The Zurich ORFeome Project is a pioneering initiative focused on developing and distributing meticulously characterized transgenic Drosophila melanogaster UAS-ORF lines. With an extensive collection of approximately 4,000 fly stocks, the project encompasses around 3,120 genes, available both as standard ORF and as 3xHA tagged variants. This groundbreaking effort was spearheaded by researchers from renowned institutions, including Konrad Basler's lab in Zurich and Jussi Taipale’s labs in Helsinki and Stockholm, with prominent contributions from experts like Mikael Björklund, Bart Deplancke, and Korneel Hens.

The project's primary goal is to create a comprehensive in vivo UAS-ORF library, addressing the challenges posed by conventional loss-of-function screening methods that often fail to reveal gene functions. The initiative emphasizes controlled gene overexpression as a potent strategy for functional discovery. Additionally, the Zurich ORFeome Project offers a specialized Drosophila injection service, enhancing accessibility to these valuable genetic resources for researchers in the field.