# ANIMAL PHENOTYPING CORE

> **NIH NIH P50** · ALBERT EINSTEIN COLLEGE OF MEDICINE · 2021 · $166,666

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY/ABSTRACT – ANIMAL PHENOTYPING 
Phenotyping animal models of disease is a critical element in our Center’s goal to understand, effectively treat, 
and when possible, prevent intellectual and developmental disabilities in children. Accordingly, the mission of 
the Animal Phenotyping Core (Core E, AP) is to assist investigators seeking to discover behavioral, 
physiological, structural and metabolic phenotypes in diverse rodent models of intellectual and developmental 
disabilities. The AP Core performs studies primarily in mice and rats to identify the functional alterations 
resulting from genetic, developmental or environmental manipulations that may impair neural and behavioral 
development. These include changes in developmental milestones, sensorimotor function, cognitive function, 
affective and social behaviors, feeding and activity patterns, body composition and/or energy expenditure, 
patterns of brain activity and anatomy as assessed by brain imaging in MRI/DTI (diffusion tensor imaging) and 
PET scans. The AP Core accomplishes its goals through SubCores focused on (1) behavior, (2) metabolism, 
and (3) brain imaging. By combining existing capabilities and highly experienced faculty we have established 
an animal phenotyping facility uniquely suited to plan, perform and evaluate coordinated behavioral, metabolic, 
and functional neuroimaging assessments in developing and adult rodents. Through close collaborative efforts 
with the Neural Cell Engineering and Imaging (NCEI) Core and the Human Clinical Phenotyping (HCP) Core, 
as well as the Neurogenomics (NGEN) Core, the consequences of defined genetic, environmental and/or 
physiological alterations are thoroughly characterized to determine their impact in the context of measures 
most relevant and translatable to the human disease phenotype. The AP Core also makes critical contributions 
to Aim 2 of the RFK IDDRC signature research project focused on links between mutations in KDM5C and 
IDD. In addition to the wide range of expertise of its leadership and the resources they bring to this effort, the 
AP Core also emphasizes the importance of integration across measurement and analytical capabilities, i.e., it 
facilitates a combination of methodological approaches such as pursuit of brain imaging simultaneously with 
behavioral studies. We also emphasize, when possible, phenotyping techniques that are most comparable to 
those used in children with IDD. In pursuit of these scientific objectives, the AP Core leadership, in concert 
with ADM Core oversight, also carefully monitors IDDRC investigator Core access and user satisfaction, cost 
effectiveness and quality control.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10239752
- **Project number:** 1P50HD105352-01
- **Recipient organization:** ALBERT EINSTEIN COLLEGE OF MEDICINE
- **Principal Investigator:** GARY J SCHWARTZ
- **Activity code:** P50 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $166,666
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2021-07-23 → 2026-05-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10239752

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10239752, ANIMAL PHENOTYPING CORE (1P50HD105352-01). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-22 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10239752. Licensed CC0.

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