Mouse Strain & Pilot Projects
There are two ways to get support for work that will lead to grant apps and papers:
- The CITG BXD free mouse program
- The application is really simple and this can get you 60+ free BXD mice.
CITG support for advanced genomics that exploits MRC next-gen sequencing. This support is not intended (usually) for single product rtPCR, but instead for array, RNA-seq, epigenomic, or other sequencing projects. Typically support has maxed out at $8,000 per project.
The application is also simple: just right up a one page Research Summary with a justification for use of MRC facilities and equipment and the way in which this will help lead to papers and grant applications. Then add a draft budget. Send this information via email to Rob Williams.
You may need to consult with Bill Taylor regarding costs for assays and sequencing.
BACKGROUND: The UT Center for Integrative and Translational Genomics (CITG) was recently established as an offshoot of the UT Center for Genomics and Bioinformatics and the Tennessee Mouse Genome Consortium.
One of the first goals of the CITG is to catalyze research that exploits numerous diverse strains of mice, including the BXD strains, conventional inbred strains, and isogenic F1 hybrids. The CITG, with funds from the College of Medicine (Dean Steve Schwab), will help support studies that exploit these strains by providing researchers with mouse stock. The strains can be used to test models of gene function and to model normal variation and numerous human diseases. We intend to grant large numbers (about 60 animals per grant cycle) of these extremely well characterized lines of mice to research teams on a competitive basis with minimal hassles.
This program started accept applications on April 1, 2009. We expect applications to be approved within one month of receipt, and mice to be transferred to investigators starting within one month of approval.
This is a three-year program. These grants can be renewed every 6 months.
RATIONALE: A key idea behind the CITG is to study diseases and traits in a wide variety of strains of mice with a level of genetic variation that matches that of human populations. How does disease onset or severity differ across a set of different strains of mice? What is the genetic basis of this variation? What therapeutic interventions work in some strains but not others? This strategy is very different than most studies in which one or two mutant or knockout lines are studied in great detail. In general, the set of "normal" wildt ype strains that you will use for CITG exploratory survey phase of your research should be highly variable. But, it does not matter much whether you study the set of strains A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H or the set of strains R, S, T, U, V, X, Y, Z; just as long as both sets of eight strains are highly variable and well characterized.
About the strains of mice. All strains have been well characterized at genetic and gene expression levels. A significant amount of data on these strains is integrated and available online at GeneNetwork and the JAX Phenome Project. The BXD strains and other standard inbred strains are now being used in successful basic and translational research programs at UTHSC, St Jude Children's Research Hospital, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, UT Knoxville, and the University of Memphis. The strains are being used in cancer biology, neuroscience, infectious disease biology, pharmacology, physiology, and immunology research. This program will broaden the use of these strains and increase the amount of outstanding science at UT. We need your help to succeed.
A total of approximately 36 strains of mice will be available immediately as part of this program, including the ~26 BXD strains and an additional 10 common inbred strains. We hope to expand the variety and types of strains available over the next three years, with a goal of as many as 96 strains. It is anticipated that most strains of mice will be available after May 1 for distribution to investigators.
As part of this CITG Mouse Strain Pilot Program, we invite all researchers (tenure track and non-tenure track) with a primary appointment at UT (basic or clinical) to evaluate the use of these new and powerful strains in their own research programs and as parts of larger collaborative pilot projects, studies, and trials. Collaborations between basic and clinical scientists are particularly welcome. Postdoctoral fellows and research associates are welcome to apply provided a mentor cosigns their application.
Application Requirements
Applications are now being accepted by the CITG Mouse Strain Pilot Program.
The CITG will provide animals to researchers at UT at no cost after a simple application and approval process (see below).
The requirements for access to these mice strains are as follows:
- The lead applicant/PI or cosigner must have a primary appointment at UT.
- The lead applicant/PI or cosigner is responsible for IACUC animal protocols and/or modifications of existing protocols.
- The lead applicant/PI or cosigner is responsible for all charges associated with mice on transfer from the CITG.
- The lead applicant/PI will receive as many as 60 mice free of charge from NO LESS THAN eight (8) different strains. We recommend a minimum of 12 strains (5 animals per strain) for most pilot studies. The reason for this condition is that we hope to encourage researchers to explore the genetic basis of individual differences.
- The lead applicant/PI must submit a simple electronic application outlining the proposed project.