Research Matters -BMC Study Suggests Reduced Newborn Hepatitis B Vaccination Coverage May Increase Infant Infections

April 2026

BMC Study Suggests Reduced Newborn Hepatitis B Vaccination Coverage May Increase Infant Infections

Researchers at BMC and Boston University School of Public Health used simulation modeling to examine how different levels of newborn vaccination coverage and maternal screening influence hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection rates in infants across the US. The team found that lower vaccination coverage among infants born to unscreened mothers was associated with a substantial increase in HBV infections.

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BMC Researchers Launch Toolkit to Address Rise in Stimulant-Related Overdose

To address rising stimulant overdose deaths and help reduce disparities in mortality, researchers at BMC developed a stimulant-inclusive overdose prevention toolkit and integrated it into existing post-overdose outreach programs across Massachusetts.

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Lianne’s Experience Helps Shape a New Model for PTSD Care

Led by Sarah Valentine, PhD, BMC’s new research study is exploring ways to improve access to PTSD care for patients in primary care settings. BMC Health System is the first to implement this sort of stepped-care model for PTSD.

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Researcher Spotlight

Name: Kim Vanuytsel, PhD

Department: Department of Medicine, Division of Hematology and Medical Oncology; Center for Regenerative Medicine (CReM)

Research focus: I study blood stem cells to improve the safety, efficacy and accessibility of gene therapy and transplantation approaches

Why BMC?: Once I finished my PhD in Belgium, and I was looking all over the world for places where I could learn more about blood and hematopoiesis. In this search, BMC really stood out, not only because it would allow me to contribute to better solutions for sickle cell disease patients who had historically been underserved and understudied, but also because of the people I would get to work with. When interviewing at the Center for Regenerative Medicine, I learned about this vibrant research community adhering to principles of open-source biology, collegiality and mentorship and it was very apparent how mission-driven everyone was. I immediately knew that I wanted to be a part of that.

Favorite Movie: Sin City

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Selected Research Publications

Arce, M. G., Montgomery, A., Koo, K., Koritsanszky, L., Crevecoeur, T., Fox, E., Khoury, R., Louis, K., Ameresekere, M., & Truong, S. Q. (2026). Centering Reproductive and Migrant Justice: Dismantling Inequities in Newcomer Pregnancy Care. Obstetrics and Gynecology.
Brown, H. L., Underhill, K., Gradus, J. L., & Nelson, K. M. (2026). History of Minor Consent Laws for Mental Health Treatment in the US. JAMA Health Forum.
Epstein, R. L., Munroe, S., Erdman, E. A., Bettano, A., Curtis, M. R., White, L., Wachman, E. M., Osinski, A., Walley, A. Y., & Linas, B. P. (2026). Hepatitis C Virus Testing in Perinatally Exposed Children. JAMA Network Open.
Guyol, G. G., Cook, K. D., & Lombardi, C. (2026). Health-Related School Absenteeism Among US Children. JAMA Pediatrics.
Kulkarni, S. G., Green, A. G., Mann, B. C., Malatesta, S., Kulkarni-Goodwin, S., Cesare, N., Mulaudzi, S., Rawoot, N., MIC-ML Consortium, Warren, R. M., Jacobson, K. R., & Farhat, M. R. (2026). Convolutional neural networks quantify antibiotic resistance in Mycobacterium tuberculosis with diagnostic grade accuracy and predict treatment response. Nature Communications.
Sokoto, K. C., Masai, T. W., Gwanya-Mdletye, S. S., Silaule, O., Jili, S. P. P., Tessema, S. A., Rafique, M., Lepkeh, G., Amos, A., Kariuki, K., Solomon, Y., Ghebrehiwet, S., Valentine, S. E., Henderson, D. C., Harris, B., Bonginkosi, C., Pickersgill, M., & Manda-Taylor, L. (2026). A Study Protocol: Engagement of Lived Experience Voices for Analysis of Transformative Evidence in Mental Health Policy & Legislation (ELEVATE-MH). PloS One.
Weinstein, Z. M., Jadovich, E., Drainoni, M. L., LaRochelle, M., Yan, S., Lee, J., Bettano, A., Beers, D., Walley, A. Y., & Samet, J. H. (2026). Implementation of addiction consult services and bridge clinics in the HEALing communities study in Massachusetts. Drug and Alcohol Dependence.

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