The Jackson Laboratory (JAX) has developed a versatile toolset of mouse models capable of supporting extensive functional components of the human immune system. These mice provide a preclinical research platform that yields sensitive, reproducible results to screen drug candidates for inflammatory responses.
To understand the future of these preclinical studies, we sat down with James Keck, Ph.D., who was recently recognized as a JAX President’s Innovation Fellow for his work creating mouse-based platforms to study the immune system, and evaluate new therapeutics for both safety and efficacy.
The development of novel treatments for systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) has been a slow process, a new therapy approved in 2011 was the first in over 50 years. The increasing understanding of SLE pathogenesis combined with burgeoning new immunomodulatory therapies, such as CAR-T, may enable the development of more SLE-specific treatments.
JDRF has announced the launch of the JDRF Center of Excellence in New England. The new center is comprised of a team of experts from institutions in New England including JAX’s Lenny Shultz, Ph.D.
More than 98% of the genome doesn’t code for proteins, but recent findings show that many non-coding sequences play important roles in health and disease.