Integral to our mission to improve human health, The Jackson Laboratory (JAX) is committed to continuing to help address the coronavirus pandemic as rapidly as possible.
We are applying our expertise in human genomics and mammalian genetics to support this evolving public health crisis globally as well as in our local communities.
After nearly two years in the COVID-19 pandemic, JAX remains committed to its role in COVID-19 surveillance and helping our communities. Since March 2020, JAX has been utilizing our Connecticut-licensed CLIA (Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments) and CAP-accredited genomic laboratory in Farmington, Connecticut, to test nearly two million patient samples for a specific RNA signature unique to SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, for health-care and community partners in both Connecticut and Maine.
As the world faced new variants of the SARS-CoV-2 virus, JAX is identifying these strains using genomic sequencing. In Connecticut, JAX has the capacity to sequenceCOVID-19 positive samples identified at the CLIA laboratory to detect SARS-CoV-2 variants. Combined with efforts by Yale and other institutions, this results in 25-30% of the state’s positive cases being sequenced, yielding important information about viral trends. In Maine, JAX conducts the majority of variant sequencing on positive COVID-19 samples for the state through the lab of Ryan Tewhey, Ph.D.
In addition to this work, JAX is also home to important research to better understand the SARS-CoV-2 virus. JAX’s Nadia Rosenthal, Ph.D., F.Med.Sci., for example, is leading a study in the different genetic backgrounds in mice that exhibit highly variable responses to SARS-CoV-2 infection, mirroring the significant differences in COVID-19 disease severity seen in humans. This work is critical to understanding why COVID-19 is affecting people so differently around the world, and the clinical genomics lab in Farmington is honored to be involved. And JAX’s Derya Unutmaz, M.D., is working with Physician-in-Chief Juan Salazar, M.D., M.P.H., and colleagues at Connecticut Children’s on an NIH-funded project to study children with COVID-19 who develop severe symptoms classified as “multisystem inflammatory syndrome (MIS-C)” to understand what causes severe chest and abdominal pains, as well as the inability of these patients to wake up or stay awake.
Through sequencing and innovative research, JAX is dedicated to continuing to advance our understanding of SARS-CoV-2 and helping navigate through the pandemic to a healthier tomorrow for all people.
Please call your doctor
JAX does not collect patient samples. Individuals seeking to be tested for COVID-19 should not come directly to The Jackson Laboratory, but instead, call their doctor’s office or local hospital for guidance on where to go for testing.
Recent News from JAX
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Press Release
December 02, 2020
JAX nominated as a healthcare hero
The Hartford Business Journal has recognized JAX among its 2020 Health Care Heroes in the Innovation category, recognizing an organization that has made a positive advancement in medical care or medical science.
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Search Magazine
May 19, 2020
Help for heroes
Coronavirus testing at The Jackson Laboratory helps officials track and prevent transmission of COVID-19. To date, JAX has processed more than one million tests.
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Tech CornerJanuary 14, 2022The challenge of Omicron: exploring the new variant
With the arrival of the Omicron COVID-19 variant, we take the time to examine how it got here and what the future holds for this and other variants. -
Research HighlightSeptember 22, 2021JAX is tracking sub-genomic SARS-CoV-2 variation
Chia-Lin Wei looked at SARS-CoV-2 RNA genomes and sub-genomic viral RNA in symptomatic and asymptomatic patients and found distinct, consistent differences between the patient groups. The findings have important implications for developing better COVID-19 risk mitigation and clinical strategies. -
Blog PostJuly 26, 2021Using wearables and clinical data to fight COVID-19
Many of us use wearable devices and health trackers, but how can this collected data be used to keep us healthy and disease free? -
Featured ArticleMay 12, 2021Perfect score for JAX testing
The Jackson Laboratory’s clinical testing lab in Farmington, Conn., has processed an astonishing 1.5 million COVID-19 tests since March 2020. That quantity is backed up by quality: The College of American Pathologists (CAP) has renewed its accreditation of the lab, following an inspection with a perfect score.
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Featured ArticleNovember 03, 2021Examining the Delta COVID-19 variant and more
What is the status of the SARS-CoV-2 variant Delta now? What other variants might emerge? And when can we finally move forward into the "new normal?" -
Research HighlightSeptember 20, 2021Variable COVID-19 pathology depends on host genetic backgrounds
Mice with different genetic backgrounds exhibit highly variable responses to SARS-CoV-2 infection, mirroring the large differences in COVID-19 disease severity seen in humans. -
Press ReleaseJune 01, 2021JAX helps brief CT legislature on COVID-19 variants
Dr. Mark Adams of JAX and Dr. Nathan Grubaugh of the Yale School of Public Health spoke to legislators about how COVID s being monitored, which variants are present to date, and what we know about how the mutations are changing the properties of the virus itself. -
Research HighlightMay 07, 2021Nature podcast: Solving long-haul COVID
JAX Scientific Director Nadia Rosenthal was featured in a Nature article and podcast about scientists' efforts to solve the mystery of long-haul COVID.