# Building transgenic tools in Acomys cahirinus, an emerging model for mammalian regenerative biology and healthy aging

> **NIH NIH R21** · SEATTLE CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL · 2022 · $235,625

## Abstract

Project Summary
Many of the major biological discoveries of the 20th century were made using very few model species. They
were chosen for historical tractability, rather than biological attributes relevant to critical biological questions or
relevance to pressing global health issues. However, the advent of new sequencing and genome engineering
technologies makes establishment of new genetic models feasible. History has demonstrated that the success
of model organisms is self-perpetuating: as the community of researchers grows, new methodologies and
resources are developed and shared, and the body of specific knowledge and access to powerful tools to
manipulate, observe and experiment upon these model organisms further lowers the bar to entry so that the
cycle can repeat (18). Here we propose to develop transgenic infrastructure for Acomys cahinirus an emerging
model of adult mammalian non-fibrotic regenerative healing and healthy aging. We have propose a methodical
comprehensive and feasible plan to achieve transgenesis in Acomys. We first propose the generation of
interspecies Mus musculus Acomys leveraging Acomys ES cells which we have generated and CRISPR
tagged with a fluorescent marker. We will then work to generate whole animal transgenic Acomys animals
using a variety of ex vivo and in situ methodologies. Acomys transgenesis will unlock the genetics of the
extraordinary regenerative biology of Acomys certain to yield novel therapeutic approaches to human health
and disease.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10327728
- **Project number:** 5R21OD030107-02
- **Recipient organization:** SEATTLE CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL
- **Principal Investigator:** Kathleen Joyce Millen
- **Activity code:** R21 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2022
- **Award amount:** $235,625
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2021-01-15 → 2023-12-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10327728

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10327728, Building transgenic tools in Acomys cahirinus, an emerging model for mammalian regenerative biology and healthy aging (5R21OD030107-02). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10327728. Licensed CC0.

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