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The Cancer Center

Houston, Texas

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Cancer Center
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Genetically Engineered Mouse

(Francesco J. DeMayo, Ph.D., Director)

Dr. Francesco DeMayoGenetically Engineered Mouse is a state-of-the-art facility for the generation and management of genetically engineered mice and is primed to support the research needs of The Cancer Center. GEM will provide Cancer Center investigators with the ability to manipulate the murine genome for the generation of mouse models for the investigation of cancer biology.

GEM

  • Produces genetically engineered mice by pronuclear injection of traditional and BAC DNA constructions and by injection of blastocysts with engineered ES cells.
  • Aids investigators with the design and generation of genetically engineered mice, the Core also aids investigators with the storage of the lines of transgenic mice.
  • Stores mice by embryo cryopreservation and uses embryo cryopreservation to import, export and rederive valuable lines of mice.
  • Initiates sperm cryopreservation as a means of storing valuable stains of mice. We are currently investigation the inclusion of technologies such as sperm freeze-drying and intra cytoplasmic sperm injection as an efficient means of storing and rederiving valuable and fragile lines of mice.
  • May also expand its services to provide investigators with speed congenics, which would aid investigators with the ability to breed their mutant mice rapidly into different genetic backgrounds.
  • Will not only be heavily used by all investigators in the Basic Science Program of the Cancer center but be used by most of the investigators in the Clinical Sciences Program for preclinical testing of cancer therapies.

The scheduling and management of the core is through a Web-based informatix system, Mouse Embryo Management system or MEMS. Cancer Center investigators will be charged on a fee-for-service basis for core services. Cancer Center support of this core will have users billed only for the supplies used in the generation of their mice. The current charges are listed below. Cancer Center support will allow for a reduction of these charges to Cancer Center members.

Service Charge
Microinjection $1,000 per injection of 150 to 200 embryos
ES Cell Injection $1,500 per injection of 3 independent clones
Rederivation $250/strain
Cryopreservation $130

Please contact us through the GEM Homepage