# Research Projects #1 and #2

> **NIH NIH U42** · UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA AT DAVIS · 2021 · $75,403

## Abstract

ABSTRACT: Project 1, Quantitative analytical assessment of mouse embryo quality
Embryo manipulation (e.g., cryopreservation and recovery, rederivation, genetic manipulation, etc) is central to
the MMRRC mission. Today’s gold-standard evaluation of embryo quality relies on trained technicians visually
evaluating morphology and overall appearance under light microscopy. Another mission of the MMRRC is to
conduct research that increases the value of the repository to the scientific community. Genetic engineering
technology offers the potential to modify existing lines or even generated specific new lines. The Ravata
individual zygote electroporator (RIZE) is capable of sensing the electrical properties of the embryo and
quantitatively evaluating embryo stage and health. The ability to quantitatively evaluate embryo health would
establish a standardize protocol across all centers with minimized variability between technicians and centers.
Further, the limitations in the ability to cryopreserve embryos post genetic manipulation prevent the ability of
MMRRC centers to engineer lines and cryopreserve them for rederivation at a future date. These hurdles and
roadblocks could all be overcome by using IVF-generated and frozen zygotes that are cryorecovered on the
day of electroporation and then cryopreserved again after electroporation to await cryorecovery for embryo
transfer at a later time. We have assembled a unique team of experts to advance the mission of the MMRRC
and take these novel technologies and apply them to standardizing quantitative evaluation of cryopreserved
embryos and genetically engineered embryos in the following aims. Specific Aim 1: Develop, establish, and
validate a protocol for reliable and reproducible quantitative evaluation of cryorecovered IVF-derived embryos.
The combination of our expertise in embryo manipulation in combination with the RIZE sensor enables us to
investigate this novel quantitative method for assessing embryo health pre and post -cryopreservation prior to
embryo transfer. Specific Aim 2: Apply quantitative evaluation to select IVF-derived embryos for CRISPR
genome editing for embryo transfer. We will use the RIZE sensor to quantitatively assess the viability of
embryos after CRISPR-EZ. Our expectation is that a quantitative method of evaluating embryo health will help
to provide a means to standardize embryo quality assessment across centers, increase post thaw viability, and
decrease variation between groups. Additionally, the MMRRC will be able to improve liveborn rates after
embryo cryopreservation, CRISPR electroporation, and transfer.
ABSTRACT: Project 2, Optimizing the rederivation of gut microbiota from MMRRC mice
The MMRRC plays a pivotal role in archiving mouse models in publicly accessible repositories, provides
numerous services to investigators and conducts novel research to enhance MMRRC services and improve
the quality, reproducibility and robustness of mouse models. The MMRRC recognizes the imp...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10104555
- **Project number:** 5U42OD012210-22
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA AT DAVIS
- **Principal Investigator:** KC KENT LLOYD
- **Activity code:** U42 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $75,403
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 1999-09-30 → 2025-01-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10104555

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10104555, Research Projects #1 and #2 (5U42OD012210-22). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-22 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10104555. Licensed CC0.

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