# Animal Phenotyping (AP) Core

> **NIH NIH U54** · ALBERT EINSTEIN COLLEGE OF MEDICINE · 2020 · $200,400

## Abstract

ABSTRACT 
Phenotyping animal models of disease is a critical element in our Center's goal to understand, effectively treat, 
and when possible, prevent intellectual and developmental disabilities in children. Accordingly, the mission of 
the Animal Phenotyping Core (Core E, AP) is to assist investigators seeking to discover behavioral, 
physiological, structural and metabolic phenotypes in diverse rodent models of intellectual and developmental 
disabilities. The AP Core performs studies primarily in mice and rats to identify the functional alterations 
resulting from genetic, developmental or environmental manipulations that may impair neural and behavioral 
development. These include changes in developmental milestones, sensorimotor function, cognitive function, 
affective and social behaviors, feeding and activity patterns, body composition and/or energy expenditure, 
patterns of brain activity as assessed by EEG and brain imaging in MRI/DTI (diffusion tensor imaging) and PET 
scans. The AP Core accomplishes its goals through SubCores focused on (1) metabolism, (2) behavior, (3) 
brain imaging and (4) electroencephalography. By combining existing capabilities and highly experienced 
faculty we have established an animal phenotyping facility uniquely suited to plan, perform and evaluate 
coordinated behavioral, metabolic, and functional neuroimaging and electrophysiological assessments in 
developing and adult rodents. Through close collaborative efforts with the Neural Cell Engineering and 
Imaging (NCEI) Core and the Human Clinical Phenotyping (HCP) Core, as well as the Neurogenomics (NGEN) 
Core, the consequences of defined genetic, environmental and/or physiological alterations are thoroughly 
characterized to determine their impact in the context of measures most relevant and translatable to the human 
disease phenotype. The AP Core also makes critical contributions to Aim 2 of the IDDRC Research Project 
focused on the origins of ID in 22q11.2 deletion syndrome. In addition to the wide range of expertise of its 
leadership and the resources they bring to this effort, the AP Core also emphasizes the importance of 
integration across measurement and analytical capabilities, i.e., it facilitates a combination of methodological 
approaches such as pursuit of brain imaging simultaneously with behavioral studies. We also emphasize 
phenotyping techniques that mesh well with the types of studies conducted in children with IDD. In pursuit of 
these scientific objectives, the AP Core leadership, in concert with ADM Core oversight, also carefully monitors 
IDDRC investigator Core access and user satisfaction, cost effectiveness and quality control.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9999353
- **Project number:** 5U54HD090260-06
- **Recipient organization:** ALBERT EINSTEIN COLLEGE OF MEDICINE
- **Principal Investigator:** GARY J SCHWARTZ
- **Activity code:** U54 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $200,400
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2016-09-22 → 2021-07-22

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9999353

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9999353, Animal Phenotyping (AP) Core (5U54HD090260-06). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-22 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9999353. Licensed CC0.

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