Comparative Medicine Grants and Publications

GEMM Grant Descriptions

Short Grant Description

The Comparative Medicine (CM) shared resource supports preclinical research through in vivo study support services. The genetically engineered mouse modeling (GEMM) services team supports investigators through resources and expertise in the design, production and maintenance of transgenic and gene-edited mice. The ability of the GEMM team to manipulate the mouse genome through CRISPR and traditional transgenic technology is invaluable in studying the functions of genes relevant to cancer and other human diseases. The team provides state-of-art mouse genetic manipulations and other critical services for mouse colony production and preservation such as in vitro fertilization, mouse and embryo cryopreservation, speed expansion of mouse colonies and mouse strain rederivation services.

Long Grant Description

The Comparative Medicine (CM) shared resource supports preclinical research through in vivo study support services. Comparative Medicine provides state-of-the-art housing, veterinary care and oversight and laboratory space within an AAALAC-accredited animal facility. The CM shared resource is partially supported by a National Cancer Institute Cancer Center Support Grant to the Fred Hutch/University of Washington Cancer Consortium.

The GEMM team supports investigators through resources and expertise in the design, production and maintenance of transgenic and gene-edited mice. The staff works with investigators to adapt and develop novel technology to create genetically engineered mouse models of varying complexity. The ability of the GEMM team to manipulate the mouse genome is invaluable for studying the functions of genes relevant to cancer and other human diseases.

The GEMM team offers a wide range of services requisite for transgenic mouse production and mouse colony management, and it is equipped with all essential expertise, instrumentation and procedure spaces. The basic molecular biology lab is equipped with all basic instruments essential for the operation of the CRISPR/Cas9 tool (E-Gel Imager, nanophotometer, agarose gel electrophoresis system, -80oC and -20oC freezers, 37oC incubator, and water bath, thermal cyclers, etc.). This setup permits the GEMM team to provide screening assays and genotyping of complex founder animals, vector creation, quality control and quick adoption of novel techniques. A dedicated procedure space within the animal facility (specific pathogen-free space) is equipped with an Eppendorf microinjector and manipulator, a Leica S9D stereomicroscope (with 10x, 20x and 40x objectives), a Gene Pulser Xcell Total System (100/240 V, 50/60 Hz) and an electroporator.

The GEMM team offers the following services:

• CRISPR-mediated gene targeting in mice by pronuclear or cytoplasmic microinjections. The GEMM team can develop genetically engineered mouse models to provide the in vivo tools to answer complex research questions. The team uses leading-edge methods for the creation of unique mouse models, including new genome engineering technologies such as CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing.
• Mouse sperm cryopreservation: The GEMM team offers sperm cryopreservation services for effective mouse colony management. The core collects sperm and cryopreserves it in 21 cryo-straws in a cryopreservation medium within the tightly controlled freezer facility at Fred Hutch.
• Mouse strain cryo-recovery services (in vitro fertilization or direct embryo implantation): The GEMM team can cryo-recover frozen mouse strains. Cryopreserved sperm are used to fertilize oocytes for zygote production through IVF, followed by transplantation into a surrogate mother. Similarly, the team can resuscitate cryopreserved embryos by transferring them into a surrogate mother.
• Mouse strain rederivation services: The adventitious pathogen status of a transgenic mouse line may impact the mice’s breeding efficiency, health and life span and experimental variables such as immune response or microbiota. Adventitious agents are critical research confounders. The GEMM team performs mouse strain rederivation to eliminate adventitious agents when they are identified during quarantine or routine murine health surveillance or as requested by researchers.
• Speed expansion service: The GEMM team can help with the rapid expansion of an age-matched mouse colony via technically challenging IVF and embryo-transfer surgeries.