PROJECT SUMMARY MOUSE RESOURCE VALIDATION CORE (MRVC) The Mouse Resources and Validation Core (MRVC) at The Jackson Laboratory (JAX) provides centralized mouse production and model development for the Center for Systems Neurogenetics of Addiction (CSNA). Mouse resources include the Collaborative Cross (CC) and Diversity Outbred (DO) populations, in addition to the large JAX mouse repository of over 7,000 unique mouse strains. The MRVC will provide the expertise and resources for validation of candidate genes through the creation of genetically engineered mouse models and cell lines. Taking advantage of existing infrastructure in the JAX Repository, the MRVC will serve as a centralized repository for novel mouse models of addiction generated by the CSNA to support the research and mission of the CSNA. The Specific Aims of the MRVC are: 1) To support the Behavioral Phenotyping Core and the Research Projects by providing cohorts of Collaborative Cross strains, Diversity Outbred mice, and genetically engineered strains from resident JAX colonies for expanded phenotyping assays. 2) To provide capacity for in vivo validation through the production of genetically engineered strains using CRISPR/Cas9 methods for in vivo validation of putative functional variants, and for the creation of new tool strains. 3) To serve as a centralized repository for genetically engineered models created by the Center. The repository will archive and provide distribution support for fully characterized mouse models created by the Center, in fulfillment of NIH sharing obligations. In addition to the close partnership with each of the Research Projects, the MRVC will interact closely with the other two CSNA cores, including the Behavioral Phenotyping Core to conduct complex behavioral analysis directed at predisposing and drug self-administration traits, and the Integrative Genetics and Genomics Core to perform multivariate data analysis and integrate behavioral data with genetic information.