THE JACKSON LABORATORY NON PROFIT CORPORATION

Their core work

The Jackson Laboratory (JAX) is a US-based nonprofit biomedical research institute internationally recognized as the world's primary source of genetically standardized mouse models, including transgenic and knockout strains used in human disease research. Their scientific work spans rare disease genomics, functional genetics, and precision medicine, with deep expertise in both generating research-grade animal models and applying large-scale data analysis to unresolved clinical cases. In Horizon 2020 projects, JAX contributed their unique combination of model organism infrastructure and genomic analytical capabilities — capabilities that European research consortia typically cannot replicate internally. They bridge laboratory genetics and clinical application, making them a high-value specialist partner for consortia tackling genetically complex or undiagnosed diseases.

What they specialise in

How they've shifted over time

In their earlier H2020 engagement (2018), JAX focused on clinical rare disease diagnosis — working through European Reference Networks and applying combined expert and computational methods to unsolved patient cases at a population scale. By 2020, their participation shifted toward functional genetics, specifically contributing transgenic organism capabilities to study individual gene function in disease contexts. The trajectory suggests JAX is moving from broad rare disease network participation toward more targeted, model-organism-driven mechanistic research, though the small project count makes this a tentative signal rather than a firm conclusion.

JAX appears to be moving from large-consortium rare disease work toward focused mechanistic genetics studies, suggesting future collaborations may center on specific gene-disease relationships requiring standardized animal models.

How they like to work

JAX never coordinates H2020 projects — they join as a specialist participant or third-party contributor, bringing capabilities that European partners cannot easily source domestically. Their 25 unique partners across 9 countries suggest involvement in large, multinational consortia rather than tight bilateral partnerships. As a US institution in EU projects, they operate in a clearly defined expert role rather than as a project driver, which makes onboarding them as a partner straightforward and low-overhead.

JAX has connected with 25 unique consortium partners across 9 countries through just 2 projects, indicating deep participation in large, diverse international consortia. Their network is broadly European with inherent transatlantic reach given their US base in Maine.

What sets them apart

JAX is one of the very few organizations in the world that can supply standardized, genetically defined mouse models at research scale — a capability foundational to reproducible preclinical science and not replicable within most EU research institutions. Their combination of model organism infrastructure, rare disease genomics expertise, and transatlantic scientific networks makes them a highly specialized partner for consortia requiring validated genetic tools or undiagnosed disease expertise. For H2020 and Horizon Europe consortia, JAX adds technical credibility and unique infrastructure that is genuinely difficult to source from within Europe.

Highlights from their portfolio

• Solve-RD
  A large, 6-year pan-European rare disease initiative (2018–2024) coordinating across multiple European Reference Networks to diagnose previously unresolvable cases — JAX's largest and longest H2020 engagement, receiving the full EUR 446,072 in EC funding.
• OMG
  A Marie Skłodowska-Curie Individual Fellowship project targeting a specific novel gene governing kidney magnesium transport, where JAX's transgenic organism expertise served as a core technical contribution without requiring direct EC funding.