Medically Associated Science and Technology

The Medically Associated Science and Technology (MAST) program at Cedars-Sinai is dedicated to the development of novel drugs and devices to diagnose and treat patients. MAST represents the main sail of a vessel taking us on a voyage of discovery in medicine and science. This innovative program is working to develop new diagnostics and therapeutics to treat patients with illnesses related to imbalances or alterations in the microbiome. Over the last 20 years, the MAST team has made many discoveries that benefit millions of patients, and we hope to help millions more with our growing fleet of novel diagnostics and therapeutics. The MAST team accomplishes our research by using innovative new technologies that allow us to bring bench-side scientific discoveries to the bedside and beyond—to the healthcare community. Current MAST efforts focus on discovering technologies to diagnose and treat microbiome-based conditions, particularly in the areas of metabolic disorders and gastrointestinal functional and motility disorders. At MAST, patients are at the center of our work, which gives us a unique perspective as we innovate. Having direct interactions with patients drives our curiosity toward clinically meaningful questions and allows us to move quickly toward identifiable solutions. The MAST team brings expertise in working with the microbiome in both basic and clinical aspects, along with a track record of navigating the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval process and post-FDA approval work.