# Disease Modeling Unit

> **NIH NIH U54** · JACKSON LABORATORY · 2022 · $1,083,943

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY DISEASE MODELING UNIT
The advent of high-throughput sequencing has allowed rapid discovery of the genetic causes of disease.
However, our ability to translate these discoveries into therapeutics has not kept pace due, at least in part, to a
lack of precise, predictive animal models which still serve as a critical step toward translating potential new
treatments for use in the clinic. The mouse remains a near indispensable tool on the road to clinical
application. Genetically accurate mouse models can be designed to recapitulate most human disease
pathology and therefore allow for detailed studies and preclinical testing of novel therapeutics.
JAX has a long history of developing and studying mouse models of human disease and the institutional
commitment, scale, and expertise to build The Jackson Laboratory (JAX) Center for Precision Genetics
(JCPG). Indeed, JAX is currently funded as one of three Pilot Centers for Precision Genetics, (U54
OD020351). The next iteration of the JCPG will build on the groundwork laid by this effort that was able to
successfully move, within one grant cycle, from disease model development through completion of the
preclinical work to now move toward clinical trials. The JCPG infrastructure now proposed refines, focuses and
expands on the infrastructure and services that were essential to the successes of the previous pilot. The next
JCPG will serve our existing diverse set of clinical collaborators even better and broaden access for an even
larger portion of the biomedical community. The JCPG Disease Modeling Unit (DMU) is key to launching
development of a new disease model. Working closely first with the Bioinformatics Core to establish an
optimal genetic/genomic design the DMU will then guide each model through phenotypic characterization
working in consultation with preclinical and clinical partners (JCPG Pre/CoClinical Core) to validate and
establish the model before passing the new model to the Resource and Services Core for colony maintenance,
preservation and worldwide distribution.
The overall goal of the Disease Modeling Unit (DMU) is to refine the operation of the JCPG Cores into a single
integrated, flexible, and cohesive disease modeling pipeline that can support the growing and diverse needs of
the biomedical community. Many key components are already in place so the DMU will focus on building the
program and project management infrastructure to integrate innovative new tools and analysis platforms.
To accomplish this the DMU will: 1) build a comprehensive precision model development and characterization
pipeline that has the scale, management infrastructure, and bioinformatics tools to support external
nominations from the community, 2) leverage ongoing JCPG projects to “seed” the pipeline with “shovel-ready”
high-impact projects that will allow refinement of pipeline structure and processes and, 3) develop and execute
three Demonstration Projects to extend JCPG technical and scientific c...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10469586
- **Project number:** 5U54OD030187-03
- **Recipient organization:** JACKSON LABORATORY
- **Principal Investigator:** Stephen A Murray
- **Activity code:** U54 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2022
- **Award amount:** $1,083,943
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2020-09-01 → 2025-08-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10469586

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10469586, Disease Modeling Unit (5U54OD030187-03). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10469586. Licensed CC0.

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