Platform FAQs and inquiries

Broad platforms advance science through three main activities:

1. They drive innovation by conducting original research to invent, develop, pressure-test, and refine state-of-the-art technologies within their specific scientific domains. 
2. They actively support collaboration, offering reagents, services, and deep scientific expertise. 
3. They support science at scale, providing the necessary infrastructure and experience to execute ambitious scientific projects efficiently.

The list of technology platforms at Broad has grown and evolved over time. Currently the platforms are:

• Broad Technology Space (login required)
• Center for the Development of Therapeutics (CDoT)
• Data Sciences Platform (DSP)
• Genetic Perturbation Platform (GPP)
• Genomics Platform / Broad Clinical Labs (GP/BCL)
• Imaging Platform
• Metabolomics Platform
• Proteomics Platform
• Spatial Technology Platform (STP)

Broad's platforms work collaboratively with scientists in the Broad community and elsewhere, and provide intellectual contributions that go beyond what would be expected from a core facility or contract research organization.

Yes! The platforms collaborate with scientists in the Broad community and beyond, including partners in academia and industry. Some platforms' capabilities are available to all, some only to academic laboratories, and some only to collaborators.

If you have questions about platform capabilities, contact the platform directly, or complete this inquiry form.

Broad platforms work on a cost-recovery model known as a specialized service facility (SSF). Under the SSF model, a project's total charge is a price per unit based on the accumulated direct costs for each SSF activity (personnel, materials, equipment maintenance, other charges, and depreciation of equipment), as well as the indirect costs in support of the activities.

Platforms often engage in discussion with PIs when they are applying for funding to brainstorm scientific plans, help map out an estimated budget, provide letters of support, etc. In cases where particularly deep engagement is the right solution, directly including platform scientists and resources in the budget may be advisable.

When platform scientists provide their intellectual expertise and technical skills, they should be included at the appropriate level of attribution as with any other key collaborator. Conversely, simply acquiring routine reagents or services with no intellectual input would not warrant joint authorship.

Several platforms maintain their own FAQs or collaboration guides:

• Genetic Perturbation Platform
• Imaging 
• Proteomics 
• Spatial Technology Platform

If you have questions that are not included in these FAQs, contact the platform(s) directly, or, if you have a question that might be relevant to more than one platform, complete this inquiry form.

If you know which platform you wish to work with, or have questions about a specific platform, you can contact the team directly:

• Broad Technology Space: flowcyto@broadinstitute.org
• Center for the Development of Therapeutics: cdot-collaborate@broadinstitute.org 
• Data Sciences Platform: deliveryleadershipteam@broadinstitute.org 
• Genomics / Broad Clinical Labs: https://broadclinicallabs.org/contact-us/ 
• Genetic Perturbation Platform: https://portals.broadinstitute.org/gppx/portals/broad/contactus
• Imaging: imagingadmin@broadinstitute.org 
• Metabolomics: metabolomicsinfo@broadinstitute.org 
• Proteomics: Steven Carr (scarr@broadinstitute.org), Tanya Svinkina (tsvink@broadinstitute.org), and/or Namrata Udeshi (udeshi@broadinstitute.org)
• Spatial Technology Platform: stpconsultation@broadinstitute.org 

To reach out to multiple platforms, complete this inquiry form below.