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Broad Institute

Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard was launched in 2004 to improve human health by using genomics to advance our understanding of the biology and treatment of human disease, and to help lay the groundwork for a new generation of therapies.

The institute was founded to seize the opportunity that arose from the Human Genome Project -- the international effort that successfully deciphered the entire human genetic code. Despite that accomplishment, scientists knew they still lacked a clear understanding of the genetic basis of disease, and how to translate that understanding into more effective prevention, diagnosis, and treatment.

To reach these goals, it was clear that a new type of research institution had to be created. The traditional academic model of individual laboratories working within their specific disciplines was not designed to meet the emerging challenges of biomedicine. To gain a comprehensive view of the human genome and biological systems, they instead had to work in a highly integrated fashion.

Research

Located in Kendall Square in Cambridge, Massachusetts – the world’s leading crossroads of academia, industry and medicine – the Eli & Edythe Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard brings together some of the most talented biomedical physicians and researchers from MIT, Harvard, and the Harvard-affiliated hospitals to address the most urgent and ambitious scientific challenges in human health.

Drawing from this unrivaled scientific environment and engaging more than three thousand scientists, the Broad empowers cross-institutional and cross-disciplinary teams to pioneer new fields of study, develop transformative methods and resources, and foster innovation.

The Broad’s commitment to transforming human health extends beyond the Boston area, and is reflected in the Institute’s rapidly expanding number of international collaborations, including more than 100 projects across more than 40 countries.