The Jackson Laboratory celebrates a year of important achievements in genetics and genomics

(The Jackson Laboratory – Feb. 3, 2025) – The Jackson Laboratory (JAX) advanced its mission to improve human health through game-changing contributions to science and education over the last year. From studying a wide range of biological models that better represent human genetic differences and drive drug discovery, to harnessing the power of computational science and artificial intelligence to unlock the secrets of the human genome, JAX is fueling innovation in personalized medicine and achieving the highest level of excellence in biomedical research.  

Complementing its scientific advancements, JAX has long been cultivating and inspiring future health practitioners and research scientists through its educational initiatives. By delivering resources to students and healthcare professionals, JAX has not only provided clinicians with advanced, actionable tools to create tailored treatment plans for their patients but also has helped nurture generations of scientists, guiding them to explore careers in the biosciences, education and medicine.

At a time of rapid convergence across data, knowledge, tools and analytical methods in genetics and genomics, JAX has capitalized on this momentum to further its commitment in revolutionizing disease treatment and bridging the gap between research discovery and clinical delivery. With targeted scientific and institutional investments, from notable hires to new technology, JAX reached several historic milestones in 2024. Below are just a few of the highlights.

A Record-Breaking Year

JAX’s remarkable achievements have not gone unnoticed. This last year culiminated with the highest annual awarded grant funding in JAX history and the highest-ever rating for JAX’s Cancer Center by the National Cancer Institute (NCI), the federal government’s principal agency for cancer research and training.

• Grant Funding: JAX secured $122.5 million in annual awarded grant funding, the highest in JAX history – a 6.7 percent increase from last year.
• Published Research: JAX scientists published 385 research papers and preprints, a record number.
• Innovation Milestone: 46 JAX inventors were granted 30 patents, the highest ever
• JAX Cancer Center’s NCI Designation Renewed: The JAX Cancer Center earned the highest rating of ‘exceptional,’ solidifying its position among an elite group of centers recognized by the National Cancer Institute. This marks the Center’s best score since first earning its NCI designation in 1983.
• Summer Student Program: JAX celebrated the 100th anniversary of its renowned Summer Student Program, which has graduated nearly 3,000 students since 1924, five years before JAX opened its doors. The program has seen alumni achieve tremendous success, including becoming Nobel laureates, teachers, physicians, and researchers. 

Scientific Highlights of 2024

This past year, discoveries spanned the scientific map, from developing a mouse model for late-onset Alzheimer’s research and identifying risk genes for diabetes to landmark studies on vaccine efficacy, longevity, breast cancer – and even ancient humans’ love of carbohydrates. These highlights represent the pursuit of JAX’s mission to discover precise genomic solutions for disease and empower the global biomedical community in our shared quest to improve human health. Here is a snapshot of what we accomplished.

• Longevity: Landmark study reveals resilience and caloric restriction key to longevity
• Diet: Early duplication of gene influences how effectively humans digest starchy foods
• Diabetes: How diabetes risk genes make cells less resilient to stress
• Vaccines: Why vaccines are less effective in older adults
• Breast Cancer: New method to predict patient survival in breast cancer
• Cancer: Cancer patients gain benefits from genome-matched treatments in rural Maine
• Binge Drinking: A new therapeutic approach for excessive alcohol use
• Autism: Genetic background matters when coaxing stem cells into neurons
• Covid-19: CAST mouse model to serve as crucial tool for future Covid-19 outbreaks
• Aging: Blood stem cells age differently in genetically identical mice
• Alzheimer’s: Researchers close in on a mouse model for late-onset Alzheimer’s research; Comprehensive gene and protein map to derisk Alzheimer’s drug discovery
• Gene Therapy: Researchers flip genes on and off with AI-designed DNA switches
• Genetic Testing: Many employees would participate in workplace genetic testing if integrated into their wellness programs
• Drug Discovery: JAX researchers call for new method to drive innovation in drug discovery and personalized therapies

Research Initiatives

Since JAX opened its doors as a nonprofit biomedical research institution in 1929, it has worked to empower the scientific community in the shared quest to improve human health. JAX not only developed invaluable databases, tools and models for pre-clinical research for the scientific community at large but has also created boots-on-the-ground programs that aim to advance healthcare and save lives.

