Harvard Catalyst Laboratory for Innovative Translational Technologies (HC-LITT)

Winston P. Kuo, DDS, DMSc, Assistant Professor of Developmental Biology; Director, HC-LITT

The Laboratory for Innovative Translational Technologies (LITT) was originally created and located at the Harvard School of Dental Medicine to provide the Harvard research community (basic and clinical researchers) with early access to enabling leading-edge genomic and proteomic technologies. It is now an integral part of Harvard Catalyst, the HMS clinical and translational science center. Predating Harvard Catalyst by a year, but prescient in its mission, the LITT was designed to accelerate the translation of laboratory research in therapeutics and diagnostics into the clinic.

The Harvard Catalyst Laboratory for Innovative Translational Technologies (HC-LITT) will facilitate clinical and translational research throughout the 27 Harvard CTSC entities including the associated academic health care centers (Massachusetts General Hospital, Children's Hospital, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, and others) with early access to enabling leading-edge technologies that include sample preparation, cellular imaging, informatics, genomics, gene profiling, proteomics and metabolomics. The HC-LITT's model is a "collaborative research model" that is very distinct from the "traditional core" centers. The model is to bring together a number of innovative technologies in one place and put them to use in the hands of investigators from diverse disciplines, with the common goal of addressing questions with human translational impact.

The HC-LITT will seek proposals for innovative and unique projects requiring state-of-the-art technology through its website; it will offer frequent seminars, demonstrations, and workshops; and it will seek to develop a network of like-minded first-user, experts, or technology enthusiasts from the community of students, fellows, and faculty of Harvard's Medical, Arts and Sciences, and Engineering schools, as well as the eight teaching hospitals. Keeping a sharp focus on translational efforts, the HC-LITT will have an advisory board composed of CEOs, CFOs, CSOs, CTOs, life science investors, and scientific experts who understand how discovery moves from the laborabory to the market. These advisers will serve as the eyes and ears of the HC-LITT community for the latest technologies around the world. Translation will be enhanced by the interaction of all of these groups, as well as an active effort by the HC-LITT to identify opportunities for academic/industry and industry/industry collaborations, making the way for SBIR/STTR grants and even formation of new companies. The HC-LITT is a marketplace of new ideas, innovative approaches, cutting-edge technologies, and entrepreneurship.