Division of Biology and Medicine

Brown Innovation and Research Collaborative for Health (BIRCH)

BIRCH aligns the research operations of Lifespan and Care New England health systems with Brown’s Division of Biology and Medicine, which includes The Warren Alpert Medical School, in a unified enterprise that will leverage the distinctive strengths of each institution.

Overview

Brown, Care New England, and Lifespan seek to serve as catalysts for innovative biomedical and health sciences, helping Rhode Islanders access cutting-edge therapies more quickly and easily, and bolstering the state economy and Rhode Island’s ability to secure funds for large-scale research programs. Intended to spur research with high potential to translate into new patient therapies and interventions, Brown, Care New England, and Lifespan plan to streamline their research operations, invest in a research development and growth strategy, further develop their workforce, and strengthen connections between the basic sciences and clinical research. The path to implementing this initiative will be overseen by a Joint Executive Council (JEC) composed of the health system CEOs, the dean of the Division of Biology and Medicine, and the Vice President of Research at Brown University.

These research activities are organized within the Brown Innovation and Research Collaborative for Health (BIRCH).