• Maine Cancer Genomics Initiative: MCGI was launched in 2016 to bring innovative cancer genomic testing, education, and drug access infrastructure to Maine, including partnerships with every oncology practice in the state. After successfully expanding access over six years, the team’s efforts paid off in 2024, showing that patients receiving genome-matched treatments experienced a significant one-year survival benefit. The approach has become a model for community precision oncology - or personalized cancer care - in a rural setting. Leah Graham, program director of MCGI, earned Mainebiz’s 40 Under 40 award for her work with rural cancer patients in Maine.
• EndoRise: Researchers, providers, patients and advocates gathered in the Connecticut State Capitol to celebrate the launch of EndoRISE, a groundbreaking state-supported initiative that promotes endometriosis research, education and awareness in collaboration with the State of Connecticut, UConn Health and Saint Francis Hospital. Using cutting-edge technologies, JAX is striving to study endometriosis as a whole-body disease to better understand its wide range of symptoms, the molecular drivers of the pain associated with it, and its impact on fertility. Endometriosis affects 10 percent – 190 million – of reproductive age women and girls globally; up to 50 percent of them may experience infertility. 
• Envision^TM: JAX launched Envision^TM, a future-ready, AI-powered digital monitoring platform that is setting new standards for how research is conducted. By enabling continuous, scalable, and highly customizable monitoring of animal behavior and health in a home-cage environment, it is poised to revolutionize preclinical research across a range of conditions, from Alzheimer’s, depression and anxiety to cerebral palsy and lupus. The launch was in partnership with Allentown, a premier provider of animal housing solutions.
• LG AI: JAX entered into a partnership with LG AI Research, an AI think tank dedicated to developing cutting-edge AI technology, to make a profound effect on the future of healthcare. The alliance will leverage JAX’s longstanding expertise in biomedical research and data analysis with the power of artificial intelligence to transform biomedical research and clinical care, with an initial focus on accelerating breakthroughs in Alzheimer’s disease and cancer treatment.

JAX Genomic Education Highlights

Through inclusive, in-person and online platforms, JAX continued to equip clinicians, teachers and students from high school through graduate school and beyond with expertise in genetics, genomics, and bioinformatics to improve biomedical research, education, and patient care worldwide. Below are notable achievements this year by JAX’s education team.

• 70: Courses, workshops, training and clinical education programs
• 10, 581: Total enrollments
• 3,824: High school students impacted through Teaching the Genome Generation, a one-week professional development course to assist life sciences teachers in helping students gain a meaningful understanding of modern human genomics. The program turned 10 this year, boasting 310 teachers trained and 25,000 students inspired since 2014.

Investing in the Future

JAX's strategic investments in research infrastructure, rare disease research, and cutting-edge technologies and spaces have driven workforce growth, expanded research capacity, and are poised to deliver lasting benefits to both the Laboratory and the surrounding community. Below are a few long-term investments that have come to fruition this year.

• Research Infrastructure:  JAX is investing in the construction of a unique and modern facility that will enhance capacity to conduct research across all areas at JAX and support JAX’s existing Rare Disease Translational Center to develop potential new therapies for people living with rare and many other diseases. The project is being funded through $8 million in Congressionally Directed Spending as well as JAX institutional funds raised through the 2021 sale of a private bond, which has funded a number of capital projects over the years including workforce housing and childcare.
• Gainesville Campus: JAX expanded its pre-clinical services operations with new leased space at Momentum Labs, a state-of-the-art facility situated within an 800-acre thriving research-based community in Alachua, Florida just outside of Gainesville. The Gainesville location will focus on continued expansion of JAX’s leading models and platform development, as well as increased capacity to provide a range of translationally relevant pre-clinical services to assess the pharmacokinetics, safety and efficacy of experimental treatments for oncology, autoimmunity, neurological and rare disease.

