The Jackson Laboratory launches national council at 78th annual meeting

Date: August 20, 2007

Bar Harbor, Maine -- The 78th annual meeting of The Jackson Laboratory on August 18 included news of the formation of the National Council, a nationwide organization of Laboratory supporters.

Already one of the nation's largest independent biomedical research institutions, and the world's source for genetically defined laboratory mice, genetics databases and many other scientific resources, The Jackson Laboratory is now expanding its research program and other operations. Laboratory Director Rick Woychik said, "It's time for us to reach out to a national audience to build support for our growth and future success."

Members of the National Council, Dr. Woychik explained, "will include those distinguished individuals who are excited by The Jackson Laboratory's discoveries and grateful for its contributions to human health. Members will support the Laboratory through their active participation in the Council and their willingness to inspire others with the example of their service and generosity."

The National Council charter sets out three goals, Dr. Woychik said. "First, we want to educate the members of the Council, and through them the general public, about the genetics of human disease and health, and the Laboratory's contributions and accomplishments in the global biomedical community.

"Second," he continued, "we want to engage the members to share their experience and insights with the Laboratory's scientific staff, management team and trustees. And third, we want to empower the Laboratory to achieve its strategic objectives through volunteer and philanthropic support and by attracting new members, increased funding and greater involvement with the institution."

Longtime Jackson supporter and trustee William Rudolf of New York was named the first president of the National Council. According to Mr. Rudolf, local chapters will be established initially in the four areas where the greatest number of present Laboratory supporters reside: Boston, Maine, New York and Philadelphia. "The National Council's task is to spread the word nationally about the importance of the Jackson Laboratory's work for human health," he said. "We are excited about the plans we have in place, including National Council Discovery Days in Bar Harbor last week, and a gala in New York in the fall of 2008."

During the annual meeting, the Laboratory's trustees appointed a new chair, Brian Wruble of New York. Mr. Wruble, who has been associated with the Laboratory for more than 15 years, is a general partner of Odyssey Partners, L.P., and he was a founder of Odyssey Investment Partners, LLC, both private investment firms in New York. "The Jackson Laboratory is one of this nation's greatest scientific assets," Mr. Wruble declared. "It's poised to grow in influence as well as size, and I'm honored to take this post at this breakthrough moment in the Lab's history."

The board of trustees also approved several governance changes, including a restructuring of the board itself into a smaller, more efficient body. Outgoing Board Chairman Robert Alvine, who oversaw the innovations, was named a life trustee at the meeting, and the Laboratory's new visitor lobby was named the Robert Alvine Hall for Discovery and Leadership in his honor.

Commenting on the state of the organization, Dr. Woychik said, "In just the past decade, The Jackson Laboratory's staff has doubled to nearly 1,300 and its budget has tripled to $150 million, making it one of Maine's largest employers. Three major research buildings have opened on the Bar Harbor campus since 2000. The Laboratory also has a small, but growing, JAX Mice & Services operation in West Sacramento, Calif., to serve the research needs of the West Coast academic, pharmaceutical and biotechnology community."

Major accomplishments of the past year, Dr. Woychik noted, included the renewal of The Jackson Laboratory's Cancer Center Core Grant, which reaffirms the institution's status as a National Cancer Institute-designated Cancer Center and provides more than $11 million over 5 years. Dr. Woychik also pointed to major research findings in diabetes, leukemia, osteoporosis and Alzheimer's disease, and growth in the institution's nonprofit JAX Mice & Services division.

Dr. Woychik also noted that the Laboratory is recruiting new investigators, with plans to grow from 35 to 46 research groups by the end of the decade, with long-term projections to expand to 55 research groups. "These investigators will build on the Laboratory's long-standing research strengths in cancer, neurological diseases including Parkinson's, metabolic diseases such as diabetes and obesity, immunology, bioinformatics, and developmental and reproductive biology," he said.

Emeritus trustees named at the meeting were: Nathaniel R. Bowditch, Philadelphia; Joseph M. Cohen, New York; Ann M. Hirschhorn, Tucson, Ariz.; Edwin T. Johnson, Philadelphia; Julius R. Krevans, M.D., Bar Harbor; Paul S. Russell, M.D., Boston; Brian Sherwin Willoughby, Ohio; and Carlo Vittorini, Bronxville, N.Y.

Honorary trustees were also appointed: Robert P. Adelman, Amelia Island, Fla.; Alexander G. Bearn, M.D., Philadelphia; Henry G. Brooks Jr., York Harbor, Maine; Alan C. Davis of Walpole, Maine; William L. Elkins, M.D., East Fallowfield, Pa.; George J. Gillespie III, Esq., New York; Barbara S. Hugus, Ph.D., Aptos, Calif.; Ann Halle Little, Cleveland, Ohio; John C. Maxwell Jr., Richmond, Va.; David E. Place, Esq., Milton, Mass.; W. Tom Sawyer, Hulls Cove, Maine; Willys K. Silvers, Ph.D., Philadelphia; and Harold E. Varmus, M.D., New York.

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Contact(s): Joyce Peterson, joyce.peterson@jax.org

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