CEDAR project ideas come from anyone. CEDAR researchers themselves determine which ideas to advance. Everyone from graduate students to research staff to senior faculty can lead projects. We value intellectual merit over traditional hierarchy.

Proposals are evaluated by a review committee, a group of CEDAR leaders and senior scientists with diverse areas of expertise. We fund only projects that meet high standards of scientific rigor, innovation, feasibility and potential impact on patient lives.

Diverse teams with members from many disciplines maximize learning and creative problem- solving. Our research hubs are loosely organized to encourage flexible, transdisciplinary research. We encourage high-risk, high-reward projects.

The science informs our decisions, helping us focus on the practical implementation of our discoveries. When we fail, we can quickly pivot and reorient projects in a more fruitful direction. Recurring milestone reviews ensure that each project is fulfilling its goals.

At CEDAR, we don’t burden researchers with paperwork. We have access to philanthropic sources of funding, reducing the need to apply for external grants. We have administrators to help hire employees, conduct basic lab operations, order equipment and perform maintenance. This frees researchers to focus on our mission.