Boston Children’s Hospital and The Jackson Laboratory Launch Center for Therapeutic Genetics
New England Council members The Jackson Laboratory (JAX) and Boston Children’s Hospital (BCH) joined the Broad Institute in launching the Center for Therapeutic Genetics (CTG), a collaboration focused on developing precision genetic medicines for patients with rare and ultra-rare diseases. The center aims to make patient-tailored treatments more precise, reliable, and repeatable by sharing methods, data, and training.
An estimated 350-400 million people worldwide live with one of approximately 8,000 rare diseases, yet fewer than one in 20 has an approved treatment. The Center will apply tools, models, processes, data, and protocols developed for one treatment program to others. JAX contributes expertise in rare disease models and translational science, while BCH contributes expertise in individualized genetic therapies and the clinical implementation of genomic medicine.
“We’re at a moment in genomic medicine where, for many rare diseases, the question is no longer whether we can treat them, but whether we will build the systems to do it,” said Cat Lutz, vice president of the Rare Disease Translational Center at JAX. Timothy Yu, a physician in the Division of Genetics and Genomics at BCH, said, “We used to see precisely tailored therapies for children with genetic diseases as remarkable exceptions. CTG is built on the conviction that they don’t have to be.”
The New England Council applauds Boston Children’s Hospital and The Jackson Laboratory for their collaboration to launch the Center for Therapeutic Genetics and their continued dedication to improving treatment options for patients and families affected by rare diseases.