Center for Clinical and Translational Research

Supported by the Vice President for Research and a longstanding National Institutes of Health Clinical Translational Award, the Center for Clinical and Translational Research (CCTR) is the nexus of human research at MIT. The CCTR empowers researchers to conduct human subject investigations safely, ethically, and efficiently, translating scientific discoveries into transformative improvements in human health and well-being.

The center streamlines the process of designing and performing experiments so scientists can concentrate on their research. CCTR staff have deep expertise in medicine, policy, and regulations. Teams of clinicians and scientists guide projects from the initial planning stages through data gathering and analysis, and successful navigation of COUHES regulations.

As part of the Institute for Medical Engineering and Science (IMES), the CCTR links MIT’s culture of innovation to the global healthcare community. Relationships with many leading medical centers enable clinicians and researchers to exchange data, expertise, and care solutions.

New facilities opened in 2021 feature state-of-the-art equipment and flexible spaces to accommodate the full range of human subject research, with an emphasis on supporting accelerated medical innovation and health and wellness applications. Researchers can measure a full range of clinical standards of care using tools that include everything from wireless vital sign sensors to high-resolution ultrasound. The center’s reconfigurable space will be an “evolutionary test bed” that can simulate controlled conditions and will be outfitted with an array of motion capture and thermal camera equipment, floor force plates, and environmental sensors. Other fully configurable rooms and a robust workshop will allow investigators to run wet or dry experimental protocols with clinical oversight and make real-time repairs or adjustments on site. For further information, please contact Dr. Catherine Ricciardi, director of the CCTR’s operations, E25-201, 617-253-6331, or email the CRC.