In an unusual collaboration, Johns Hopkins and the
nonprofit American Type Culture Collection have established
the Johns Hopkins Special Collection, an ever-expanding set
of biological materials developed at Johns Hopkins that
will now be more readily available to researchers worldwide
through ATCC.
The research materials offered through the special
collection include cell lines (such as rat prostate cancer
and lung cells from a person with cystic fibrosis), clones
of important human genes and "kits" that simplify creation
of viruses carrying genetic instructions.
"This collaboration disseminates, publicizes and
safeguards our faculty's research materials through a
highly regulated channel," said William Tew, associate
provost and assistant dean of
licensing and
technology development at Johns Hopkins. "Our
scientists can more easily share important research
materials, and ATCC strengthens their product listings.
Scientists worldwide stand to benefit from these
efforts."
Once a new potential product, such as a cell line or
key bit of DNA, is described in peer-reviewed scientific
literature and a few outside scientists have requested the
item, it will be eligible for inclusion in the special
collection. ATCC, a leading source of biologic research
materials since 1925, provides secure maintenance of the
materials, promotes their availability, protects
intellectual property rights and documents compliance with
regulations regarding the shipping of materials.
"Our expertise in all aspects of materials management
provides global access to materials developed by Johns
Hopkins researchers," said Raymond Cypess, president and
chief executive officer of ATCC. "The Johns Hopkins Special
Collection offers scientists access to important biological
reagents efficiently, promptly and safely."
Currently consisting of 68 items, the Hopkins
collection will expand as appropriate new materials are
identified. ATCC is a nonprofit bioscience organization
that stores, retrieves and distributes biological materials
to support the research efforts of scientists in
government, academia and the private sector.
"Academic researchers are required to provide
materials they create with federal funds to other
scientists, and they are happy to do so," Tew said. "But it
can become a full-time job--preparing the material in
sufficient quantities, readying it for distribution and
sending it according to federal, state and local laws, not
to mention institutional requirements on both the sending
and receiving ends. ATCC is built to do just those things
very efficiently."
For more on the Johns Hopkins Special Collection, go
to
www.atcc.org/SpecialCollection/JHU.cfm.
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