Scientists at Janelia work together in multidisciplinary teams to solve challenging biological problems that are difficult to address in other research settings.

Many lab spaces at Janelia feature modular designs and natural light.

Credit: Brad Feinknopf

Occupying 689 wooded acres along the Potomac River, Janelia Farm provides a variety of services and facilities to support its diverse community of scientists and staff—inside and outside the lab.

A view of the Janelia Farm Research Campus at dusk.

Credit: Brad Feinknopf

The Janelia Farm model frees scientists of constraints commonly found in other research environments, providing access to world-class resources and a talented support staff.

Graduate scholar John Tuthill prepares a Drosophila specimen for imaging.

Credit: James Kegley

In addition to our resident scientists and fellows, we offer visiting scientists, graduate, and undergraduate candidates a range of scientific programs.

Graduate scholar Arbora Resulaj (left) and her mentor, Janelia Emeritus Fellow Dmitry Rinberg (right).

Credit: James Kegley

Janelia Farm regularly hosts scientific meetings, ranging from workshops to intensive, specialized conferences. See what's coming up and visit the archive of past events.

Janelia's large auditorium seats 250 people.

Credit: Matt Staley

Janelia provides outstanding employment opportunities, at all levels.

Credit: James Kegley

Many tools developed in Janelia Farm labs are made freely available to outside researchers, while others are taking shape through collaborations with industry, academia, and government.

A virtual arena for the study of flight in insects.

Credit: James Kegley

Janelia’s sense of community comes from a core belief that people of diverse disciplines and backgrounds can accomplish great things when working with a common purpose.

Research specialist Trevor Wardill (left) and group leader Vivek Jayaraman (right).

Credit: James Kegley

Model Organisms

Overview

Drosophila Resources

The Fly Facility provides professional care, maintenance, and organization of Janelia's fly resources. By combining a knowledgeable staff and automation, the Facility builds and maintains stocks, and imparts the power of fly genetics by providing expert advice, stocks, transgenic line production, and genetic and quarantine services to Janelia researchers.

We provide:

routine stock-keeping and maintenance of fly repository, using three stock-keeping robots
transgenic services, including outsourced injections of P element and Integrase constructs and screening of injection crosses
mandatory quarantine of all incoming stocks
assistance with mutant screens
virgin collection of commonly used stocks
setting up crosses
performance of recombination crosses and stock constructions
stock-keeping: the Fly Facility maintains approximately 22,000 stocks using three stock-keeping robots. Stocks are kept in duplicate, on a four-week cycle, at 18 degrees C, with vials being a week apart in age. Access to the stocks is restricted to Fly Facility personnel only. Stocks are normally delivered within a few hours.
fly transgenic services: the Facility outsources all transgenic work to Genetic Services, Inc (GSI) in Cambridge, Mass. As the single point of contact between Janelia and GSI, the Facility sends out the DNA, receives the transformants back, and handles all correspondence. The majority of constructs sent out use the Phi C31 integrase system. Constructs are injected and screened for transformants by GSI, and the transformants are run through a series of crosses to remove the integrase and produce homozygous lines. This pipeline feeds the Fly Light and Fly Olympiad projects as well as the individual labs. The Facility processes about 500 transformant vials every month.

General Fly Help

Fly Facility personnel are available to assist with general screening, setting up Gal4 – UAS crosses, and performing recombinations or stock constructions.

Robots

three stock-changing robots
Jane and Cornelia, Oct 2006
Pickens, May 2009
maximum capacity = 24,000 stocks
manufactured by Keller Swartwood Engineering (KSE)
originally designed for Exelixis to prevent work place injury

robots run from 7:00am – 7:00pm Monday - Friday
one robot can change about 100 stocks/hour
three robots change 2,700-3,600 stocks/day
robots send an email when there is a problem
currently maintain 22,000 stocks
special features: robots make copies of the stock without changing database; suspend checks, adding data to the database; A to B transfer, adding second copy into the databa

Team Members:
Todd Laverty
Amanda Cavallaro
Dona Fetter
Donald Hall
Karen Hibbard
Jui-Chun Kao
James McMahon
Monti Mercer
Danielle Ruiz
Grace Zheng

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Gene Targeting and Transgenics

The facility consists of a molecular lab to generate gene targeting constructs, ES cell culture rooms, transgenic procedure rooms, and a cryopreservation lab.

