Genetically Modified Mouse Models

  • Jianwen Que, MD, PhD
    • Director
  • Chyuan-Sheng (Victor) Lin, PhD
    • Manager

The generation and analysis of genetically modified mice, including transgenic and knockout animals, is an essential technology for cancer research. The Genetically Modified Mouse Models Shared Resource makes these powerful technologies available to all Cancer Center members.

Services include:

  • Production of transgenic mice by pronuclear DNA microinjection and embryo transfer
  • CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing in mouse embryos
  • Production of chimeric mice by blastocyst injection of genetically modified ES cells and embryo transfer, which is part of the procedure of producing knockout or knockin mic
  • Gene targeting, which involves the electroporation of a targeting vector into pluripotent mouse embryonic stem (ES) cells and the selection of gene-targeted clones.
  • Education of investigators and advice on vector and experimental design for experiments using transgenic and knockout mice.
  • Mouse genetic resources

CRISPR/Cas9 Genome Editing Service

TMSR provides CRISPR genome editing service in B6CBAF1 or C57BL/6 backgrounds with either CRISPR RNAs or plasmids. Please contact Victor Lin email: CSL5@CUMC.COLUMBIA.EDU or call 1-212-851-4716 for details.

TMSR guarantees 10 pups or two founders (whichever comes first) for each CRISPR genome editing service request. Genome editing is not guaranteed as it is dependent on the quality of sgRNAs. TMSR suggests that 3-4 sgRNAs should be tested in vitro for each project to identify the guide(s) that doesn't work in vitro and test the guides that work in vitro in mouse embryos.

ES Cell Derivation Service

TMSR now offers mouse embryonic stem (ES) derivation service. It has become increasingly popular to derive ES cells from genetically modified mice carrying specific genetic modification and use these ES cells for research.
Mouse ES cells are routinely derived from C57BL/6 and 129 mouse strains. TMSR suggests our clients breed their mice into these two backgrounds in order to achieve higher ES cell derivation success rate.

What clients should do:

  • Clients should breed 5 female (9-13 grams body weight, about three weeks old) blastocyst donors and 5 stud males (2-3 months old). These mice should be pathogen-free (We will check the health status with ICM before we schedule an ES cell derivation service).
  • TMSR provides PMSG and hCG for superovulation of these female blastocyst donors.
  • Inject 100ul PMSG (available from TMSR) IP into each mouse at 4 p.m. on Tuesday.
  • Inject 100ul hCG (available from TMSR) IP into each mouse at 3 p.m. on Thursday. Pair each PMSG/hCG-primed female with one stud male right after hCG injection.
  • Pick out the females and place these five females in one cage Friday morning
  • Bring these five female mice to ICRC604 at 11 a.m. next Monday.

Locations and Contacts

The Genetically Modified Mouse Models Models shared resource is located at:

Irving Cancer Research Center
1130 St. Nicholas Avenue, Room 604
Tel: 212-851-4717 Fax: 212-851-4715

Contacts Chyuan-Sheng (Victor) Lin, PhD, Manager
Tel: 212-851-4716
E-mail: CSL5@columbia.edu

Frank Costantini, PhD, Director
Tel: 212-305-6814
E-mail: fdc3@columbia.edu


User Fees and Policies

The following policies are in place for the Genetically Modified Mouse Models Models shared resource relating to scheduling services and charges for use of the facility.

Service Request

Investigators who would like to request services from the facility should log in to iLab at https://cumc.corefacilities.org with their UNI and password, select Transgenic Mouse fromthe list of cores, and open the Request Services tab. Follow the instructions to initiate a request and fill in the appropriate forms. Contact the TNSR at cls5@cumc.columbia.edu if additional help is needed in making a request. Our services are provided based on the order in which the request is received.

