Harvard Catalyst Central Laboratory
Who benefits?
Investigators who:
- Use the Harvard Catalyst Clinical Research Centers, or
- Need access to high-quality clinical assays at low cost
What is it?
- A CLIA-certified analytical laboratory providing specialty tests
Why use it?
- Assay samples at high quality and low cost
- Gain access to unique or rare assays
- Request new or previously unavailable assays
- Discuss your protocol's assays and experimental design
With the Harvard Catalyst Central Laboratory (HCCL), Harvard Catalyst has combined and streamlined the core analytical capabilities of the five sites of the Harvard Catalyst Clinical Research Center (HCCRC), providing a single point of contact for researchers needing research-grade clinical assays not available through clinical analytical laboratories.
The HCCL is a unified core analytical laboratory providing investigators
state-of-the-art research assays in a CLIA-certified environment at reduced costs. The laboratory incorporates administrative structure, customer service architecture, and institutional support, all in a collaborative environment in which HCCL staff work closely with investigators to ensure the quality of their studies and their results.
The HCCL works closely with the Harvard Catalyst Laboratory for Innovative Translational Technologies (HC-LITT) to identify emerging technologies that could potentially address current or unmet analytical needs within the Harvard research community.
Why work with the HCCL?
Assay samples at high quality and low cost
A pulmonologist and an immunologist are running a study in one of the HCCRC sites on stress and asthmatic symptoms, and need to run cortisol assays on a large number of serum samples. Because they are conducting their study through the HCCRC, the HCCL can assay these samples using a rigorously validated assay for just the per-sample cost of reagents; all other expenses (e.g., space, equipment, personnel, service contracts, general supplies) are supported directly by Harvard Catalyst.
Gain access to unique or rare assays
An endocrinologist studying the effectiveness of a new intervention for metabolic syndrome wants to look for changes in total serum adiponectin levels and in the relative levels of each of the hormone’s three known multimers. The HCCL is one of the few laboratories locally that offers a fully validated assay measuring all three adiponectin multimers, as well as other assays such as renin-aldosterone-angiotensin system, insulin resistance, cytokines, adipokines, and more.
Request new or previously unavailable assays
An orthopedic surgeon wants to conduct a large-scale study of osteopontin levels in elderly patients who have suffered hip fractures. She finds references to a commercially available assay and, finding that the HCCL does not currently offer it, contacts the laboratory to see whether it could use this assay to analyze her samples. After reviewing a request such as this one, the HCCL works with the investigator and company to bring new or previously unavailable assays in-house, validate them, and offer them as a standard service.
Discuss your protocol's experimental design
A cardiologist wants to measure the effect of a new blood pressure drug on levels of renin and angiotensin, but is unsure of when and how to properly collect, prepare, and store his study samples. HCCL staff offer investigators advice on experimental design, and talk through their questions about assay selection, sample collection, and other aspects of protocol development and the timeline for executing assays.
Who is using HCCL?
"We use the HCCL Lab often. The staff is truly knowledgeable in assay development. Precision and efficient turnaround is a priority. The lab is highly responsive to suggestions and easy to work with, and has proven to be a great resource for our studies."Steven Grinspoon, MD, Massachusetts General Hospital
"Our research team had great success utilizing HCCL to analyze serum markers of bone turnover for our clinical trial. The HCCL staff was helpful in purchasing kits, finalizing analytical protocols, and providing results in both a timely fashion and in readily usable formats."Peter Wayne, PhD, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center
"HCCL provided seamless service in the analysis of adipokines and vitamin D levels in serum samples from our periodontitis patients. From sample delivery to data reports, the staff was helpful and knowledgeable and the turnaround time was fast. I will certainly use HCCL in my future clinical studies."Flavia Teles, DMSc, DDS, The Forsyth Institute
You can find out more about HCCL in the Research Resources menu. To request the laboratory's services, use the HCCRC Resource Request form.
