WASHINGTON – The National Institutes of Health has awarded $337,369 for two research projects by Jackson Laboratory, which works to identify genetic causes of human diseases using mice as models.

“Once again Jackson Lab has the opportunity to advance science and discovery to improve the health of many Americans. In this case, we hope the lab will be able to make great strides in studying skeletal disorders and eye disorders such as glaucoma,” said U.S. Sens. Olympia Snowe and Susan Collins in a joint statement announcing the funding.

The National Eye Institute awarded Jackson Laboratory a $255,619 grant to hire a skilled histologist and a research assistant to perform electroentinographic analyses and purchase additional histology equipment. This funding will help advance the “Histopathology and Electroretinography Services” project studying glaucoma and macular degeneration.

Additionally, the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases awarded Jackson Laboratory $81,750 to study genetic causes of skeletal defects. In humans, defects in skeletal development result in disorders called osteochondroysplasias, affecting more than one in 5,000 and observed in nearly 1 percent of stillbirths.