Broad Institute

What Broad Institute does

Broad Institute is an independent, non-profit biomedical research organization founded in 2004 in Cambridge, Massachusetts, with a $100 million founding gift from Eli and Edythe Broad and a subsequent $400 million permanent endowment in 2008. It operates a unique collaborative model that engages more than 6,000 scientists across MIT, Harvard, and Harvard-affiliated hospitals, alongside industry partners, to pursue cross-disciplinary research that single laboratories cannot execute. Core technical platforms span CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing (originated in Feng Zhang's lab in 2013), base editing (David Liu, 2016), prime editing (David Liu, 2019), the Cancer Dependency Map, the gnomAD variant database, the RABIT high-throughput binder screening platform, and Broad Clinical Labs, the largest U.S. genome sequencing center with a Guinness World Record for fastest DNA sequencing (under 4 hours).

The institute's product surface includes open-access data resources (gnomAD, DepMap, TCGA, Talos), clinical services through Broad Clinical Labs, technology licensing (CRISPR patents exclusively licensed to Editas Medicine; MAESTRO liquid biopsy licensed to Exact Sciences), 30+ startup launches since 2012, and the Sentinel pandemic-prevention program now operating in 53 of 54 African countries. AI and machine learning are embedded across the pipeline, including generative molecular screening, multimodal cellular analysis, and participation in the $500 million Virtual Biology Initiative with NVIDIA and AWS compute infrastructure.

Revenue mechanics are characteristic of a research non-profit: the largest streams are federal research grants (NIH), philanthropy from the Broad Foundation, Stanley Family Foundation (over $1 billion to the Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research), Eric and Wendy Schmidt ($150 million for the Schmidt Center), MacArthur Foundation ($100 million for Sentinel), and Biohub ($500 million Virtual Biology Initiative). Secondary revenue comes from technology licensing royalties, clinical laboratory services through Broad Clinical Labs, and industry research partnerships with Bayer, Novo Nordisk, Boehringer Ingelheim, Calico, GSK, and Deerfield Management. Pricing is not publicly disclosed because the institute operates through grants and collaborative partnerships rather than commercial product sales.

Name

Broad Institute

Legal name

Broad Institute

Website

https://broadinstitute.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2004

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1,001–5,000 employees

Short description

Broad Institute is a non-profit biomedical research organization founded in 2004 that engages 6,000+ scientists from MIT, Harvard, and Harvard-affiliated hospitals to develop and openly share genomic, CRISPR gene-editing, and AI-driven tools, datasets, and clinical lab services for the global scientific community.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Biomedical Research Services

NAICS

Medical Laboratories (621511), Research and Development in Biotechnology (except Nanobiotechnology) (541714), Medical and Diagnostic Laboratories (6215), Scientific Research and Development Services (5417)

SIC

Services-Medical Laboratories (8071), Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731), Laboratory Analytical Instruments (3826), Services-Misc Health & Allied Services, Nec (8090)

akta.pro primary industry

Biomedical Sciences & Medical Research Institutes (University-Based) (EDAHAGAI)

akta.pro secondary industries

Molecular Diagnostics & Genomics Laboratories (HLAFAMAE), Transcriptomics & Gene Expression Profiling Services (HLAGANAE), Clinical Research & Trial Central Laboratories (HLAFAMAL), Reference & Esoteric Testing Laboratories (HLAFAMAJ), STEM-Focused Research Universities (Engineering & Applied Sciences) (EDAHABAB)

Keywords

• Genomic research services
• Gene editing technologies
• Genome sequencing services
• Biomedical research institute
• Therapeutic development

Headquarters

HQ city

Cambridge

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Operations, Supply Chain, Others

Revenue model

1. Research Grants and Philanthropy: Broad Institute is a non-profit research organization primarily funded through federal research grants (NIH), private philanthropy from foundations like the Stanley Family Foundation (over $1 billion total), and the Broad Foundation.
2. Technology Licensing: Licensing of Broad-developed technologies and intellectual property to biotech and pharma companies. Technologies including CRISPR, gene editing tools, and diagnostic technologies are licensed to commercial partners.
3. Startup Commercialization: Since 2012, Broad has helped launch more than 30 startups to commercialize technologies. These companies translate Broad science into products that benefit human health.
4. Industry Partnerships: Collaborative research agreements with pharmaceutical and biotech companies including Bayer, Boehringer Ingelheim, Calico, Deerfield Management, GSK, and Novo Nordisk for joint research projects.
5. Clinical Laboratory Services: Broad Clinical Labs provides genome sequencing services and has partnered with healthcare systems for genetic testing programs.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Broad Institute is a non-profit research organization that conducts collaborative biomedical and genomic research and develops, openly shares, and licenses foundational scientific technologies, datasets, and platforms. Its core offerings include proprietary gene-editing tools (CRISPR-Cas9, base editing, prime editing), large-scale genomic reference databases (gnomAD, DepMap), clinical-grade genome sequencing through Broad Clinical Labs, liquid biopsy diagnostics (MAESTRO), rare disease diagnosis programs, and pandemic surveillance systems (Sentinel).

