The UC Davis Mouse Biology Program (MBP) is an academic resource providing scientific expertise and consultation, technological assistance, dedicated infrastructure, and educational support to the academic community in the development, application, and use of genetically altered mice for biomedical research on diseases, behavioral abnormalities, and developmental disorders.
Our mission is to serve as an innovator in mouse models and genomic services that advance human and animal health through education, research, and discovery.
For several years, our vision has been to be an essential resource for the campus community using mouse models in biomedical research. We continually seek to cultivate an innovative environment that pursues breakthrough discoveries, exciting partnerships, and strategic collaborations.
The MBP is a scientific “utility” at UC Davis, providing services essential for biomedical research operations at a top-tier university and health system working to maintain its scientific competitiveness and leadership. We are recognized internationally as a world-class center of excellence in mouse embryo manipulation, genome-wide mutagenesis, and whole-animal phenotyping and analysis. Founded in 1997, the MBP has successfully achieved significant extramural research funding from the NIH and has been instrumental in facilitating campus investigators secure funding for their research programs.
MBP operations are carried out by more than 100 scientists and technical staff in multiple interacting specialized laboratories housed in approximately 40,000 ASF of dedicated space in three facilities: The main headquarters, a dedicated high-containment barrier vivarium, and a bioinformatics center. With an interdisciplinary group of collaborating scientists and technical and customer service staff, the MBP has earned the reputation as a leading research, resource, and repository center for the highest quality genetically altered mouse models and services for the biomedical research community.
The MBP is unique from all other mouse genetics and resource programs. It provides professional, customized services related to mutant mouse biology that cannot be met by commercial providers or other academic centers offering institution-specific services to their local investigator community. The MBP conducts primary, resource-related research and collaborative, hypothesis-based research. The MBP participates in undergraduate, graduate, and professional level teaching and training and provides products, services, and procedures in genetics and genomics, reproductive biology, pathology, physiology, cryobiology, developmental biology, bioinformatics, systems biology, and comparative and translational medicine.
The MBP has contributed several innovations in mouse mutagenesis, biorepository operations, education, training, and best practices for core shared resources. By identifying new and improving extant technologies and procedures in genetically altered mouse models, the MBP has positioned itself well to assist researchers by targeting new biomedical and translational research approaches. In particular, the MBP focuses efforts on several critical areas of opportunity, including genome editing, specialized colony management, enhanced cryoarchiving and biobanking, specialized phenotyping and imaging, and modeling disease genomes and cellular networks, and in the development of new, next-generation mutant mouse models for advancing the rapidly evolving areas of genomically-based molecular medicine and precision-guided diagnostics, therapeutics, and prevention.
To learn more about the MBP and our services and to speak with one of our customer service representatives, call us at (530) 754-MOUSE or e-mail mbp@ucdavis.edu.
We fulfill our mission and vision at the MBP by acting as a team. We value cooperation, respect, honesty, service, transparency, and accountability at our core. We provide the foundation for exceptional service and innovative research utilizing high-quality mouse models. Together, we foster a supportive environment that encourages personal growth and organizational innovation. We take pride in the quality and reliability of our products and services and remain passionate about meeting the research needs of the biomedical research community.
The MBP ensures all animals under our supervision are well cared for and that we minimize stress and promote well-being. We are proud to be AAALAC accredited and follow all University of California, Davis policies and regulations and federal guidelines on the appropriate care and use of animals in research. To ensure the best care for our animals, we have a dedicated veterinarian trained in laboratory animal medicine and translational research. We have dedicated staff specialized in maintaining genetically modified rodents and minimizing stress during handling and procedures. We are advocates for the animals used in the study and believe that providing them with a low-stress environment and the highest quality of care will translate into higher-quality data for the research projects.
