Language Scientific is the Broad Institute’s preferred translation vendor. If you need a certified translation, we ask that you follow these instructions:

  1. Send documents to be translated to Maura Tobin at Language Scientific (mtobin@languagescientific.com) and ask for a quote.
  2. Send quote and (non-federal) Broad Group and Initiative (formerly cost object)* to purchasing@broadinstitute.org and wait for a Purchase Order number.
  3. Send completed, signed quote back to Maura Tobin.
  4. Translations are usually completed in about one to two weeks. Can request a rush job for additional cost. *Translations cannot be charged to federal grantsPlease direct any questions to orsp@broadinstitute.org.

Not every document will require a certified translation.  Examples of cases that likely require a professional translation include legal documents, or patient/subject facing material (e.g. direct-to-patient consent forms).  In other cases, you may consider the following options:

  1. Translation Attestation Form If you have a colleague (preferably not the PI of the study) who is fluent in the relevant language(s) and they are willing to translate your document(s), please ask them to sign the Translation Attestation and return the translated documents and signed attestation to ORSP.  Please note that this form is only to be used for ORSP material.  Examples of cases that may be eligible for the translation attestation include material (e.g. consent forms or IRB/EC approval letters) being added to a secondary use protocol or to internal exempt, not human subjects research or not engaged projects. 
  2. Google Translate  In some cases, ORSP may be willing to accept documents translated by Google.  Since the quality can vary, ORSP reserves the right to require a translation attestation or certified translation instead. Examples of cases that may be eligible for a Google translation include material (e.g. consent forms, IRB/EC approval letters) being added to a secondary use protocol or to internal exempt, not human subjects research or not engaged projects.