Distinguished Awards

Two esteemed scientists at JAX were recognized with prestigious honors for their groundbreaking contributions to genetics and human disease research. These awards rank among the highest distinctions within the scientific community.

• American Association for the Advancement of Science: Mary Dickinson, who was hired as JAX’s inaugural executive vice president and chief scientific officer in 2024, joined the ranks of Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, a distinguished lifetime honor within the scientific community. She is an internationally recognized geneticist, developmental biologist and bioengineer who has pioneered the understanding of human disease through advanced imaging technology. She captured high-resolution data driving early-stage organ development, providing critical insights and never-before-seen dynamics into the regulatory networks that govern these events.
• Royal Society of Canada: Charles Lee, professor and Robert Alvine Family Endowed Chair, was elected to the Royal Society of Canada for his pioneering work in human genetics, including a landmark 2004 paper on genomic structural changes. In 2013, he became the inaugural scientific director of The Jackson Laboratory for Genomic Medicine, successfully overseeing the scientific program and operations of the institute for a decade. His recent work includes sequencing 43 Y chromosomes (2023) to reveal evolutionary variations across 180,000 years and studying early amylase gene duplications (2024), which seeded the genetic variation that shapes our modern diet.

Engagement.

Essential to JAX’s continued success is its dedicated team. Individuals at all levels of the organization not only help advance the mission every day but also foster connections with each other and give back to their local communities. JAX employees contributed 3,547 hours in 2024 to many community and charitable organizations such as Friends of Acadia  and the Alzheimer’s Association.

• Science Journalism: Researchers at JAX, including Bill Skarnes, Elise Courtois, and Jason Bubier, participated in a virtual panel with science communications students at Stony Brook University. The purpose of the panel, which was open to students in their Master’s in Science Communication and Science Communication Graduate Certificate programs, was to give students a chance to meet researchers and practice interviewing skills; it was also an opportunity for future science journalists to become familiar with JAX research. 
• Opioid Response Summit: Jason Bubier and Vivek Kumar, who study the genetics of complex traits like addiction, participated in a panel at Governor Mills’ 6^th annual Opioid Response Summit in Lewiston, Maine. The panel focused on the physiological basis of addiction and overdose, the importance of employing available interventions, and how educating the public on the science of substance use disorders can help in reducing the stigma that surrounds them. 
• Endometriosis Awareness: Representatives from the EndoRISE team visited a group of school nurses in Meriden, Conn. to deliver a presentation on endometriosis and the EndoRISE program. The goal was to educate these healthcare providers about this surprisingly common disease, which affects millions but is often overlooked. Jasmina Kuljancic, program manager for EndoRISE and at JAX, and Danielle Luciano, professor of obstetrics and gynecology at UConn Health and co-director of EndoRISE, led the discussion. dedicated to making a difference across the

Looking Toward the Future

As genetics and genomics continue to advance biomedical science, JAX remains dedicated to setting a new standard for research excellence, education, and clinical care. Building on the achievements of 2024, JAX is poised to drive transformative discoveries through innovation and collaboration.

With an unwavering commitment to improving human health, JAX embraces the opportunities of 2025 and beyond, shaping a future defined by precision medicine, science, and improved health.

About The Jackson Laboratory

The Jackson Laboratory is an independent, nonprofit biomedical research institution with a National Cancer Institute-designated Cancer Center and nearly 3,000 employees. Its mission is to discover precise genomic solutions for disease and empower the global biomedical community in the shared quest to improve human health. For more information, please visit www.jax.org.

JAX media contact: Cara McDonough, [email protected], 919-696-3854