The Jackson Laboratory (JAX) and the New York Stem Cell Foundation (NYSCF) celebrated the official launch of their unified organization with a ribbon-tying ceremony at NYSCF’s Manhattan research facilities this week. The event brought together nearly 170 leading researchers, industry executives, local government officials, board members, staff, and supporters. “This is about building a new kind of research engine,” said Lon Cardon, PhD, JAX president and CEO, at the event. “When you bring together JAX’s leadership in mouse and cell biology with NYSCF’s pioneering innovation in human stem cells and automation, something truly unique begins to take shape. The tools and technologies are converging in ways that allow us to deliver on a long-held promise: the power of genetics to transform human health.” Cardon highlighted the story of Baby KJ—a child with a rare disorder who became the first patient to receive a custom gene therapy within seven months—as an example of the lifesaving translational research this collaboration aims to make routine. “I’m so happy to be here with people who care about stories like Baby KJ’s,” said Francis Collins, MD, PhD, former director of the National Institutes of Health, who spoke at the event. “That’s a perfect example of what JAX and NYSCF can catalyze—at a scale we’ve all been dreaming of. I can’t wait to see what emerges when we bring together some of the most exciting science anywhere in the world.” In October, JAX completed its acquisition of NYSCF, a globally recognized leader in stem cell research.…
