# Animal Modeling Core

> **NIH NIH P30** · UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN AT ANN ARBOR · 2021 · $275,996

## Abstract

There is an unmet need for a centralized Core providing expertise and training specifically focused on mouse
models relevant to cutaneous biology and disease. Capitalizing on over 18 years of intensive mouse modeling
expertise by the Core Director and Associate Director, the Animal Modeling Core (AMC) of the University of
Michigan Skin Biology and Diseases Resource-based Center (UM-SBDRC) will serve as a shared resource to
facilitate the design, development, and characterization of mouse models aimed at gaining deeper insight into
skin biology and disease. The Core will also provide technical expertise and guidance needed to properly
perform a variety of in vivo procedures and assays. Conventional and inducible genetically-engineered mouse
models (GEMMs) provide powerful tools for functional analyses and preclinical studies, but it would be costly
and inefficient for all investigators to independently acquire the knowledge and expertise needed to
successfully design and carry out these studies. Thus, the overarching, long-term goal of this Core is to
facilitate the development and use of state-of-the-art mouse models and provide relevant consultation, training,
and troubleshooting for Center members interested in pursuing skin-related studies in mice. We will provide
hands-on assistance with the following services and training. 1) Consultation on the design and development
of project-specific GEMMs, including conventional, Cre-inducible, doxycycline-inducible, and conditional
mutant mice. 2) Guidance for producing and validating mouse models, including transgene construction,
verification, genotyping, and GEMM production; screening; breeding, strain establishment, and validation. 3) In
vivo manipulation, including transgene induction protocols, UV irradiation, induction of skin inflammation by
exogenous agents, bleomycin-induced fibrosis, and orthotopic xenografts and allografts. 4) GEMM
phenotyping, including proper tissue collection and processing; morphologic, biochemical, and molecular
characterization; cross-species validation; and establishment of GEMM-derived primary cultures and
immortalized cell lines, taking into consideration key experimental variables including body site, gender, and
age. Work performed with the assistance of this Core will 1) greatly facilitate the in vivo, functional validation of
key inflammatory mediators and interacting pathways identified by Center Members through work done in the
Functional Analytics Core; 2) ensure consistent and reproducible phenotype characterization across the range
of mouse models used by Center Members; 3) yield novel mouse models of human skin disease that will be of
value to the skin research community; 4) promote the development of new mouse modeling technology that
will be of use to multiple disciplines; and 5) provide powerful GEMMs and tissues for detailed multi-omics
analysis in the Functional Analytics Core.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10188436
- **Project number:** 5P30AR075043-03
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN AT ANN ARBOR
- **Principal Investigator:** ANDRZEJ A. DLUGOSZ
- **Activity code:** P30 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $275,996
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2019-06-01 → 2024-05-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10188436

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10188436, Animal Modeling Core (5P30AR075043-03). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10188436. Licensed CC0.

---

*[NIH grants dataset](/datasets/nih-grants) · CC0 1.0*