The early days of the COVID-19 pandemic created a ripple effect throughout the scientific community. Research organizations and academic institutions worldwide had to use data and leverage solutions like outsourcing and cryopreservation to continue to thrive despite the setbacks. For JAX, pivoting due to the impact of the pandemic was business as usual.
As part of our operational best practices, JAX has emergency response plans developed to ensure we can overcome almost any situation and are able to support our customers. From the beginning JAX continued all operations and our inventory of readily available strains (like C57BL/6J, NSG™, and BALB/c) were not impacted. We didn’t stop there though and continue to make changes and introduce new ideas.
Now with a second wave of active COVID-19 cases, use these tips to stay out ahead of the potential disruption to the discovery process.
Have a plan, act fast
Since the start of the pandemic, JAX has remained open and continues to offer a steady supply of mice and services to help keep studies on track. With decades of experience with disaster planning and recovery, we were able to quickly plan and act to help scientists minimize or, at times, eradicate the disruption caused by lock downs.
Saving science by saving miceJAX plays a special role in maintaining and distributing genetically defined mouse models to the worldwide scientific community. In response to the COVID-19 crisis, JAX is mounting an extraordinary rescue effort to help scientists facing shutdowns. Read more about how cryopreservation and recovery as well as outsources studies provided options for scientists to rethink, reprioritize and rebuild their programs.
Make it easy and keep it simple
We had to simplify the ways in which our customers obtain and work with our genetically defined mice. With new Terms of Use and a more streamlined licensing process, we did just that. Now you can generate new mouse models from a selection of common inbred strains without the need for MTAs or special permission. With new licensing terms, up-front fees are eliminated and JAX will manage some licensing with a single agreement.
Accelerating mouse-based researchJAX announces new Conditions of Use and a more streamlined licensing process Read more about how we simplified the acceleration of mouse-based research.
Focus on what is important
The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the dangers of cytokine release syndrome (CRS) in viral infection, as some patients are made severely ill from their own immune response. CRS is unpredictable and difficult to prevent, and until recently, a lack of effective research tools to explore the causes and mechanisms of CRS has made it difficult to improve understanding of why and how it occurs.
JAX researchers target cytokine release syndromeJAX researchers are developing a valuable new cytokine release syndrome research tool. Read more about how JAX has addressed this need with the development of a sensitive and reproducible preclinical research platform that can be used to screen immunotherapies for host response and potential inflammatory events as well as provide valuable insight into the efficacy of anti-inflammatory therapies in infectious diseases (like COVID-19), that can progress to CRS.
Follow your own lead
At the start of the pandemic and lock downs, JAX went to work finding solutions to support the global scientific community in the race to study the coronavirus. Through the sperm donation of a model from the University of Iowa developed for studying SARS, JAX cryo-recovered and reproduced the novel mouse model for large-scale distribution.
hACE2 transgenic mouse model for coronavirus (COVID-19) researchCommonly used wild-type mouse strains are not optimal for studying infections of the newly discovered coronavirus. Fortunately, a transgenic model at JAX is now available to fill the unmet need for an in vivo experimental platform for COVID-19 research.Read more about the first transgenic model for coronavirus (COVID-19) research.
Keep your eyes on the future
Over the last nine months, we have expanded the portfolio of COVID-19 platforms to include two models, K18-hACE2 ; FcRn-/- hFcRn (32) Tg and hACE2-KI, in addition to the original K18-hACE2 model. Together, these three models allow for the discovery and exploration of virus prevention and vaccine development, as well as both short and long-term viral effects.