
Barnett Institute 50th Anniversary and Karger Medal Celebration
Thank you!
We enjoyed celebrating the 50th Anniversary of the Barnett Institute for Chemical and Biological Analysis and the 2024 recipient of the Karger Medal with alumni, faculty, students, and friends!
View the recordings of the sessions below.
View the photo album here.
Read about the event

2024 Karger Medal Recipient
Jennifer Van Eyk, PhD
Professor and Director, Basic Science Research in the Barbra Streisand Women’s Heart Center Cardiology, Cedars-Sinai
Dr. Van Eyk was awarded the Karger Medal for outstanding contributions of clinically robust experimental workflows, and of understanding of the molecular mechanism underlying diseases and treatment therapies.
50th Anniversary
Rhoda Bernstein
Daughter of Dr. Louis and Madlyn Barnett
Reflections from the Barnett Family
Barry L. Karger, PhD
Founding Director Emeritus,
Barnett Institute of Chemical & Biological Analysis, Northeastern University
The Barnett Institute: 50 Years
In September 1973, the Institute of Chemical Analysis, Applications and Forensic Science was established with a grant from the US Department of Justice. In 1983, the name was changed to the Barnett Institute with the generous gift of Lou and Madlyn Barnett. Over the 50 years to today, the institute has been a major research center in the field of analytical chemistry. Our alumni have held major positions in academia and industry, especially pharmaceutics and biotechnology. In this presentation, we shall highlight some of the advances that have occurred over the 50 years. We will emphasize what approaches led to the international reputation of the institute and how these approaches will be important for young scientists as they develop their careers. Finally, we shall suggest future directions for the Barnett Institute in this exciting time for science.
Olga Vitek, PhD
Director, Barnett Institute for Chemical & Biological Analysis, Raymond Bradford Bradstreet Professor, Khoury College of Computer Sciences, Northeastern University
Barnett Institute: The Next 50 Years
50 years ago Barnett Institute became a center of research innovation at Northeastern University, making major contributions in chemical and biological analysis, working in collaboration with academia and industry, and training outstanding scientists. It is the goal of the current institute members to continue this legacy, and lead the scientific discovery in the modern interdisciplinary and fast-paced scientific environment. This presentation will highlight the current achievements of the Institute and the opportunities for future leadership in research, and will imagine what Barnett Institute will look like 50 years from today.
Jonathan Bones, PhD
Principal Investigator, Characterization and Comparability Group, NIBRT (Ireland)
‘Kargerisms’: Molecules, Measurements, Meaning.
Of the many different ‘Kargerisms’ that I’ve heard over the years, even today, one of Barry’s favourites is a constant reminder of his 3M’s of analytical chemistry: molecules, measurements and meaning. In a time when there is chatter in the field on its own future direction and what it should call itself, Prof Karger’s 3M’s catchphrase seems even more appropriate. Reflecting on this particular Kargerism, the impact of the Barnett Institute experience on my own research journey will be presented. Alongside this, the application of how Barry’s 3M’s has helped in the development and expansion of activities within my role in the area of analytical biotechnology at the National Institute for Bioprocessing Research and Training in Dublin, Ireland, will also be discussed.
David Luzzi, PhD
Senior Vice Provost of Research & Vice President of the Innovation Campus, Northeastern University
Celebrating the Barnett Institute
Jared Auclair, PhD
Interim Dean, College of Professional Studies, Vice Provost Research Economic Development, Director of Bioinnovation, Northeastern University
Driving Innovation: Exploring the Nexus of Biotechnology, COVID Testing, and Cutting-Edge Technology at Northeastern’s Biopharmaceutical Analysis and Training Laboratory (BATL) and Life Sciences Testing Center (LSTC)
The greater Boston area is one of the leading Biotechnology hubs of the world, which presents several opportunities in training, research, and the intersection of both research and training. In this presentation, BATL’s workforce development and regulatory capacity building programs will be discussed as well as the regulatory science research to support innovation in chemistry, manufacturing and control (CMC). This will be linked to the work of the LSTC and its clinical capabilities and work conducted during the COVID pandemic. Lastly, we will explore the opportunities of AI and biotechnology, both product and process improvements.
Rohin Mhatre, PhD
Executive Vice President & Chief Technical Operations Officer, FogPharma
Advancements in Bio-Manufacturing: A State-of-the-Art Overview
Bio-manufacturing has witnessed remarkable progress in recent years, marked by significant strides in enhancing process yields, implementing real-time process monitoring, and leveraging digital tools for predicting process performance.
This presentation will cover the latest advancements in bio-manufacturing technologies and methodologies along with the integration of advanced process monitoring tools that offer real-time insights into process performance, enabling timely adjustments and quality control. In addition, the utilization of digital tools such as machine learning algorithms and computational models to forecast process outcomes will also be discussed.
These advancements collectively represent the cutting-edge of bio-manufacturing, driving efficiency, scalability, and sustainability in the production of biologics.
Panel: Drug Discovery and AI
Moderator: Laurent Audoly, PhD, Senior Advisor, Institute for Experiential AI
Panelists:
- Michael Crackower, PhD, Chief Scientific Officer, Ventus Therapeutics
- Enoch S. Huang, PhD, Vice President, Machine Learning and Computational Sciences, Pfizer
- Wengong Jin, PhD, Postdoctoral Fellow, Broad Institute
- Anna Marie Wagner, MBA, SVP, Head of AI and Head of Corporate Development, Ginkgo Bioworks
Nikolai Slavov, PhD
Director, Single-Cell Proteomics Center, Associate Professor, College of Engineering, Northeastern University
Uncovering the secrets of the human proteome
The vastness and complexity of the human proteome have hampered its exploration. New mass spectrometry technologies are transcending those limitations and allowing for large gains in sensitivity, sequence coverage, spatial and temporal resolution. I will discuss the conceptual drivers of this progress and provide examples of how it will advance our understanding of the human proteome and enable better therapeutics.
Karger Medal Celebration
Jennifer Van Eyk, PhD
Professor and Director, Basic Science Research in the Barbra Streisand Women’s Heart Center Cardiology, Cedars-Sinai
Karger Medal Distinguished Lecture and Q&A
The Two Sides of Precision Medicine: Proteomic Enablement of Biomarkers and Therapeutics
Underlying precision medicine is the concept that an individual’s Omic signature (including the proteome) will provide a physician with clinically actionable diagnosis and a subsequent mechanistic therapeutic route. This requires i) having an array of mechanistic therapies for each person’s disease state and ii) a means to diagnosis (identify) which therapy (or combination) will be appropriate for a particular person. Proteomics has played a role in discovery and defining potential mechanistic routes, but it is now time to move into implementation. We will discuss the progress in heart disease and cancer focusing on how technology is now allowing scalable robust protein measurements that enables translation. The hope remains to drive democratize of precision medicine yet, are these concepts at odds?
We extend our deepest gratitude to the following sponsors whose generous support has made this event possible:
Barry L. Karger Medal in Bioanalytical Chemistry Fund
The Barry L. Karger Medal in Bioanalytical Chemistry Fund is dedicated to recognizing excellence in the field and who has contributed significantly to the development of new analytical methods using bioanalytical techniques or a field relevant to research at the Barnett Institute Their commitment to advancing scientific knowledge and innovation is invaluable.
Douglas Devivo, PhD ’70
Dr. Devivo, an alumnus of our institution, has graciously provided the funding for this event to help us celebrate both the Institute and Dr. Karger incredible and illustrious career. Dr. Devivo’s dedication to education and research continues to inspire us all.
We sincerely appreciate their support and belief in our mission.