From left- Front: Jiane Feng, Zhe We, and Lucy Kennedy; back: Sisi Feng, Nathan Qi, Paula Goforth, Lauren Benson, and Winnie Jefferson.
The mouse is the best model representing human disease. - Nathan Qi, MD, PhD, Director, Animal Phenotyping Core
U-M is a member of a national consortium established by the NIDDK for in-depth phenotyping tests of live mouse models of obesity, diabetes, and comorbidities, known as the Mouse Metabolic Phenotyping Center (MMPC-Live). The consortium hosts centers at four different institutions: The University of Michigan, Yale, Vanderbilt University, and University of California Davis, with each center offering a unique set of services.
Led by Carol Elias, PhD, the MMPC-Live at the University of Michigan is built upon established expertise to provide a unique palette of standardized, high-quality, and state-of-the-art in vivo phenotyping services for researchers nationwide. It provides a comprehensive battery of in vivo assessments, including glucose homeostasis (GTT, ITT, hyperinsulinemic/euglycemic clamps with or without tracers), energy balance and comprehensive in-cage behavioral analyses (indirect calorimetry system, SABLE), ultradian hormone secretion (Culex platform for serial blood sampling from conscious and free-moving mice), and behavioral measurements (locomotor activity, anxiety, special learning and memory, and social preference). Additional in vivo services using highly specialized surgical procedures (e.g., catheter implants and stereotaxic brain surgeries), optogenetic, fiber photometry, and in vivo steady-state isotopic labeling of metabolites are also available.
The services are provided to all of the community at equal priority and equal cost. We are sharing new technology, and new ways to evaluate the metabolic data. - Carol Elias, PhD, Director, MMPC-Live
The MMPC-Live offers free consultation on study design, execution, data collection, and analyses. Staff collaborate with various centralized core facilities to provide supplementary services available on campus and can function as a single point of contact.
We have the experts on hand that can help you design your study from the ground up, providing really solid data and quality data for you to be able to make your conclusions and advance science. -Lucy Kennedy, DVM, DACLAM, Director, Animal Care and Germ Free Mouse Core
As part of their commitment to fostering diversity and increasing the accessibility of their services, the MMPC-Live VIBRANT program extends consultation and phenotyping services at reduced cost to underrepresented PIs and small laboratories or institutions that have not received significant federal funding. The program is currently offering two travel awards to eligible researchers interested in attending their upcoming Open House or the CDI Metabolism, Obesity, Nutrition and Diabetes Symposium in October. Apply soon as the deadlines are fast approaching!
Want to learn more? Visit the MMPC-Live website and be sure to view their recently released video which offers additional insight into this unique research center.