ATCC Licenses CRISPR/Cas9 Technology from the Broad Institute

ATCC, the premier global biological materials resource and standards organization, announces today that it licensed CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing technology from the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard. ATCC plans to use the gene editing technology to develop a portfolio of new products and services to support basic and translational research.

CRISPR gene editing allows for precise genetic modifications. This capability allows researchers to create more relevant and predictable in vitro disease models, which will enable a greater level of success in drug discovery, development, and screening.

“The rapid growth of CRISPR/Cas9 applications provides a perfect environment for ATCC to leverage our comprehensive portfolio of cells, microorganisms, and services to meet the unmet demands of global researchers to support their scientific discoveries. Licensing the CRISPR/Cas9 technology from the Broad Institute allows ATCC scientists to unlock the full potential of our unique portfolio for creating standards for basic and translational research,” stated Mindy Goldsborough, Ph.D., Vice President & General Manger, ATCC Cell Systems. “We will build on the high quality and standards that researchers have expected from ATCC over the past 90 years.”

The first ATCC product developed using the licensed technology is the EML4-ALK Fusion-A549 Isogenic Cell Line (ATCC CCL-185IG). This cell line was derived from the parental A549 non-small cell lung cancer cell line, which is known as a work horse for in vitro and in vivo lung cancer research. The EML4-ALK Fusion mutation is critical for drug discovery and molecular diagnostics of non-small cell lung cancer. EML4-ALK Fusion-A549 Isogenic Cell Line has been intensively validated on the genomic, transcript, and protein level, and is otherwise identical to the parental line. This isogenic cell line is more sensitive to ALK inhibitor crizotinib when compared to A549, and serves as a vital model to study cell signaling pathways in cancer as well as in drug screening. EML4-ALK Fusion-A549 Isogenic Cell Line became available in mid-January 2016.

ATCC is a premier global biological materials and information resource and standards organization and the leading developer and supplier of authenticated cell lines, microorganisms, and associated data for academia, industry, and government. With a history of scientific contributions spanning nearly a century, ATCC offers an unmatched combination of being the world’s largest and most diverse collection of biological reference materials and data, and is a mission-driven, trusted partner that supports and encourages scientific collaboration. ATCC products, services, partnerships, and people provide the global scientific community with credible, advanced, model systems to support complex research and innovations in basic science, drug discovery, translational medicine, and public health. ATCC is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization with headquarters in Manassas, Virginia, and a research and technology center of excellence in Gaithersburg, Maryland. 

Contact: Kim Testa, senior director, Corporate Communications & Public Affairs, ATCC, [email protected]