Gnotobiotic Mouse

Core Services to be Offered in Fall Phase:

Isocages Service

 Limit on number of cages to be provided per week and how many mice can be offered.

• 6 cages per request; limit of 15 total mice.

• Plan conservatively.
  • Keep in mind the priority for this phase is maintenance and basic core functions.
  • We will re-evaluate as the next phase approaches to accommodate more requests, cages, etc.

Supply of Germ Free B6 mice

 New, temporary SOP for researcher’s pick up of mice.

• The plan will be to leave GF mice in the procedure room, in a takeout box. Then researchers will take and assume responsibility of GF mice

           from there after GF personnel leave the room.

• If they will need cages of mice transferred to their facility, ULAR will need to take care of the transfer.

Overview of Services:

The Penn Gnotobiotic Mouse Facility (PGMF) provides centralized germ-free and gnotobiotic mouse services. The PGMF maintains several common strains of germ-free mice that are available upon request, and provides re-derivation services for generating customized germ-free and gnotobiotic mouse strains. In addition, the PGMF offers the Penn research community access to isolators for utilizing germ-free and gnotobiotic mice during IACUC-approved experimental procedures. To further meet the needs of investigators, the PGMF provides technical support required for various experimental procedures.

In order for our staff to begin working on your experimental request as soon as possible, we ask that all researchers do the following:

1) Submit a detailed request to iLabs. Include your mice request, if there will be a transfer, transfer location request, your transfer condition (germ free or conventional).

2) Review and agree to our quote.

3) After the previous steps have been completed in full, the core will submit transfer paperwork to ULAR. Please note: ULAR processes transfers every Tuesday in the afternoon. If you would like to receive your mice on the same week on Thursday, please complete steps 1 & 2 before end of day Tuesday. 

4) After ULAR approves the protocol transfer, the core will begin work on your request.

The core has an online mice availability able to be downloaded/viewed under the "Request Services" tab above. Mice are reserved upon a first-come first-serve basis, and the file is updated accordingly.

Germ Free core personnel only break down and set up isolators two days a week. Per diem charges will be added to your invoice from the date of your request. Please plan your experiments accordingly.

Per diem charges will be added to your invoice from the date of your request. Any cancellation of service will result in the researcher being charged the 50% price of the mice they had reserved. 

Research Resource Identifier (RRID)

Our RRID is: RRID:SCR_022384. Please cite us using this identifier when publishing your results. 

Leadership

Maayan Levy, Professor
Core Director

Christoph Thaiss, Professor
Core Director

Dmytro Kobuley, Research Specialist C
Technical Director
(215) 573-0328
penngf@pennmedicine.upenn.edu

Location and hours of operation

Links and Resources

1. PennCHOP Microbiome Program Site
2. Biomedical Research Core Facilities Site

Contacts