Mutant Mouse Regional Resource Centers (U42) | Apply Online

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is the Mutant Mouse Regional Resource Centers (U42) funding opportunity?

This opportunity (RFA RR 09 002) is a National Institutes of Health (NIH) program issued through the National Center for Research Resources to strengthen and extend the Mutant Mouse Regional Resource Center (MMRRC) network. It supports dedicated repository center operations so valuable genetically altered mouse strains can be acquired from donating investigators, verified and documented, preserved long-term, and distributed to qualified researchers.

What problem is the MMRRC program meant to solve?

The program is designed to reduce the burden on individual laboratories to maintain and ship specialized genetically altered mouse lines. It also aims to improve quality, reproducibility, and long-term access to these animal models by using shared standards for intake, validation, preservation, and distribution.

What types of mouse strains are included in the scope of this program?

The program focuses on genetically induced mutant mice important to biomedical research, including transgenic strains, knockout strains, and other genetically altered lines used to study disease mechanisms, gene function, and therapeutic approaches.

How is the MMRRC network structured?

The MMRRC program operates as a coordinated regional system consisting of three cooperating repositories. The centers function as a network rather than independent facilities and work under mutually agreed standard operating procedures so that strain intake, quality control, cryopreservation, and distribution standards are consistent across sites.

What is a key emphasis beyond simply collecting mouse strains?

A major emphasis is evaluating and characterizing strains so recipients have reliable information about genotype, health status, and the materials being supplied. This supports confidence and consistency for downstream research use.

What responsibilities does each funded center have for importing strains?

Each funded center is expected to take primary responsibility for importing mouse strains from investigators assigned to that repository. The center then establishes secure banks of cryopreserved materials to preserve the line and support future regeneration and distribution.

What materials are cryopreserved and banked by the centers?

Centers are expected to establish secure banks of cryopreserved materials such as sperm and embryos, and potentially related biological materials, so strains can be stored long-term and later regenerated as needed.

Why is cryopreservation a major component of this program?

Cryopreservation provides a stable and cost-effective way to maintain strains without continuous breeding. It also protects against accidental loss and helps ensure mice distributed to researchers can be produced in a controlled and well-documented manner.

What services do the centers provide, and how are they offered?

In addition to archiving and distribution, centers provide technical services on a fee-for-service basis. The listed services include cryopreservation of embryos and gametes, rederivation of living mice from cryopreserved sperm or embryos, quality control testing for mouse pathogens, and genotyping services to confirm strain identity and genetic status.

What does "rederivation" mean in the context of this opportunity?

Rederivation refers to producing living mice from cryopreserved sperm or embryos. This is described as critical when reconstituting a line for shipment or cleaning up a line.

What is the purpose of quality control testing for mouse pathogens?

Pathogen testing supports biosecurity and colony health. It contributes to ensuring that distributed animals are appropriate for controlled experiments and that repository operations maintain high health standards.

Why are genotyping services important for the MMRRC mission?

Genotyping confirms strain identity and genetic status, improving confidence that animals and materials are what they are claimed to be. This supports research integrity and reproducibility.

What funding mechanism is used for this opportunity?

Funding is offered through a U42 Cooperative Agreement mechanism, described as a multi-project cooperative agreement for animal models and biological material resources.

What does it mean that this is a cooperative agreement?

The announcement indicates that, compared with a traditional research grant, a cooperative agreement typically involves substantial programmatic involvement from NIH. NIH works alongside awardees to meet network-wide goals, maintain standards, and coordinate operations.

How much funding is available under this competition?

The announcement indicates that up to $750,000 in direct costs is available in total for this competition, contingent on the availability of funds.

How many awards did NIH anticipate making?

NIH anticipated making one new award, assuming meritorious applications were received.

Is cost sharing or matching required?

No. The opportunity states that cost sharing or matching is not required.

How is this opportunity categorized (CFDA and activity area)?

The opportunity is categorized as discretionary funding in an education/health activity area and lists CFDA number 93.389.

Who is eligible to apply?

Eligibility is broad and includes public and private institutions of higher education; nonprofits (including 501(c)(3) and certain non-501(c)(3) entities); small businesses and other for-profit organizations; and government entities such as state, county, city/township, special districts, independent school districts, and eligible federal agencies.

Are mission-focused and community-based institutions included in eligibility?

Yes. The eligibility list explicitly includes historically Black colleges and universities, Hispanic-serving institutions, Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian-serving institutions, tribally controlled colleges and universities, federally recognized tribal governments and other tribal organizations, faith-based or community-based organizations, and U.S. territories or possessions.

What are the key dates for this opportunity?

The opportunity was posted on November 25, 2008, created in the system on February 12, 2009, and had an original closing date of March 3, 2009. The closing date was later extended to March 17, 2009, and the archive date is April 17, 2009.

Where are applicants directed for complete requirements and instructions?

Applicants were directed to the full announcement on the NIH grants site for complete requirements and instructions.

What support is available for technical issues with the posting?

NIH provided webmaster contacts for access or technical issues related to the posting.

What is the central goal of the repository center supported by this program?

The central goal is to make valuable genetically altered mouse strains widely available to the biomedical research community by bringing in strains from donating investigators, verifying and documenting them, preserving them long-term, and distributing them to qualified researchers.

How does the network approach improve consistency for researchers?

Because the three repositories operate under shared standard operating procedures, processes such as strain intake, quality control, cryopreservation, and distribution are intended to be consistent across sites, supporting more uniform documentation and handling standards.