital and Broad Clinical Labs to advance pediatric cancer diagnostics and research.