NIH Blueprint for Neuroscience Research

Experimental Mouse Lines

Development of Recombinase-Expressing (“Driver”) Mouse Lines for Studying the Nervous System
The use of experimental mice is widely recognized as a critical component of biomedical research, including studies of the development and function of the nervous system. The grants in this program support the design, creation, and characterization of Cre recombinase-expressing (“driver”) C57B1/6 mouse lines, which can be used to study gene functions in distinct cell types and temporal or spatial patterns in the nervous system.

Through cooperative agreements with multiple investigators, 100 or more novel Cre-expressing mice will become available in the next several years along with characterization data detailing the recombinase expression profile for each mouse line.

Details on the specific lines generated through this effort, anticipated availability dates, and distribution information will be posted on the NIH Blueprint for Neuroscience Research website (www.neuroscienceblueprint.nih.gov/ neuroscience_resources/animal_models.htm#rodents) as they become available.

Mouse Archiving and Central Distribution
Supplemental funds have been provided to two mouse repositories supported by the National Center for Research Resources (NCRR) to archive existing mouse lines of interest to the neuroscience community and to provide central distribution services and quality control. Approximately 220 mouse lines will be deposited in the Mutant Mouse Regional Resource Centers (MMRRCs) at the University of California at Davis and the University of Missouri/Harlan.

This Blueprint funding ensures that experimental mice developed with NIH support will be made readily available in a timely fashion to the research community for further research, development, and application. This furthers the research enterprise, increases knowledge, and accelerates the development of products to benefit the public.

Resources:
Mutant Mouse Regional Resource Centers   www.mmrrc.org

NIH Policy on Sharing of Model Organisms for Biomedical Research
http://grants.nih.gov/grants/policy/model_organism/index.htm

Contact: Andrea C. Beckel-Mitchener, Ph.D. Chief, Functional Neurogenomics Program National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) mailto:amitchen@mail.nih.gov (301) 443-5288

 

The grants supporting the Development of Recombinase-Expressing (“Driver”) Mouse Lines for Studying the Nervous System are funded by the Institutes and Centers that comprise the NIH Blueprint for Neuroscience Research.

The Mutant Mouse Regional Resource Centers is a contract supported by the NCRR (www.ncrr.nih.gov) with additional funding from the other Institutes and Centers that comprise the NIH Blueprint for Neuroscience Research.