Product overview

Broad Institute is a multidisciplinary research organization (not a product company) that develops and openly shares scientific technologies, tools, and foundational datasets. Key offerings include: the Cancer Dependency Map (DepMap) for discovering therapeutic targets; gnomAD for genetic variant reference; Broad Clinical Labs for genome sequencing (the largest in the U.S.); the Rare Genomes Project for rare disease diagnosis; MAESTRO liquid biopsy technology; CRISPR gene-editing technologies (Cas9, base editing, prime editing); the Drug Repurposing Hub; and the Sentinel pandemic prevention system. As an early adopter, Broad also participates in AWS Amazon Bio Discovery platform and the Virtual Biology Initiative. These resources are freely shared with the global scientific community to accelerate biomedical discoveries and improve human health.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research: A center at Broad Institute focused on reducing the burden of serious mental illness by contributing new insights into pathogenesis, identifying biomarkers, and paving the way toward new treatments for schizophrenia and bipolar disorder.
• Eric and Wendy Schmidt Center
• Sentinel
• gnomAD

Products and services

• Cancer Dependency Map (DepMap) A flagship open-access resource used by cancer researchers and drug developers to discover and validate therapeutic targets for new treatments for adult and pediatric cancers across lung, brain, pancreatic, colorectal, and other cancers being tested in clinical trials.
• gnomAD (Genome Aggregation Database) A large human genetic variant reference database developed at Broad with NIH funding, used by virtually all clinical genetics labs in the U.S. and worldwide to help diagnose patients with genetic disorders. Has contributed to more than 13 million diagnoses since 2014.
• Broad Clinical Labs Genome Sequencing Services The largest genome sequencing center of its kind in the U.S., having sequenced nearly 900,000 whole human genomes and producing one genome sequence every three minutes on average. Developed Clinical Blended Genome-Exome (cBGE) sequencing at 75% less cost than existing methods, and holds the Guinness World Records title for fastest DNA sequencing at under 4 hours. Partners with healthcare systems including VA, Mass General Brigham, and the Catalyst Program.
• Rare Genomes Project A direct partnership with families affected by rare genetic diseases to provide genetic diagnoses. Has worked with more than 1,300 families from all 50 U.S. states to analyze DNA of affected individuals and their healthy family members and identify the genetic misspelling causing the disease.
• MAESTRO Liquid Biopsy Technology A liquid biopsy technology developed at Broad in 2022 that can detect trace amounts of cancer DNA from blood tests, helping cancer patients determine risk of disease recurrence earlier. Licensed to Exact Sciences for their Oncodetect test, which detects circulating tumor DNA levels below 1 part per million.
• Drug Repurposing Hub

Quantifiable outcome

• 13+ million genetic disease diagnoses supported through gnomAD database
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability17 records

