The Mouse Modeling and Cryopreservation Core offers support to investigators desiring to study in vivo gene function. Our expertise ranges from the creation of mouse models to their long-term preservation.  

Chimeric mouse generated by injection of C57Bl/6 ES cells into albino blastocyst-stage embryo.

Enabling in vivo studies of cancer biology

Our group generates genetically engineered mice (GEM) that model human diseases. GEMs have proven to be instrumental for the study of in vivo gene function in cancer biology. We also cryopreserve valuable genetically engineered mouse models.
What is this? Chimeric mouse generated by injection of C57Bl/6 ES cells into albino blastocyst-stage embryo.
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Mouse sperm attaching to the zona pellucida of the oocyte during fertilization. Acrosomal enzymes allow the penetration of the mouse sperm head through the zona.

Expertise in the generation of genetically modified mice

We utilize cutting-edge mouse embryo micromanipulation techniques to generate novel gene-edited mouse models. In addition, our team has considerable expertise in mouse sperm and embryo cryopreservation and in the rescue of valuable lines. We generate large age matched cohorts for experiments, which can save a substantial amount of time and cage space.
What is this? Mouse sperm attaching to the zona pellucida of the oocyte during fertilization. Acrosomal enzymes allow the penetration of the mouse sperm head through the zona.
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Microinjection of CRISPR-Cas9 reagents into a fertilized oocyte to generate genetically engineered mouse models.

Transgenic mouse models using CRISPR-Cas9 technology

Our team incorporated a combination of cytoplasmic and pronuclear microinjection techniques to successfully generate complex knockout and knock-in mouse models using CRISPR-Cas9 technology.
What is this? Microinjection of CRISPR-Cas9 reagents into a fertilized oocyte to generate genetically engineered mouse models.
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Our capabilities and specializations

Generation of mouse models 

We utilize microinjection techniques to generate murine models by random integration (traditional transgenic approach), by state-of-the-art CRISPR-Cas9 technology or traditional gene targeting in embryonic stem cells.

  • State-of-the-art CRISPR-Cas9 technology to generate gene edits in mouse embryos 

  • Gene targeting in embryonic stem cells 

  • Traditional transgenic approach for the study of gene overexpression

Assisted reproduction and cryopreservation 

We have vast expertise in assisted reproduction techniques and cryopreservation of germplasm (sperm and embryos) to archive and protect valuable mouse lines. 

  • Perform in vitro fertilization (IVF)

  • Reconstitute live mice from frozen germplasm

  • Generate age-matched mouse cohorts 

  • Cryopreserve mouse sperm and pre-implantation embryos 

Mouse blastocysts collected at 3.5 days post-fertilization. They are composed of trophectoderm in the periphery and a group of excentric cells called inner cell mass that gives rise to an individual. A transparent zona pellucida surrounds each blastocyst.
Germline export

Dissemination of mouse lines using cryopreserved sperm or embryos

Shipping live mice is costly and can result in spread of disease between colonies. The Mouse Modeling and Cryopreservation Core transports cryopreserved sperm or embryos that can be used for deriving live mice using assisted reproductive techniques.
What is this? Mouse blastocysts collected at 3.5 days post-fertilization. They are composed of trophectoderm in the periphery and a group of excentric cells called inner cell mass that gives rise to an individual. A transparent zona pellucida surrounds each blastocyst.
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Four mice on a surface
Researcher Resource

NCI Mouse Repository

The NCI Mouse Repository maintains and distributes a unique collection of mouse cancer models as cryopreserved sperm and embryos.
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Safe and efficient transport

Frozen sperm as alternative to shipping live mice

We ship cryopreserved sperm transcontinentally and recover mouse lines by in vitro fertilization to successfully derive liveborn offspring.
Disease study under physiological conditions

Generation of mouse models for rare diseases

We generated a knockout mouse model of Bardet-Biedl syndrome by mutating the gene Lztfl1.