Scientific Research Services

The Cellular Engineering Laboratory at The Jackson Laboratory for Genomic Medicine provides high-quality, custom-edited cell lines (human ES/iPS) using CRISPR/ Cas technology, offering a range of allele types that include knockouts, knock-ins, single base variants, and conditional loss-of-function alleles.

The Center for Biometric Analysis (CBA) provides scientists with the space, equipment and expertise to perform state of the art in vivo mouse phenotyping spanning a broad range of biological domains and disease states. We interrogate phenotypes deeply, measuring extremely subtle signs of disease. Complementing this, we are expanding our capacity to perform phenotyping at high throughput and large scale.

Computational Sciences (CS) works collaboratively with JAX investigators in the application of advanced computational and analytical approaches to complex, data-intensive biological problems; in the development of scientific software applications that facilitate access, visualization, and sharing of data and algorithms with the scientific community; and in the development of new scientific projects and platforms.

The Flow Cytometry Service has extensive experience and expertise in all aspects of flow cytometry and offers state-of-the-art instrumentation including the capability to measure more than 30 parameters on a single sample. We feature up to 28 color 6-way cell sorting at both Farmington and Bar Harbor Campuses. Our service can be utilized for sample preparation, staining, acquisition, and data analysis as needed.

The mission of the Genetic Engineering Technologies (GET) group is to provide The Jackson Laboratory's faculty a one stop shop access to technical expertise, instrumentation, and centralized facilities necessary to carry out complex genetic engineering and to create genetically modified mice. We are fully competent taking a project from concept to delivery of live mice and performing genetic engineering in our laboratories, including allele design, construct development, microinjection, and genotyping of founder mice. We have extensive experience and success generating genetically modified mice on a variety of inbred and specialty strains. Other service offerings include genetic engineering consultation, training, custom genetic engineering projects, and provision of tested reagents and supplies.

The JAX Genome Technologies (GT) Laboratory provides both expertise and services for genomic, epigenomic and transcriptomic analysis, to support JAX faculty, staff and partnering researchers. The GT Laboratory houses a variety of cutting-edge genomic technologies and is fully equipped with automated instruments to process various samples at scale. GT offers end-to-end solutions from sample to data; starting from nucleic acid extraction, sample quality control (QC), sequencing library construction, short and long read sequencing, to data QC and delivery. We constantly seek to develop and expand our technical capabilities, with the aim to deliver the highest quality data to support various research programs in the scientific community.

Histopathology Sciences (HPS) combines clinical chemistry and hematology, scanning and transmission electron microscopy, histology, and research necropsy services into one comprehensive resource for the preparation and analysis of murine specimens. Service staff has expertise in one or more of these disciplines and provide a variety of services and custom-tailored protocols, meeting the needs of the scientist in a cost-efficient manner. Working together with research staff, HPS personnel import, modify and develop protocols as necessary to obtain data.

Library Sciences’ specialized collection of over 11,000 online biomedical journals and ebooks supports JAX’s research focus, including genetics and genomics, inbred mice, animal health and husbandry, development, embryology, complex traits, immunology, cancer, molecular biology, neuroscience, and computational biology. We offer interlibrary loan, scholarly communication assistance, and provide training in EndNote, PubMed, and other databases. The historical archive includes the C.C. Little Papers and George Snell Papers.

The Mass Spectrometry and Protein Chemistry Service provides expertise and high-throughput analyses for metabolomics, proteomics, lipidomics, imaging, and targeted studies using mass spectrometry.

The Microscopy Service includes standard widefield microscopy; advanced fluorescent microscopy, including confocal and spinning disk; 2-photon and fluorescence lifetime microscopy (FLIM); longitudinal observation or live-cell imaging, including imaging of iPS and ES cells under various environmental conditions (hypoxia); laser-capture microdissection, image analysis and 3D visualization; high-throughput cell-based screening; brightfield slide scanning; and automated fluorescence slide scanning.

The Monoclonal Antibody Service is a high-throughput resource that produces custom monoclonal antibodies against novel protein or peptide targets using classical hybridoma technology, as well as scale-up production of antibodies from existing cell lines. This service is available to all faculty and staff and accepts projects from external collaborators and other external scientists.

The PDX R&D Core provides customizable services to facilitate the development and research characterization of normal or neoplastic, cell or patient derived xenograft (CDX or PDX, solid or liquid tissues) models. With the aim of assisting investigators in conducting xenograft studies, the Core initiates processes involved in tumor engraftment as well as in post-engraftment characterization and analysis of xenografts. The core also provides engraftment of viral or other vectors and live in vivo imaging for longitudinal studies. This core works closely with other listed services to provide a smooth transition of experiments that require downstream analysis.

The Protein Production and Purification (P3) Service produces and isolates researcher's proteins of interest for use as antigens and reagents.

Facilitates the efficient creation and management of mouse models. Services Offered: Cryopreservation, Storage of Cryopreserved Lines, Import Cryopreserved Sperm/Embryos, Recovery of Cryopreserved Lines, Rederivation, Colony Expansion via IVF, Strain Rescue / "Last of Line" Rescue, Special Projects.

Scientific Instrument Services provide technical services to research labs and scientific services with in-house expertise in the areas of scientific equipment repair and maintenance; custom design and fabrication of devices and fixtures; automated liquid handling support and assay development; and laboratory glassware washing and sterilization functions. We maintain fleets of shared equipment, oversee shared equipment facilities, and assist Scientific Services in capital equipment planning. Each of these services is available on both the Bar Harbor and Farmington Campuses.​​​​​​

The JAX Single Cell Biology Lab provides state-of-the-art technologies and expertise to interrogate molecular and cellular biology at single cell resolution. These include

1. approaches to dissociate and encapsulate individual cells for high-throughput transcriptomic, epigenetic, and multiomic approaches;
2. spatial transcriptomics, multiplexed FISH, and hyperplexed antibody imaging modalities to image analytes in situ; and
3. high throughput 3D organoid and cellular model generation with imaging and biochemical screening.

Investigators at the University of Connecticut can access our services through the JAX-UConn Single Cell Genomics Center agreement.

The Technology Evaluation and Development group is a dynamic environment with the key goal to rapidly explore and evaluate new ideas in a systematic manner. With a diverse array of projects, TED actively works towards the realization of significant improvements in process or method efficiencies across the spectrum of JAX resources. One major aspect of our work is focused on developing platforms for enhancing genetically modified mouse models on highly defined backgrounds. These approaches (Zinc Finger Nucleases, TALENs, CRISPR, etc.) allow for the sequential modification of existing models. This Sequential Additive Value aims to improve a model's performance and maintain their relevance. While advancing our Research and Development objectives, TED actively collaborates with groups inside and outside of JAX to achieve common goals.

The Transgenic Genotyping Service (TGS) provides genotyping for Jax Mice and assay development. TGS also provides services formerly associated with the Genetic Analysis Lab (speed congenics & mapping projects) as well as SNP Genotyping Services for our institutional clients at The Jackson Laboratory and elsewhere.