The Jackson Laboratory

10/28/2026

Everyone deserves access to the best cancer care, no matter where they live.

For 10 years, this belief has driven The Jackson Laboratory’s Maine Cancer Genomics Initiative, connecting patients and clinicians across Maine with genomic testing, expert collaboration and precision oncology close to home. Today, MCGI has enrolled over 4,000 patients, convened 500 genomic tumor boards and achieved participation from every oncology practice in the state.

More than 200 guests recently came together in Portland to celebrate a decade of turning genomic discoveries into meaningful action for patients, and to recognize the people and partners who helped make that impact possible; including The Harold Alfond Foundation. Their philanthropic investment made MCGI possible and transformed how precision oncology is delivered in Maine.

Thank you to our event sponsors, including Innovation Sponsor Cross Insurance, for helping us celebrate the past 10 years and look toward the next decade of progress and hope.

See how MCGI is helping bring world-class cancer care closer to home: https://www.jax.org/news-and-insights/2026/october/maine-cancer-genomics-initative-10-year-celebration

10/22/2026

From the neurons in your brain to the cells that make up your skin, muscles, and heart, every specialized cell began with the same remarkable potential. 🧬

The new Basics of iPSCs Learning Path from JAX Genomic Education is an approachable course for anyone interested in stem cell biology. Start with the fundamentals of stem cells, reprogramming, and iPSC quality, then explore applications in disease modeling, drug discovery, and cell replacement therapy.

Check out the Learning Path ➡️ https://education.learning.jax.org/path/basics-of-ipscs-learning-path

10/21/2026

New spatial mapping of endometriosis lesions confirms what patient’s have known all along: their pain is not just in their head.

In a recent study published in Nature Communications, JAX researchers used human tissue samples from the EndoRISE biorepository in Connecticut to map endometriosis lesions in unprecedented detail. What they found was an interplay between immune cells and neurons that amplified pain signaling.

Researchers hope to build on this discovery by testing therapies that could break this neuroinflammatory process.

10/16/2026

Endometriosis affects an estimated 1 in 10 female-born individuals around the world. Through EndoRISE, JAX, the State of Connecticut, and UConn Health have come together to launch the first state-mandated biorepository to help broaden how researchers approach endometriosis. Since its inception in 2023, more than 10,000 biospecimens have been collected.

“Endometriosis is a complex disease without a cure,” said Danielle Luciano of UConn Health. Sharing tissue, data, and knowledge, she said, will lead to more answers for patients.

Read more: https://www.jax.org/news-and-insights/october/endorise-connecticut-endometriosis-biorepository

10/15/2026

🧬What does a genetic variant appearing in 40% of the global population indicate about the risk of dementia?

For decades, researchers have investigated amyloid plaques and tau proteins as the culprit of Alzheimer's disease. But population health research prompted Dr. Alaina Reagan to look into a genetic variant tied to the cerebrovascular system for clues to dementia.

In our latest Make Science Make Sense knowledge translation, we break down research from Dr. Alaina Reagan and colleagues at The Jackson Laboratory exploring how a common variant of the MTHFR gene affects brain vascular health.

🔬 Using a mouse model, researchers found reduced brain blood flow, signs of inflammation, and abnormalities in blood vessels and the cells that support them.
These findings may offer important clues about the role of vascular health in dementia.
👉 Swipe through our carousel to explore the study's methods, findings, and why they matter.
🎙️ Hear more from Dr. Reagan in Episode 8 of Make Science Make Sense, available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and wherever you listen.
🔗 https://linktr.ee/makesciencemakesense

10/15/2026

10/08/2026

350 million people worldwide are living with rare diseases that have few treatment options. The Center for Therapeutic Genetics plans to change that.

The recently launched coalition between JAX, the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, and Boston Children’s Hospital is working to develop therapeutics for rare disease patients in a way that is scalable and repeatable. Cat Lutz, Vice President of the Rare Disease Translational Center, shares her vision for how the Center will revolutionize therapeutics for this generation of children.

10/01/2026

Investing in teachers helps thousands of high school students engage with the science shaping the future of health, medicine, and discovery; building the next generation of genomic thinkers. Meet Teaching the Genome Generation: https://www.jax.org/news-and-insights/2026/august/building-the-next-generation-of-genomic-thinkers

👩‍🏫 Over 300 teachers trained.
✏️ 32,000 students received genomic education.
🗺️ 17 states participating, including every state in New England.

09/29/2026

Nearly 450 experts came together in New York City last week for the inaugural JAX-NYSCF Conference on stem cell science! 🧬

The two-day event at The Rockefeller University celebrated 20 years since the discovery of induced pluripotent stem cells and marked the first conference since The Jackson Laboratory and the New York Stem Cell Foundation joined forces.

Attendees from academia, industry, government, nonprofits, and patient groups heard unpublished research on aging, rare disease, and gene editing, along with keynotes from leaders in the field and a poster session featuring nearly 100 scientists.

Read the full recap and check out the photos from the event: https://www.jax.org/news-and-insights/2026/september/inaugural-jax-nyscf-stem-cell-conference

09/25/2026

For some families, a single typo in their child’s DNA can leave them facing complex, and sometimes life-threatening, impacts of a rare disease.

Gene editing gives scientists a way to find that typo and fix it. At JAX, our researchers are using new methods of gene editing to go after the root causes of rare diseases, providing new and innovative forms of treatment.

While these new treatment options are still in the works, they are moving fast. The newly launched Center for Therapeutic Genetics aims to leverage these gene editing tools to develop precision genetic medicine and build repeatable tools for treating rare disease.