At Northeastern, our researchers have always been interested in science beyond the laboratory. While we strive to understand life down to the cellular level, we're also exploring the ways these cells combine to form something more powerful. While we're trying to unlock the next discovery, we're also projecting the impact of our discoveries on society. Under this model, the lines between disciplines blur. The quest for answers focuses less on understanding the parts of an entity, and more on exploring the myriad connections between these parts in the biggger picture. This is increasingly the model for big science, and it's a model in which Northeastern is well versed.

Witness the potentially life-saving work of our researchers in the life sciences, the theme of this issue. In a way that is profoundly Northeastern, our scientists ask the questions that others overlook. They recognize that the future of research lies far beyond ivory-tower laboratories and that, in our interconnected global society, novel discovery must anticipate the needs of individuals, society, and the life-web of our planet. That is the true potential of twenty-first-century science, and it is the essence of Northeastern’s research ethic.

A holistic approach to research is not new for Northeastern faculty. Our practice-oriented educational model has long propelled their intellectual curiosity toward this end. We have always held a deep passion for understanding both the component parts of complex systems and how those parts work in concert with one another in life outside the laboratory. In this issue, we learn of some of the uncharted territory being explored at Northeastern in biotechnology, bio-imaging, drug discovery, disease diagnosis, and psychology.

The transformative power of the life sciences is showcased in research like that of biology professor Kim Lewis, who is trying to pinpoint why tuberculosis and other infections can sometimes resist the strongest antibiotics. It can be glimpsed in psychology professor Craig Ferris’s investigation of the crossroads between brain function and environmental factors, mental illness, and drug addiction. It spurs Timothy Bickmore, assistant professor of computer science, to examine the ways computer animations can help improve fitness in the elderly. It fuels undergraduate research that seeks better ways to fight Parkinson’s disease and diagnose heart problems. The list goes on. The possibilities for exploration are limitless. The results will be life-changing.

Leading scientists from some of the top-rated research institutions worldwide are drawn to the freedom enjoyed by Northeastern’s research community. This year, we recruited thirty-six new faculty members—twenty-four at the senior ranks of full or associate professor, and twelve at the assistant-professor level. Our new faculty colleagues cite our interdisciplinary and translational culture, as well as our momentum as a university, as key reasons for joining us. They are attracted to the flexibility Northeastern offers to pursue their interests. They are inspired by the spirit of innovation and collaboration that spans our six colleges. Above all, they are confident in knowing that their work is deeply valued as an expression of Northeastern's core values and institutional mission.

Now and far into the future of life sciences, discoveries of great magnitude will continue to be revealed at the most microscopic of levels. Cancer cells may finally be understood, the mystery of Alzheimer’s disease unraveled, the neurological basis of our minds' capacity for resilience and repair fully explored. Pairing discovery with practice will bring today's and tomorrow's extraordinary findings to life. This is the new paradigm of research, and Northeastern is leading the way.

Sincerely,
Joseph Aoun
President, Northeastern University