# Behavioral Phenotyping Core

> **NIH NIH P50** · JACKSON LABORATORY · 2024 · $698,956

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY BEHAVIORAL PHENOTYPING CORE (BPC)
The Center for Systems Neurogenetics of Addiction (CSNA) brings together experts in model organism genetic
studies of addiction, who are focused on the discovery of biological mechanisms through which predisposing
behavioral trait variation (e.g., impulsivity, novelty seeking, drug sensitivity, compulsive drug seeking) influences
the self-administration of drugs. Achieving this goal requires rigorous and reproducible investigation of large,
genetically diverse mouse populations and complex behavioral phenotyping analysis. Over the past five years,
the Behavioral Phenotyping Core (BPC) has established and streamlined multiple pipelines for complex
behavioral analysis of predisposing and drug self-administration traits. Working closely with Project Leads, the
BPC has been integral in providing the behavioral phenotyping for the CSNA’s goal of defining extreme
responder strains within the Collaborative Cross inbred population and discovering novel genes and mechanisms
that modulate addiction-related behaviors in Diversity Outbred mice. With sophisticated facilities to perform
broad, in-depth behavioral phenotyping batteries, and personnel with demonstrated expertise in using such
facilities and methods, the BPC will continue to carry out multiple and diverse behavioral phenotyping assays
efficiently and accurately for the CSNA. The overall objective of the BPC is to support the CSNA and external
investigators with cost-effective, large-scale centralization and execution of behavioral phenotyping in mice. The
Specific Aims of the BPC are: 1) To provide high-throughput behavioral phenotyping capabilities for addiction-
related traits in genetically diverse mouse populations using our highly advanced, multidimensional, and
streamlined phenotyping platform; 2) To adapt and deploy new phenotyping assays to extend the
characterization of addiction-related traits; and 3) To support the dissemination of Core datasets, protocols,
resources, phenotyping capabilities and expertise. The BPC will interact closely with the other two CSNA cores,
including the Integrative Genetics and Genomics Core to perform multivariate data analysis and integrate
behavioral data with genetic information, and the Mouse Resources and Validation Core to receive validation
cohorts for behavioral testing. In addition, through the CSNA, external investigators will be provided access to
the BPC facilities, and expertise and training in behavioral experimentation. The BPC will make testing protocols
and data available to the research community through the Mouse Phenome Database, a publicly accessible
repository curated at JAX.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10879002
- **Project number:** 5P50DA039841-08
- **Recipient organization:** JACKSON LABORATORY
- **Principal Investigator:** Leona Gagnon
- **Activity code:** P50 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $698,956
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2016-08-15 → 2027-06-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10879002

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10879002, Behavioral Phenotyping Core (5P50DA039841-08). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10879002. Licensed CC0.

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