Mutant Mouse Resource and Research Center at UC Davis

ABSTRACT: Overall Section
The Mutant Mouse Resource and Research Center (MMRRC) Consortium is the nation’s primary mutant
mouse archive and distribution repository system. The MMRRC Consortium was established by the NIH to
ensure the preservation, dissemination, and development of valuable mutant mouse strains and data
generated by research scientists, and especially now plays a key role in supporting rigor and reproducibility of
experimental results using model animals. The MMRRC Consortium was constituted as a trans-national
regionally-distributed network of four Centers each hosting an archive and distribution repository, one of which
is located at UC Davis (MMRRC-UCD), and an Informatics Coordination and Service Center (ICSC), also
coincidentally located at UC Davis. In coordination with other members of the MMRRC Consortium, the
MMRRC-UCD serves the needs of the nation’s biomedical research community by ensuring access to and
optimizing utilization of transgenic, knockout and other genetically engineered mutant mice and related
biomaterials, services, and new technologies. To do so, the MMRRC-UCD imports, verifies, maintains, and
distributes mice, gene-targeted embryonic stem (ES) cells, and germplasm of genetically unique, scientifically
valuable mice that are essential for contemporary translational biomedical research. The MMRRC-UCD also
provide services and procedures to assist investigators using genetically-altered mice for research in
numerous areas including cancer, neurodegenerative, metabolic, developmental, genetic, and other diseases.
Finally, the MMRRC-UCD conducts resource-related research and develops and refines technologies, that add
scientific value to submitted mutant mouse strains, and that capitalize on the power of mouse genetics for
biomedical research. By submitting their mice to the MMRRC Consortium, and upon acceptance, assignment,
and deposition into the MMRRC-UCD (or any of the other 3 Centers), investigators fulfill their obligation under
the NIH Data and Resource Sharing Policies. In return, the MMRRC-UCD strives to preserve, protect, quality
control, and provide mouse models for study by research scientists and investigators across the nation and the
globe. Through surveys and feedback from our users, discussions with our MMRRC Consortium colleagues
and NIH Program representatives, input from our Internal Advisors, and engagement with the MMRRC
External Advisory Committee (EAC) of experts, the long-term sustainability and relevance of the MMRRC-UCD
to the biomedical research will be assured for years to come.