About the Center
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
- How is CBI affiliated with MIT?
- CBI is a cross-disciplinary research center, formed as a collaboration among the MIT Schools of Engineering, Management, and Science, the Harvard-MIT Division of Health Sciences & Technology (HST). We support and collaborate with faculty members from a wide range of disciplines at MIT and Harvard. CBI-affiliated faculty teach classes at MIT, as well as train graduate & undergraduate students and postdoctoral fellows in their research laboratories.
- Is CBI primarily a "high-level policy think tank"?
- CBI is a "think and do tank". In support of its Mission to transform biomedical innovation, CBI researchers analyze real-world, real-time problems and work to integrate and implement substantive technical, scientific and management solutions.
- What is a "safe haven"?
- CBI defines the "safe haven" as discussions under the Chatham House rule, with all stakeholders invited to the table. Industry, government and the public are often strongly discouraged by political or legal considerations from openly discussing contentious issues, yet airing differences is essential to advancing creative solutions.
- How is CBI funded?
- CBI's programs and activities are supported by Consortium Members from the biomedical and related industries. In addition, specific research programs may be funded by Federal and State government agencies, philanthropic organizations and multi-client industry consortia.
- Does CBI have its own "wet" laboratories?
- No. The Center does not have its own molecular testing or clinical research laboratories. Instead, the Center collaborates with existing academic and commercial laboratories and hospitals in hypothesis formulation, experimental design, implementation and data analysis.
- Will CBI engage in any activities that are confidential and exclusive to a single company or other entity?
- CBI-affiliated faculty may, on occasion, contract with an organization to hold a "Master Class" for senior officers to discuss proprietary information relating to the organization's activities.
- Will CBI work together with other academic institutions besides Harvard?
- Given that our goals include industry-wide implementation of the solutions that emerge from our research, we are eager to collaborate with partners in other universities and other research institutions on activities that further CBI's Mission.
