Resource Section

Baylor College Of Medicine, Houston TX

Investigators

Abstract

3. ABSTRACT – RESOURCES SECTION Poor reproducibility of published research employing model organisms and lack of transparency of study designs have become areas of concern for the scientific community. These issues can profoundly affect the interpretation of preclinical studies, including those assessing the safety and efficacy of somatic cell genome editing technologies and delivery approaches. At the heart of reproducibility issues are the model organism themselves. Stability and identity of the genetic background, genome integrity, and specifics of genetically engineered alleles often vary between studies due to use of similar but independently developed models or differences in the quality of model maintenance. Moreover, variabilities in the quality of study designs used by different groups can significantly impact study conclusions. Centralization and standardization of high-quality maintenance pipelines for mouse models can help to addresses issues with study reproducibility and transparency, as exemplified by the successes of the BCM component of the Knockout Mouse Phenotyping Project, BCM Center for Precision Medicine Models, and the current BCM-Rice Small Animal Testing Center of the Somatic Cell Genome Editing program. The Resource Section of the BCM/Rice Genome Editing Testing Center (GETC) will leverage the approaches, infrastructures, and expertise of our existing mouse modeling programs to (1) establish a management plan that ensures well-organized Section operations, high-quality animal resources, and timely project progression, (2) characterize and maintain high-quality mouse resources for testing of delivery reagents and genome editing tools, (3) preserve, import, and distribute Center mouse resources, (4) evaluate and maintain adherence to regulatory guidelines and biohazard safety protocols, and (5) implement a disaster plan to minimize loss and recovery time of resources in the event of a catastrophic disaster.