GENE RESEARCH

Four Boston-based scientists walked away with top honors from an awards event that values breakthroughs more than Hollywood does. Held on a Saturday in Los Angeles, the ceremony recognizes discoveries that can take a decade or more to prove, unlike Oscars that focus only on the previous year’s films

The pro-opiomelanocortin gene, or POMC, is a key player in the body's hormone system. It helps regulate various hormones, including those that control weight and skin color. When this gene has two harmful mutations, it can lead to some serious health issues. These issues include low cortisol levels,