From construct design and generation, to ES cell targeting, aggregation, and homozygosity testing, the Gene Targeting & Transgenic Facility makes sophisticated gene targeting a turnkey service at a low cost.

Combined with the services of microinjection, rederivation, and cryopreservation, staff deliver the full package for creation, propagation, and preservation of genetically-engineered animals. The Facility will continue to be the best in production and efficiency.

Services:

Design and generate gene targeting constructs, including knockin report genes, knockin mutations, conventional/conditional knockouts, and BAC transgenics
ES cell targeting
Generation of chimeras through ES cell/embryo aggregation
DNA pronuclear microinjection, including full-service DNA purification, microinjection and housing potential transgenic pups until 3 wks old. At least 3 transgenic mice or rats are guaranteed
Establish new ES cell lines from blastocysts. The service is provided for derivation of new ES cell lines from wildtype or mutant mouse lines. At least 2 ES cell lines from one mouse line derived are guaranteed. Three vials of ES cells with passage number lower than P7 are provided for each ES cell line.
Rederivation of contaminated mouse lines or importation of mouse lines by embryo transfer
Mouse Embryo/sperm Cryopreservation
Developing new technologies

One of the Facility's missions is to develop and experiment with new technologies to support scientists' research needs.

The GTTF provides consultation related to gene targeting and transgenics. Researchers are welcome to discuss various topics such as transgenic/targeting constructs, vectors for making constructs, ES cell mediated gene targeting, conditional genome alteration, breeding strategy, genotyping analysis and transgenic colony management.

Team Members:
Caiying Guo
Suxia Bai
Shuqin Zhang
Shumei Zhao

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Vivarium

The Vivarium enables laboratory animal research by maintaining flexibility and developing unique solutions for emerging technologies and changing researcher needs. The Facility provides a reliable and consistent experimental model for high-risk, high-reward science, while maintaining excellence in animal care and ensuring the welfare of the animals.

As an AAALAC facility with international accreditation since 2008, the Vivarium uses the latest technologies in research animal housing and care. Our facilities and procedures follow guidelines outlined in the Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals, published by the National Research Council (NRC); PHS Policy on Humane Care and Use of Laboratory Animals, published by the United States Public Health Service; other applicable federal and state laws and regulations; and best practices in the industry.

Following policies advocated by both the NRC and PHS publications, Janelia maintains an Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC). The Senior Director of Scientific Services serves as the Institutional Official who is responsible for all IACUC activities. The IACUC evaluates proposed uses of animals in research, testing, or education; inspects facilities where animals are used in research; evaluates the use of animals in research at Janelia; submits reports; and receives and reviews concerns regarding the use of animals at Janelia.

To the extent possible, the Facility follows the "3R's" put forth by Russell and Burch (1959): reduction in the number of animals used; refinement of techniques to minimize pain or distress; and, when practical, replacement with non-animal techniques and models. In an environment designed to maintain biosecurity and ensure healthy animals, the Facility uses state-of-the-art equipment and procedures, including sterile microenvironment containment cages, robotic cage wash, automated drinking water distribution, and automated water treatment for aquatic species.

Services:

Animal Care: Vivarium staff provide the husbandry care for all vertebrate species and some invertebrate species used in research at Janelia. This includes providing food and water, daily health assessments, and cage changes. Species supported include mice, rats, salamanders, dragonfly larvae, and zebrafish.

Breeding: Vivarium staff manage all researcher breeding colonies and provide the animals needed for experiments. This includes setting up matings, weaning, identification, tissue sampling for genetic analysis, and recording information in an electronic database.

Technical Services: Vivarium staff provide assistance with various technical services including food and water restriction support, injections, blood sampling, and necropsies.

Animal Ordering: Vivarium staff order animals on behalf of investigators from approved vendors (Charles River Laboratories, Jackson Laboratories, MMRRC, and Taconic).

Animal Imports/Exports: Vivarium staff coordinate and manage the shipping and receiving of animals from collaborating institutions, including obtaining health reports. All animals are rederived before entering the main breeding colony rooms.

Surgical Support: Vivarium staff members perform several surgeries for researchers, including in utero electroporation, in utero viral vector injection, postnatal viral vector injection, and intracranial cannulation.

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