The Cystic Fibrosis Mouse Resource Center (CFMRC) at Case Western Reserve University (CWRU) produces, characterizes and exports various Cystic Fibrosis Mouse Models for CF research. In addition to providing mice to local researchers we export CF mouse models nationally and internationally. The Core has provided mice to over 206 investigators at 104 institutions in 13 different countries over the past 5 years. The CF Mouse Models Core at CWRU is currently the largest repository of CF mouse models in the world.
Cystic Fibrosis (CF) is a genetic disorder consistently characterized by chronic lung infection, poor growth, exocrine pancreatic insufficiency, intestinal obstruction and malabsorption, reduced fertility and shortened lifespan. Understanding this systemic disorder requires the use of animal models that provide the opportunity to study complex physiologic processes in the context of a living organism. As there are a multitude of processes disrupted in CF, an animal model that can allow one to approach these processes in a tractable manner is crucial. The mouse is particularly well suited for this purpose, as the ability to manipulate its genome and environment provide immense power and versatility as a tool, and the CF mouse shows some level of involvement in nearly every process found in CF patients.
The overall goal of the CFMRC is to develop, characterize, distribute and assist in the experimental use mouse models by the CF research community for understanding the pathophysiology of the disease and for development of therapies. The Cystic Fibrosis Mouse Models Core is part of the Willard Bernbaum Cystic Fibrosis Center in the Department of Genetics and Genome Sciences at Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio. The CFMRC is supported through a resource grant by the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation and assists investigators in Cystic Fibrosis mouse related research. The Core houses over 13 unique mouse strains that can be utilized in Cystic Fibrosis research. The Core provides services that include: mouse production (from current strains and the creation of new strains), mouse strain maintenance, tissue acquisition, genotyping and treatment of mice with IACUC approved drugs to test potential therapies. In addition to these services, the Core maintains a centralized database that contains breeding history, phenotypes observed and experimental records of the various CF mouse strains.
The overall goal of the CFMRC is to develop, characterize, distribute and assist in the experimental use mouse models by the CF research community for understanding the pathophysiology of the disease and for development of therapies. The Cystic Fibrosis Mouse Models Core is part of the Willard Bernbaum Cystic Fibrosis Center in the Department of Genetics and Genome Sciences at Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio. The CFMRC is supported through a resource grant by the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation and assists investigators in Cystic Fibrosis mouse related research. The Core houses over 13 unique mouse strains that can be utilized in Cystic Fibrosis research. The Core provides services that include: mouse production (from current strains and the creation of new strains), mouse strain maintenance, tissue acquisition, genotyping and treatment of mice with IACUC approved drugs to test potential therapies. In addition to these services, the Core maintains a centralized database that contains breeding history, phenotypes observed and experimental records of the various CF mouse strains.