# A Genetic Engineering Toolbox for Marmosets (GETMarm): Development and optimization of genome editing and assisted reproduction techniques for marmoset models

> **NIH NIH U01** · MASSACHUSETTS INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY · 2021 · $1,120,370

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY
 While mice are essential models for many areas of neuroscience, there are also many aspects of
higher brain function and dysfunction that cannot be adequately modeled in rodents. Thus, there is a need for
new genetic models that have brain structure and function closer to humans. For these reasons, non-human
primates (NHP) provide an attractive model to study higher brain function and brain disorders. A promising
emerging NHP model is the common marmoset, a small New World primate that has many advantages as a
genetic model. Although the adaptation of bacterial CRISPR/Cas systems for targeted genome engineering
and model creation has revolutionized modern biology, editing of the marmoset genome is still in its infancy.
Given the significant time and money required for marmoset genome editing, new methods to increase editing
efficiency, decrease mosaicism, and identify correctly-edited embryos prior to transfer to recipient females are
critical. Additionally, new methods for controlling the zygosity of founder animals are necessary to enable
analysis of homozygous F0 animals and to avoid homozygous editing when targeting essential genes that
cause embryonic lethality upon biallelic disruption. To these ends, we propose a research program that will
significantly enhance our ability to introduce multiple types of edits into the marmoset genome, reduce
mosaicism, control the zygosity of edits, and identify successfully edited embryos through prenatal genetic
testing. We will disseminate these technologies and models through direct resource sharing, in-person
trainings, deposition to NIH-supported Marmoset Coordination Center. Together, the proposed advances will
significantly reduce the time, effort, costs and animal numbers necessary to marmoset genetic models and will
unlock the true potential of marmosets for basic and translational neuroscience research.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10286437
- **Project number:** 1U01DA054181-01
- **Recipient organization:** MASSACHUSETTS INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY
- **Principal Investigator:** Guoping Feng
- **Activity code:** U01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $1,120,370
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2021-08-01 → 2026-05-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10286437

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10286437, A Genetic Engineering Toolbox for Marmosets (GETMarm): Development and optimization of genome editing and assisted reproduction techniques for marmoset models (1U01DA054181-01). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-25 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10286437. Licensed CC0.

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