User Fees

CRISPR (B6CBAF1) Service

Cancer Center Member Pricing (for each DNA construct or clone): $2,240.00
Non-Cancer Center Member Pricing (for each DNA construct or clone): $2,800.00
External Pricing (for each DNA construct or clone): $4,480.00

CRISPR (C57BL/6J) Service

Cancer Center Member Pricing (for each DNA construct or clone): $5,600.00
Non-Cancer Center Member Pricing (for each DNA construct or clone): $6,900.00
External Pricing (for each DNA construct or clone): $11,040.00

CRISPR Guide Service

Cancer Center Member Pricing: $624.98
Non-Cancer Center Member Pricing: $750.00
External Pricing: $1,200.00

Full Gene CRISPR Editing Service

Cancer Center Member Pricing: $15,000.00
Non-Cancer Center Member Pricing: $18,750.00
External Pricing (for each DNA construct or clone): $18,750.00

Full Gene Targeting (129B6 hybrid)

Cancer Center Member Pricing: $19,500.00
Non-Cancer Center Member Pricing: $24,000.00
External Pricing (for each DNA construct or clone): $27,600.00

Full Gene Targeting (C57BL/6)

Cancer Center Member Pricing: $21,500.00
Non-Cancer Center Member Pricing: $26,875.00
External Pricing (for each DNA construct or clone): $30,906.25

Pronuclear Injection

Cancer Center Member Pricing (for each DNA construct or clone): $2,156.00
Non-Cancer Center Member Pricing (for each DNA construct or clone): $2,695.00
External Pricing (for each DNA construct or clone): $ 4,312.00

Pronuclear Injection (C57BL/6J)

Cancer Center Member Pricing (for each DNA construct or clone): $5,818.89
Non-Cancer Center Member Pricing (for each DNA construct or clone): $7,557.00
External Pricing (for each DNA construct or clone): $12,091.20

Blastocyst Injection

Cancer Center Member Pricing (for each DNA construct or clone): $1,155.00
Non-Cancer Center Member Pricing (for each DNA construct or clone): $1,500.00
External Pricing (for each DNA construct or clone): $2,400.00

BAC Purification

Cancer Center Member Pricing (for each DNA construct or clone): $962.50
Non-Cancer Center Member Pricing (for each DNA construct or clone): $1,250.00
External Pricing (for each DNA construct or clone): $2,000.00

ES Cell Electroporation

Cancer Center Member Pricing (for each DNA construct or clone): $4,004.00
Non-Cancer Center Member Pricing (for each DNA construct or clone): $5,200.00
External Pricing (for each DNA construct or clone): $8,320.00

Expansion of ES Cells for first clone

Cancer Center Member Pricing (for each DNA construct or clone): $1,058.75
Non-Cancer Center Member Pricing (for each DNA construct or clone): $1,375.00
External Pricing (for each DNA construct or clone): $2,200.00

Additional clones for the same experiment

Cancer Center Member Pricing (for each DNA construct or clone): $96.25
Non-Cancer Center Member Pricing (for each DNA construct or clone): $125.00
External Pricing (for each DNA construct or clone): $200.00

Thawing of clones

Cancer Center Member Pricing (for each DNA construct or clone): $102.41
Non-Cancer Center Member Pricing (for each DNA construct or clone): $133
External Pricing (for each DNA construct or clone): $212.80

ES Cell Derivation (setup charge)

Cancer Center Member Pricing (for each DNA construct or clone): $1,727.11
Non-Cancer Center Member Pricing (for each DNA construct or clone): $2,243.00
External Pricing (for each DNA construct or clone): $3,588.80

ES Cell Derivation (per ES cell line)

Cancer Center Member Pricing (for each DNA construct or clone): $146.30
Non-Cancer Center Member Pricing (for each DNA construct or clone): $190.00
External Pricing (for each DNA construct or clone): $304.00

Notes On Services

  • Thawing of frozen ES clones for microinjection will incur a charge for each clone thawed at a rate of $100 (CC Members) or $125 per clone (Non-Members).
  • After the first clone of ES Cells, each additional clone for the same experiment will be $100 (CC Members) or $125 (Non-Members).
  • TMSR will expand each ES line to the well of 24-well plate and freeze two vials for each ES line. 50ul ES lysate will be provided for genotyping purpose. Setup charge will be waived if no ES line is obtained.

Other Policies

  • DNA samples and ES cell lines are injected in the order in which the signed service request forms are received. Currently, the average time from receipt of the service request to injection is approximately 2 weeks.
  • For ES Cell electroporation and expansion, success in gene targeting cannot be guaranteed due to inherent variability in the frequency of targeting different loci, and the possibility of mistakes or mutations in the targeting vector.

Online Reservations

The Biomedical Informatics Shared Resource uses the iLab Core Management System for service requests and billing. Before you can request services, you must log into iLab and be approved as a lab member.


Additional Resources