Jackson Laboratory
The Jackson Laboratory was founded in Bar Harbor, Maine in 1929 by former University of Maine and University of Michigan president C. C. Little under the name Roscoe B. Jackson Memorial Laboratory.[1] It is the only non-profit institution ever set up with a dedication to basic research on the genetics of mammals as a primary objective. Originally, the laboratory bred many different species (including dogs, rabbits, guinea pigs and others), now it is a leading institute studying and breeding mice for research. After breeding mice for solely for use by researchers at the laboratory, it was discovered that the many strains of mice were a very valuable resource and could be sold to other laboratories to help fund research. The first such sales were in 1933.[2] Now the lab supplies over 2 million mice per year to other labs, and 75% of its nearly 3,000 strains are available only from The Jackson Laboratory.
The Jackson Laboratory is the world's largest mammalian genetics research institute, and is currently designated by the National Cancer Institute as a "Cancer Center" to conduct basic cancer research.
Major research areas
The Lab's research, represented by the activities of some 35-40 laboratories, is largely sponsored by NIH grants and is focused in 6 major areas:
- Bioinformatics: mouse genome informatics, comparative genomics.
- Cancers: bone, cervical, leukemia, liver, lymphoma, mammary, ovarian.
- Development and Aging-Related: birth defects, Down syndrome, osteoporosis.
- Immune System and Blood Disorders: AIDS, anemia, autoimmunity, immune system disorders, tissue transplant rejection.
- Metabolic Diseases: atherosclerosis, diabetes, gallstones, hypertension, obesity.
- Neurological and Sensory Disorders: blindness, cerebellar disorders, deafness, epilepsy, glaucoma, macular degeneration, neurodegenerative diseases.
Famous Scientists at The Jackson Laboratory
Dr. George Snell was a co-recipient of the 1980 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for research he conducted at The Jackson Laborabory. Dr. Snell had discovered the Major histocompatibility complex genes, a discovery that lead to higher success rates of organ transplants.
The Jackson Laboratory Fire
On May 10, 1989, a flash fire destroyed the Morrell Park mouse production facility. The fire raged for 5 hours, requiring over 100 fire fighters from 15 companies and a total of 16 trucks to be contained. Four workers of the Colwell Construction Company who were installing fiberglass wallboard in the room where the fire broke out were injured, one with burns over 15 percent of his body. Additionally, half a million mice were lost, resulting in a national shortage of laboratory mice and the layoff of 60 employees.
This was the second fire to severely affect the laboratory; the 1947 fire that burned most of the island destroyed most of the laboratory, and its mice. Worldwide donations of funds and mice allowed the lab to resume operations in 1948.[3]
External links
References
- ^ "The Jackson Laboratory Milestones: 1900 - 1929". The Jackson Laboratory Timeline. Jackson Laboratory. Retrieved 2006-12-13.
- ^ "The Jackson Laboratory Milestones: 1930 - 1939". The Jackson Laboratory Timeline. Jackson Laboratory. Retrieved 2006-12-13.
- ^ "The Jackson Laboratory Milestones: 1940 - 1949". The Jackson Laboratory Timeline. Jackson Laboratory. Retrieved 2006-12-13.
 | This article about a medical organization or association is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. |