The purpose of this project is to acquire equipment to create a Transgenic Mouse Facility at Georgetown University (GU). During the past 10 years, GU has undergone dramatic expansion of its funded research in the basic Life Sciences. This has allowed undertaking of a large scale expansion of its rodent viral antigen-free Research Resources Facility (RRF) animal facility under direction of Dr. Stephen P. Schiffer, DVM. A strong need to provide a facility for production, characterization, breeding, and transfer of transgenic mice has arisen as the power of this type of experimental model has become evident. Transgenic mouse technology allows the generation of mouse strains expressing a gene(s) of interest in a specified range of cell types and in a specified window in time or development, depending upon the promoter of the gene. The technique can allow profound insights into gene regulation and gene function in a normal physiological context. A transgenic mouse facility does not currently exist at Georgetown University. Our proposed facility will produce transgenic mouse strains at competitive costs for University investigators in relevant basic science departments and interdisciplinary programs (Neuroscience, Cell Biology, Microbiology and Immunology, Physiology and Biophysics, Pharmacology, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Pathology and Biology). The facility will become a critical feature of graduate (and undergraduate training) programs in each of the above mentioned fields of study, and will train new faculty as well. The fundamental research projects to be supported by the facility include studies on gene function and regulation in the biological processes of cell division, cell death, and cell differentiation. Specifically, transgenic mouse research projects from four interdisciplinary focus groups of faculty are identified in the areas of Immunology, Neurobiology, Developmental Biology and Reproductive Biology. In addition, we have created a unique Biotechno logy exchange agreement with the Jackson Laboratory (Bar Harbor, ME) whereby the Jackson Laboratory will serve as a respository and distribution for new strains of mice generated by our facility and our facility will receive strains of interest and technical advice from the Jackson Laboratory. Leadership of the facility include Robert B. Dickson, PhD, Professor of Cell Biology and Pharmacology; Stephen P. Schiffer, DVM, Director, RRF Animal Facility; and Glenn T. Merlino, Adjunct Associate Professor of Pathology. The facility will be overseen by a committee of basic scientists from Georgetown University with a research interest in Transgenic Mouse Technology and its applications.
