The team, led by Associate Professor Johanne Jacobsen, has partnered with the Norwegian Transgenic Center (NTS) to implement this cutting-edge technique.
This new methodology improves accessibility, enabling researchers to alter and manipulate genes efficiently without the need for specialized equipment.
Transformative implications for research
Transgenic animal models are essential tools in scientific research, used to study diseases, explore gene functions, and importantly as preclinical models to assess novel therapies. The process of creating these models has traditionally been complex, time-consuming, costly, and often imprecise.
"Our new technology offers a simpler, more effective and more precise process for developing genetically modified model systems," Jacobsen explains.
By implementing a combination of adeno-associated virus (AAV) and CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing, researchers can now safely integrate targeted genetic sequences directly into a specific site within the mouse genome.
This innovation significantly enhances the usability and value of model organisms, particularly in areas such as immune response and therapeutic development.
Accelerating progress and reducing costs
One of the standout features of the new technology is its efficiency. Researchers can generate complex mouse models in just nine weeks, a significant reduction from the 12 months often required by traditional methods. More importantly, the increased accuracy and reduced error risk further enhance the reliability of research outcomes.
"This method replaces labor-intensive and imprecise techniques with highly accurate genome editing," Jacobsen says. "It's also more cost-effective, allowing research groups to tailor and develop their own model systems."
The implications of this advancement are profound, offering the potential to strengthen research findings, broaden opportunities across local and national research initiatives, and reduce the number of animals needed to complete essential studies.
“By significantly reducing risk and costs, our method democratizes the creation of tailored model systems, enabling researchers to amplify the impact of their findings and unlock new avenues of discovery,” she says.
A commitment to global research advancement
This development is the result of long-term collaborations between research groups at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in Cambridge, USA, and The Rockefeller University in New York, USA. It has now been implemented at the University of Oslo in collaboration with the Norwegian Transgenic Core Facility.
The team is optimistic about the technology's potential impact on the research community and looks forward to sharing their breakthrough more widely.
"Our aim is to improve the precision and efficiency of genetic research by providing tools that enable researchers to explore, test, and validate findings with greater accuracy. By optimizing genetic engineering methods, we help reduce the number of mice needed for experiments while maintaining the reliability of scientific outcomes" Jacobsen stated.
"We believe this technology marks a significant step forward."
Norwegian Transgenic Center
Norwegian Transgenic Center (NTS) is a core facility specializing in advanced transgene technology.
We offer expertise within the area of preimplantation mouse embryo manipulations. This includes, but is not restricted to, creating new transgenic lines, rederivations and cryopreservation.
NTS serves as a national platform for researchers who need access to advanced technologies for studying gene function in vivo.
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