Tomorrow’s Treatments, Today: Lahey Hospital & Medical Center Celebrates Opening of New Clinical Research Center
Opening of New Clinical Research Center Expands Access to Innovative Care
Burlington, MA – Lahey Hospital & Medical Center (LHMC) marked a major milestone with the official opening of its new Clinical Research Center, celebrated during a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Tuesday, June 17. The new space expands access to clinical trials for patients throughout the region, making next-generation care more convenient and more personal than ever.
“The Clinical Research Center reflects our commitment to advancing care through research,” said Susan Moffatt-Bruce, MD, PhD, president of Lahey Hospital & Medical Center. “It’s where innovation, teamwork and compassion will come together to bring new treatments to patients, not years from now, but in real time, right here on our campus.”
Located on the west side of the main hospital at 41 Mall Road, the Clinical Research Center will serve as a hub for clinical trials across a broad spectrum of specialties — including oncology, cardiology and neurology — bringing academic medicine closer to home for residents north of Boston.
The Clinical Research Center will provide a dedicated space for Phase I through Phase IV clinical trials across all departments. The first departments to use the space for trials include neurology, hematology/oncology, pharmacy, translational research, and pulmonary and critical care. Other departments will begin to use the space for clinical trials in the next several months.
The state-of-the art center is optimized for patient visits, with a private consenting room, three exam rooms, five infusion bays, a phlebotomy lab and an observation lounge. Researchers and clinical teams work side-by-side to ensure participants receive both exceptional care and close monitoring.
“For those of us working in research, especially in cancer care, this new center is an important step forward,” said Kimberly Rieger-Christ, PhD, vice president of research operations and director of cancer research at LHMC. “It provides the infrastructure and support needed to move new therapies from idea to implementation more efficiently and more effectively."
The Clinical Research Center’s opening underscores Lahey’s dual role as a teaching hospital and community anchor — delivering sophisticated medical innovation while preserving access to the highest quality of specialized care close to home that have defined the hospital for decades.
“In academic medicine, we often talk about the value of bringing research and practice closer together,” said Anne Mosenthal, MD, FACS, chief academic officer for LHMC. “This is a space where students can observe and learn from real-world clinical trials, where faculty can pursue studies that advance the field, and where collaboration will drive meaningful progress for patients.”
“The opening of the Clinical Research Center here at Lahey is a significant step toward realizing our strategic vision to broaden the reach and impact of research across the entire system,” said Gyongyi Szabo, MD, PhD, chief academic officer of Beth Israel Lahey Health. “Lahey’s Clinical Research Center represents what’s possible when we invest in infrastructure that connects research more directly to care delivery in the community. It’s a place where multidisciplinary teams can come together, where data informs discovery, and where patients have greater access to promising therapies, closer to home.”
About Lahey Hospital & Medical Center
Lahey Hospital & Medical Center (LHMC) is a world-renowned tertiary academic medical center known for its innovative technology, pioneering medical treatments and leading-edge research. As a physician-led hospital, LHMC offers a legacy of care and education committed to putting the patient at the center through a multidisciplinary, collaborative and team-based approach. LHMC’s research efforts and clinical trials cross numerous medical disciplines, providing patients with access to the latest options in treatment and care.
LHMC is a part of Beth Israel Lahey Health, a health care system that brings together academic medical centers and teaching hospitals, community and specialty hospitals, more than 4,700 physicians and 39,000 employees in a shared mission to expand access to great care and advance the science and practice of medicine through groundbreaking research and education.
