Executive Compensation at The Jackson Laboratory

Unless you’re in medical research or read the New Yorker, you may not have heard of The Jackson Laboratory (JAX) – an independent, non-profit 501 (c) (3) biomedical research institute with three main research centers (Bar Harbor, Maine; Sacramento, California, and Farmington, Connecticut) that have more than 60 laboratories performing research in six (6) areas: cancer, reproductive biology, immunology, metabolic, neurobiology, and neurobehavioral disorders.  In addition, JAX has an affiliated research lab organization in Shanghai.

JAX is probably best known as the largest distributor of genetically engineered lab mice in the country with about 11,000 mice that are used for research, both at JAX laboratories and 1,700 research laboratories in 50 countries.

In 2018, JAX reported total revenue of $432 million (compared to $375 million in 2017) most of which came from two sources:  genetic resources ($285 million) and government grants ($95 million).

Expenses totaled $332 million (not including $35 million in depreciation) with the largest expense being $206 million in compensation for the 2,557 employees. JAX has about $740 million in net fund assets.

The 10 most highly compensated employees were reported to be:

• $1,278,869:  Edison R Liu, President and CEO
• $  846,197:  Aurobindo Nair, EVP and President, JMCRS
• $  684,002:  S Catherine Longley, EVP and COO
• $  570,290:  Charles E Hewett, EVP
• $  509,128:  Kenneth H Fasman, SVP Research
• $  481,381:  Nadia A Rosenthal, Scientific Director
• $  466,188:  Jens Reuter, Medical Director
• $  463,780:  Gregory Leet, VP for Advancement
• $  434,638:  Jacques F Banchereau, Professor
• $  408,291:  John Ryan, General Counsel
• $  402,174:  Barbara-Jean Bormann-Kennedy, VP Sci Translation/Alliances
• $  401,983:  Charles Lee, Scientic Director JAX GM

8 of the 12 (67%) most highly compensated employees are male while 4 of the 12 (33%) are female.

JAX paid tax indemnifications or gross up payments. Specifically,  JAX grosses uo the amount added to wages for imputed insurance premiums for life, disability, and long-term care benefits for the senior management group to cover taxes. JAX also grosses up wages to cover the tax impact of gift cards and other awards or prizes to employees so that the recipients receive the full value of the gift or award.

JAX provides a supplemental non qualified retirement plan, maintaining a deferred compensation plan under Section 457 (F). The following contributions were made:

• $100,000:  President, CEO
• $ 70,000:  EVP/COO
• $  40,000:  President, JAX Mice, Clinical & Research Services

Alan Sawyer, related to and a family member of Nadia Rosenthal, received $173,661 for employment.

58 independent contractors received more than $100,000 from JAX in 2018. The 5 most highly compensated independent contractors were reported to be:

• $6,131,644:  Biotrans LLC, of Morristown, NJ for transportation
• $2,139,887:  EYP, Inc, of Albany, NY for consulting and design
• $1,244,033:  Frames Animal Transport, Inc., of Ridley Park, PA for transportation
• $1,243,201:  Ropes & Gray, of Boston, MA for legal fees
• $  664,835:  Wolf Greenfield & Sacks, of Boston, MA for legal fees

To read the IRS Form 990 (2018), click here.