Columbia Technology Ventures

Cross-bred mouse lines for biomedical research

This technology is an array of cross-bred mouse lines that can be used to model cancer.

Unmet Need: Widely-available animal models of human disease

Laboratory mice are one of the most widely used model organisms in biomedical research due to their anatomical and physiological resemblance to humans. In order to accurately model cancer and other human diseases, mice must be bred to inherit multiple specific transgenes and mutations. This breeding process, however, requires significant input of time and resources. The ready availability of such mouse models would be time and money-saving for biomedical research labs.

The Technology: Cross-bred mouse lines for studying cancer

This technology encompasses genetically-engineered mouse models that may be used to investigate the mechanisms of tumorigenesis or other aspects of cancer pathology. The cross-bred mouse lines possess cell type-specific Cre drivers that modulate expression of a number of disease-related genes and mutations, including Brca1, Pten, Smad4, Kras, and Trp53. Additionally, the lines possess reporter genes that enable identification and tracing of mutant cell populations. As such, the mouse lines described by this technology could serve as valuable cancer models for biomedical research labs.

Applications:

  • Mouse models of cancer
  • Mouse-derived organoids
  • Drug screening and therapeutic development

Advantages:

  • Cell-type specific Cre drivers
  • Conditional activation of mutations
  • Time-saving
  • Cost-effective

Lead Inventor:

Cory Abate-Shen, Ph.D.

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