Feature9 records

Partnerships

24 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• Biohub (Virtual Biology Initiative)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 29 April 2026Biohub announced a $500 million, five-year effort to create data foundation for AI models of human cells. Broad Institute is one of multiple leading institutions (Allen Institute, Arc Institute, Wellcome Sanger Institute, Human Cell Atlas, Human Protein Atlas) partnering in this initiative. NVIDIA serves as key technology partner for computing infrastructure.
• BayercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-time partner in cancer and cardiovascular health research. Collaboration led to FDA approval of lung cancer drug HYRNUO in 2025. Expanding partnership to advance cancer drug discovery research.
• Novo NordiskcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStrategic research alliance to identify new mechanisms and targets for cardiometabolic diseases. Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Genomic Mechanisms of Disease at Broad facilitates collaborations with Danish research community.
• Boehringer IngelheimmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIndustry partner collaborating with Broad on biomedical research initiatives.
• CalicomajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerExtended collaboration adding focus on age-related neurodegeneration. Joint research initiative focused on understanding aging and age-related diseases.
• Deerfield ManagementmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInnovative partnership to tackle serious unmet medical needs through targeted research collaborations.
• GSKmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIndustry partner collaborating on biomedical research and drug discovery.
• Amazon Web Services (AWS)coreTechnology or IntegrationBroad Institute is an early adopter of AWS Amazon Bio Discovery platform for AI-driven drug development. AWS provides computing infrastructure and AI tools for early-stage drug discovery workflows.
• NVIDIAcoreTechnology or IntegrationKey technology partner providing accelerated computing infrastructure for processing datasets needed to train AI systems that simulate cellular behavior in the Virtual Biology Initiative.
• Editas MedicinecoreOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing PartnerHolds exclusive licenses to Broad Institute's CRISPR-Cas9 patents for developing human medicines. Editas Medicine announced USPTO reaffirmed Broad's CRISPR patent rights, strengthening their IP position.
• Roche Sequencing SolutionsmajorTechnology or IntegrationCollaboration with Broad Clinical Labs and Boston Children's Hospital to achieve Guinness World Record for fastest DNA sequencing (under 4 hours).
• ATCCmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborated to develop 13 CRISPR-engineered isogenic non-small cell lung cancer cell lines that replicate resistance mechanisms to EGFR inhibitor osimertinib. Models integrated into Cancer Dependency Map for ResMap.
• Microsoft ResearchmajorTechnology or IntegrationPartnered with Broad Institute on Talos project - an open-source genomic reanalysis tool for automated rare disease diagnosis. Microsoft provided AI and computational expertise.
• InocrasmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint presentation of one of the largest cancer whole-genome analyses at AACR 2026, analyzing over 8,000 tumor-normal whole genomes from TCGA across 30+ cancer types.
• MITcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMIT is one of Broad's founding partner institutions. Feng Zhang's MIT lab developed CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing technology at Broad. Broadie community includes over 6,000 scientists from MIT and partner institutions.
• Harvard UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHarvard is one of Broad's founding partner institutions. Multiple Harvard faculty and researchers participate in Broad programs and governance.
• MIT HEALS (Health and Life Sciences Collaborative)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMIT HEALS launched Genomic Medicines Accelerator Fund with IP obligations arising from subaward from Broad Institute. Fund provides up to $200,000 per year for up to two years for genome editing research.
• Apertura Gene TherapymajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerApertura Gene Therapy and Broad Institute scientists will present data on TfR1 CapX, an AAV capsid enabling intravenous delivery of genetic medicines to the brain and spinal cord, at ASGCT conference.
• Argonaut Manufacturing ServicesmajorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerSelected by Broad Institute's Vallabh/Minikel lab as drug product manufacturer for siRNA therapeutic targeting prion disease. FDA has granted IND clearance for the compound.
• Ginkgo BioworksmajorTechnology or IntegrationAWS platform partner providing wet-lab synthesis capabilities integrated with Amazon Bio Discovery platform for AI-driven drug discovery.
• Twist BiosciencemajorTechnology or IntegrationAWS platform partner for DNA synthesis integrated with Amazon Bio Discovery platform. In MSK collaboration, platform sent 100,000 antibody candidates for testing.
• n6 TecminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAppointed Broad Institute Principal Investigator Aziz Al'Khafaji as scientific advisor to promote AutoNorm technology in NGS library preparation. AutoNorm uses real-time adaptive amplification to minimize amplification issues.
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCDC used Broad Institute's measles whole-genome sequencing data (approximately 1,000 sequences from 2025-2026 outbreaks) to assess whether US has lost measles elimination status.
• Redeemer's UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-lead of Sentinel project with Broad Institute for infectious disease surveillance in Africa. Led by Pardis Sabeti and Christian Happi, the project received $100 million MacArthur Foundation grant.

Scale indicators14 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights7 records

Direct peers

• Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research: MIT-affiliated biomedical research institute in Cambridge, MA with a similar model of cross-disciplinary basic research and faculty-led labs. Most directly comparable peer given shared geography, MIT affiliation, and similar research scope.
• Allen Institute: Philanthropically funded (Paul Allen) large-scale science institute pursuing brain, cell, and immune system research. Comparable in scale, funding model, and ambition to generate foundational scientific resources shared openly with the community.
• Wellcome Sanger Institute: UK-based genomics and biomedical research institute, founding partner in the Human Genome Project, and co-participant in the Virtual Biology Initiative. Direct counterpart in genomics-led research at scale.
• Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory: Long-established non-profit biomedical research institution with strengths in cancer biology and neuroscience. Comparable as a non-profit research institute combining basic science, training, and technology development.
• Scripps Research: Non-profit biomedical research institute with translational science programs and significant NIH funding. Comparable as a privately operated non-profit research entity focused on biomedical discovery and therapeutic development.
• Salk Institute for Biological Studies: Independent non-profit biological research institute in La Jolla, CA with strengths in neuroscience, cancer, and plant biology. Comparable non-profit research model with philanthropic endowment and faculty-driven science.

Emerging players

• Arc Institute: Independent research organization founded in 2021 with $650M+ from Biohub, focused on complex disease, computational biology, and genome engineering. Highly comparable model and a core partner in the Virtual Biology Initiative with Broad.

Broad incumbents

• Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI): Largest US biomedical research philanthropy, supporting ~300 HHMI Investigators across universities. Comparable as a non-profit research funder and operator at significant scale, though geographically distributed rather than co-located.

Regional players

• New York Genome Center: Non-profit genomics research and clinical sequencing center in New York City. Comparable genomics-focused organization with clinical sequencing operations, though geographically distinct from Broad.

Others

• National Human Genome Research Institute (NHGRI): NIH institute that leads genomics research funding and policy in the US. Comparable as a major genomics-research ecosystem participant and NIH grant-maker that shapes Broad's funding environment.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat7 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/broadinstitute
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/broadinstitute
• Facebookfacebook.com/broadinstitute
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/245341
• Instagraminstagram.com/broadinstitute

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles13 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds6 records

Investors5 records

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Broad Institute