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The ӳ����ý is an independent, non-profit research organization that aims to discover the root causes of all common and rare diseases, and to use this insight to help develop safe and effective therapeutic interventions.

Based primarily in Kendall Square in Cambridge, Massachusetts, the ӳ����ý was founded in 2004 to fulfill the promise of genomic medicine — three years after completion of the Human Genome Project, which ӳ����ý scientists helped create and lead.

We tackle big scientific questions that no single lab can address alone. We empower cross-disciplinary teams to solve the most important challenges in biomedicine. We invent and openly share cutting-edge technologies and tools to accelerate research and catalyze improvements in human health throughout the United States and beyond.

The ӳ����ý innovates at the intersection of scientific disciplines, convening scientists and other experts from genomics, cell biology, chemistry, engineering, neuroscience, therapeutics, artificial intelligence/machine learning, computational biology, and public health. We engage more than 6,000 scientists from MIT, Harvard, Harvard’s primary teaching hospitals, academic institutions across the country, and leading industry partners including Bayer for cancer and cardiovascular health research, Boehringer Ingelheim, Calico, Deerfield Management, GSK, Novo Nordisk, and more.

The ӳ����ý has spearheaded flagship scientific projects that have benefited the entire country, such as:

• Human Genome Project (HGP)
• The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA)
• Cancer Dependency Map (DepMap)
• Covid testing to safely reopen K-12 schools, colleges, and universities

Our technologies and discoveries are powering more than 50 clinical trials of innovative treatments and diagnostics for chronic conditions such as cancer and heart disease, as well as rare genetic diseases.

ӳ����ý-developed technologies are also driving down the real cost of science. For example, through collaborations with companies including Illumina, Ultima, and PacBio, we are making genome sequencing more accessible to researchers and clinicians, ultimately benefiting patients with rare and common diseases everywhere.

Our unique structure

ӳ����ý science is uniquely organized to encourage cross-disciplinary and collaborative research that cannot be done in a traditional single-laboratory setting. Our Programs and Platforms work alongside faculty labs and enable creative, groundbreaking discoveries at scale.

Programs are communities of academic and professional scientists who are developing transformative approaches to biomedical research, advancing biological knowledge, and gaining insight into the underpinnings of disease. Platforms are teams of professional scientists who are developing new technologies, conducting their own research, and collaborating closely with others to apply these technologies to a wide range of challenging projects.

Institutional Statement of Values

Shared Mission

We believe every ӳ����ýie — everyone who works in the ӳ����ý community, whether they are employed at ӳ����ý or at one of the partner organizations, researchers and administrators, those with long experience and those who are just starting out — is an important part of our scientific mission. To succeed, we need everyone’s creativity, commitment, perspective, and determination. 

Commitment to Excellence 

We believe in excellence in all aspects of our work. By this, we mean: 

• Impact: We work on problems with the potential for major positive impact on the world. 
• Boldness: We are unafraid to try bold new approaches to reach important goals.
• Rigor: We embrace rigor, including constructive challenge of ideas, data, and conclusions.
• Individuals and Teams: We respect both individual effort and collaborative teamwork as crucial for success.
• Diverse Perspectives: We strive to see what has not been seen before, by drawing upon our diverse experiences and perspectives.
• Sharing: We share our results, data, and tools responsibly and broadly to propel global scientific progress.
• Ethics: We have the responsibility to ensure that our research is conducted honestly and impacts human lives positively.
• Humility: We question our assumptions, confront our biases, and are continuously learning and growing.  

Commitment to Community

We aim to nurture a community where ӳ����ýies are excited and proud to work. By this, we mean:

• Belonging: We aim for every ӳ����ýie to feel a sense of full belonging in the ӳ����ý community — welcomed for who they are and valued for what they bring.
• Caring: We strive to treat each other with kindness, honesty, and respect. 
• Development: We are committed to supporting individual development through timely opportunities and mentorship.
• Well-being: Tackling important challenges can be exhilarating, but it can also be stressful. We are committed to supporting the emotional, physical, and mental health of every ӳ����ýie. 
• Global Community: We embrace deep engagement with scientists, and the communities scientists serve, everywhere.
• Local Community: We prioritize being a good and engaged neighbor in Cambridge and the Boston area.