At the Koch Institute, we think about cancer differently. Our vibrant community of life scientists and engineers brings the best of MIT to cancer research, working across disciplines to ask big questions and come up with big ideas. Our research model is built on convergence—the coming together of life sciences with engineering and physical sciences—and collaboration.
Collaboration isn’t news for people in the MIT community, but it’s not the norm everywhere. While working together across disciplines is second nature at MIT, the Koch Institute’s deep commitment to cross-disciplinary collaboration and training was unprecedented for cancer research at its founding, and is now emulated across other universities and research centers.
Our researchers work at all stages of the research pipeline—from bench to bedside—moving big ideas from discovery to application to new discovery. Our state-of-the-art Robert A. Swanson (1969) Biotechnology Center and signature research programs and centers accelerate new ideas and innovation, while our vast network of academic, clinical, and industry collaborators ensure that patient impact remains at the heart of the Koch Institute research model.
Our Research Model
Research focus areas
Tackling cancers most critical challenges
Our Collaborations and Impact
Bench to bedside
From discovery science to clinical translation
Accelerating Research
BioConvergence Cancer Alliance
Changing the shape of convergence science in oncology
SBC core facilities
Cutting-edge expertise and technology