Jackson Lab plans to renovate an existing 3,500-square-foot facility on the Bar Harbor campus, expand capacity and meet growing market demand for advanced research mice.
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Jackson Laboratory has a $5.4 million plan underway to modernize and increase production of “humanized” mouse models for immunology, oncology and infectious diseases.
The biomedical research institution, which is based in Bar Harbor, received a $2 million grant toward the project cost through Maine Technology Institute’s Maine Technology Asset Fund program.
The goal is to create “a state-of-the-art humanized mouse model production facility,” according to a news release.
The balance of the cost will come from institutional capital improvement funds, a spokesperson told Mainebiz.
Engineered mice
A humanized mouse refers to a mouse that carries some aspect of human biology, which makes them models for studying human disease. The mice are often engrafted with human tissue, such as immune cells, meaning that the mice have “more human” immune systems. That allows mice to match human biology, allowing researchers to better understand human disease and more accurately test potential new treatments.
The combination of engineered strains with human-relevant biological systems is expected to help researchers evaluate therapies in models that better reflect human disease.
Expanded capacity
The plan is to renovate an existing 3,500-square-foot mouse production facility on the Bar Harbor campus. The infrastructure will help the lab expand capacity and meet growing market demand for advanced research mice critical to biomedical research and pre-clinical studies. The facility will be designed to scale the development and distribution of the advanced mice, with a goal to provide broader and more rapid access for researchers.
The facility will also incorporate advanced cell culture technologies to support the development of the next-generation mouse models.
The project “will exceed standards for biosafety,” said the spokesperson, who declined to provide details.
Upon completion of the final award contract with MTI, design could start within six months and construction within 12 months. The project depends on relocating existing operations to other campus facilities. Completion is targeted for December 2027.
The project is expected to create eight positions to operate the mouse production and distribution facility. That includes six animal care technologists and two animal care supervisors. The lab employs 1,259 people at its Bar Harbor campus.
