Resource Statement

The Genetically Engineered Murine Model (GEMM) Core:
Directed by Wenhao Xu, PhD, Research Professor in the Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Cancer Biology at the University of Virginia (UVa) School of Medicine (SOM), the GEMM Core provides user-oriented service to efficiently produce and preserve genetically engineered mouse strains for animal model research. The GEMM Core is supported by NCI CCSG and UVa SOM. The GEMM Core utilizes contemporary CRISPR technology, places emphasis on creating human disease models, and supports translational research.
The GEMM Core has two laboratories housed in two connected buildings (Pinn Hall and Old Medical School, aka OMS) on UVA grounds. The GEMM Core is centrally located within the UVA-Health System complex and in close proximity to research laboratories and other core facilities. Pinn Hall 2223 (600 sq ft) is the main lab for ES cell culture and molecular biology. It has tissue culture hoods, CO2 incubators, PCR gradient mater cyclers, electroporator, UV gel documentation system, centrifuges, hybridization oven, water baths, balances, gel electrophoresis apparatuses, LN storage Dewars, LN dry shipper and other small equipment for cell culture and molecular biology work. Pinn Hall 2223 also serves as a central office to meet and exchange materials with clients. It has computers, printers, file cabinets, and other office equipment.
OMS 1845 (250 sq ft) is the secondary lab for microinjection and embryology. It has microinjection workstations, a cell culture hood, CO2 incubators, dissecting scopes, a micropipette puller, a De Fonbrune microforge, controlled-rate freezer. It also has a small office area with a computer, a printer, and file cabinets. It is mainly used for entering and keeping experimental records. Next to the OMS 1845 lab, the GEMM Core has two adjacent animal rooms OMS 1844 (250 sq ft) and OMS 1843 (250 sq ft) which are inside the vivarium administered by UVA Center for Comparative Medicine, accredited by AAALAC. OMS 1844 houses multiple mouse colonies for the production of transgenic and knockout mice. OMS 1843 houses mice that are transferred from various investigators for cryopreservation, rederivation, and custom breeding.

NEPA21 type II super electroporator – 4-step polarity-reversible poring and transfer pulse electroporation suitable for in vitro, in vivo, in utero, in ovo and ex vivo applications
Primetech PMM4G piezo micro manipulator – delicate membrane perforator for cytoplasmic injection and ICSI
Eppendorf femtojet 4i electronic microinjector – a built-in compressor with programmable parameter set-up for reproducible microinjection
Leica DMIRB and DMIL inverted microscopes – microinjection and cell culture visualization
Leica MZ75 high performance stereomicroscopes – tissue dissecting and animal surgery
Leitz micromanipulators – handling objects under the inverted microscope
Sutter P-87 micropipette puller – making glass micropipettes for micromanipulations
De Fonbrune microforge – glass capillary fabricator
Bio-Cool BCIV40A Controlled-Rate Freezer – slow cooler for embryo freezing
XYClone laser system – zona drilling to assist embryo injection
BTX ECM630 Electroporator – an exponential decay wave electroporator for varying transfection applications.
Eppendorf EP Gradient Mastercycler – Featuring electronic sample protection ESP and adjustments for sample tubes and plates
UVIdoc LCD Gel Documentation System – a built-in 5.6-inch LCD camera and a compact flash slot and disk-drive
Nuaire Class II Type A/B3 biosafety cabinet – providing personnel, environmental, and product protection
HERAcell 150i air-jacketed CO2 incubators – optimizing cell growth with fast recovery characteristics and convenient touchscreen user interface
Thermo Scientific TSX ULT Freezer – featuring advanced compressor technology, Intelligent temperature control and monitoring, energy efficient and sustainable, and ergonomic design for protecting and preserving valuable biological samples
Thermo Scientific NanoDrop One Microvolume UV-Vis Spectrophotometer – featuring innovative Thermo Scientific™ Acclaro™ Sample Intelligence technology for improved measurement accuracy and contaminant identification