Swine Somatic Cell Gene Editing Testing Center

PROJECT SUMMARY: OVERALL The overall purpose of this project is to provide services to the somatic cell genome editing community. Those serviced include to 1) produce, import, cryopreserve, and supply swine biomedical models for the somatic cell genome editing research community, 2) evaluate the safety and efficacy of somatic cell genome editing strategies, and 3) determine the therapeutic value, window of opportunity, and duration of therapies. It is anticipated that these services will advance basic research through testing of novel reagents as well as facilitating translation of therapeutic interventions into the clinic. The role of the Genome Editing Coordination Section will be to manage communication and logistics associated with Swine SCGE Center. These responsibilities include reporting to NIH and regulatory agencies when appropriate as well as communicating with Center Users, the Program Steering Committee, and various collaborators. The role of the Genome Editing Resource Section will be to produce, import, cryopreserve, validate, and supply unique swine models. The Resource Section will also maintain breeding colonies and produce cohorts of experimental animals, and it will be responsible for assembly and maintenance of BSL2 facilities for use by the Testing Section. The role of the Genome Editing Testing Section will be to provide novel delivery methods and reagents for the Somatic Cell Genome Editing community. The Genome Editing Testing Section will streamline the testing process while maintaining a comprehensive and rigorous comparative analysis of new genome editing tools and delivery systems. Our group is ideally suited to provide this testing due to our unique composition of individuals that are experienced with pig production, swine biomedical models, operate successful labs that routinely test cutting-edge genome editing technology, and are associated with world-renowned National Swine Resource and Research Center (NSRRC) and the sunsetting Swine Somatic Cell Genome Editing Consortium Large Animal Testing Center.