Hybrid Rat Diversity Program

Project Summary The ongoing goal of this program is to extend the use of rat models for clinical translation through establishing an animal resource and genomic dataset to facilitate the translation of laboratory research to clinical relevance. Specifically, the Hybrid Rat Diversity Panel (HRDP) resource provides the research community with a foundation for systems genetics and a tool for forward genetics. To achieve this goal, we propose the following four specific aims: 1) to continue to establish the 96 strain Hybrid Rat Diversity Panel comprised of 33 classic inbred strains, 30 HXB/BXH recombinant inbred strains and 33 FXLE/LEXF recombinant inbred strains through embryo rederivation and importation, 2) to characterize, maintain and distribute the HRDP, 3) to provide genomic and transcriptomic sequencing of the HRDP and 4) and provide data analysis, integration and dissemination primarily through the Rat Genome Database (RGD). This resource will be used to study mechanisms of complex disease traits through systems genetics by providing investigators with access to a renewable panel of inbred rat strains and biobanked tissues, reusable phenotypic data, reusable genomic and transcriptomic data, and the infrastructure to explore, analyze and visualize these resources through the HRDP Portal at RGD. Experimental rats and biobanked tissues from the entire HRDP panel can be used for other omic studies, including the epigenome, proteome, and metabolome. The Rat Resource & Research Center (RRRC) is partnering with the HRDP to provide the rat models to the research community. The HRDP will have broad utility to the scientific community through the genetic and phenotypic diversity represented in the 96 strain panel used to study hypertension, stroke, diabetes, cancer, arthritis, reproductive disorders, asthma, aging, alcohol preference, anxiety, exercise and addiction.