| Votes | By | Price | Discipline | Year Launched |
| Addgene | FREE | Interdisciplinary |
Addgene is a global non-profit plasmid repository headquartered in the U.S., established in 2004. It was founded to simplify and centralize the sharing of plasmids (circular DNA vectors used in molecular biology), facilitating research by allowing labs worldwide to deposit, request and receive biological tools with standardized infrastructure.
Key Services & Features
Researchers can deposit their plasmids with Addgene, which then handles storage, quality control, distribution, and record-keeping.
Users can request plasmids, viral preparations and recombinant antibodies from a large online catalog.
The platform offers educational resources: molecular biology protocols, “Plasmids 101” and “CRISPR 101” guides, blog posts and tools such as a Sequence Analyzer and Vector Database.
Addgene ensures the deposited materials are sequenced (for quality control) and tracked via barcodes from arrival to shipment.
Who does it serve?
Addgene serves academic and non-profit research labs globally—especially those in molecular biology, genetics, cell biology, genome engineering and related fields. For a researcher looking for plasmid tools, viral vectors or standard reagents, Addgene offers a streamlined way to access materials that would otherwise require direct shipping from other labs, with a burden of logistics, MTAs (Material Transfer Agreements) and propagation. The deposit service also benefits labs who wish to share their tools broadly and have them accessed under standardized terms.
Why it matters
By providing centralized infrastructure for sharing research reagents, Addgene accelerates science: it reduces duplication of effort (many labs building same plasmids), lowers barriers to access, and fosters reproducibility by distributing verified materials. For example, during the rise of CRISPR genome editing, Addgene’s role in distributing CRISPR plasmids helped boost the speed of adoption.
Considerations
Although non-profit, requesting plasmids involves modest fees (which help cover processing, QC, shipping).
Users should check shipping/import regulations for their country (e.g., customs, biosafety). Addgene provides support.
Depositing labs rely on proper annotation, sequence verification and compliance with their institutional policies.