Joining the Fight against COVID-19

The Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard is contributing to the global scientific effort to overcome the COVID-19 pandemic. Our researchers quickly converted a clinical research laboratory into a viral diagnostics laboratory, becoming a state reference lab in Massachusetts and partnering with the state to conduct rapid surveillance testing in vulnerable populations, such as those in nursing homes and homeless shelters.

The Broad also announced a partnership with Partners HealthCare and Biogen to build a biobank of patient samples in order to solve some of the central mysteries of this new virus and pave the way for treatments. Broad researchers are also helping to lead a global consortium of geneticists devoted to understanding the genetic factors that put patients at risk of severe disease.

Click here to learn more the Broad’s COVID-19 research.

Eric Lander, president and founding director of the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard and Chair of Massachusetts COVID-19 External Task Force, recently spoke to Walter Isaacson on PBS’s Amanpour & Company about the state of the pandemic—and what exactly it will take to safely reopen the U.S. Watch the video below!