INFRAFRONTIER News

Harmonising Mouse Anatomy Terminology: a Common Language?

The mouse remains the principal model for human disease, but anatomical terminology is inconsistent, outdated, or human-centric. Expert working groups are proposed to review literature and produce consensus-based terms aligned with the Nomina Anatomica Veterinaria to improve reliability and data integration

INFRAFRONTIER at the Open Day of the University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna

Vetmeduni Vienna welcomed thousands of visitors at its Open Day. Our partners, led by Auke Boersma, brilliantly showcased INFRAFRONTIER’s mission and the importance of animal research. We thank them for their outstanding role as ambassadors on this special day.

Role of WSB2 in a New Type of Neurodevelopmental Syndrome

Our partners at the German Mouse Clinic, together with clinicians and scientists, reveal that homozygous loss-of-function variants in WSB2 cause a novel neurodevelopmental disorder in humans, supported by Wsb2-mutant mice. These findings highlight the crucial role of ubiquitination in brain development.

Rising Attendance at the CCP Phenogenomics Conference

Our Czech partners at CCP, Prague, hosted the 7th Phenogenomics Conference, gathering over 250 experts, researchers, and clinicians. Sessions on gene therapy, rare disease modelling, and mouse models showcased advances in genetics and phenotyping, strengthening networks for future collaborative projects.

Spain Joins INFRAFRONTIER-ERIC as an Observer [interview]

After nearly two decades of active collaboration, Spain officially joins INFRAFRONTIER ERIC as an Observer. In this interview, Lluis Montoliu (CNB-CSIC) and Johannes Beckers (Scientific Director of INFRAFRONTIER) share their reflections on what this long-awaited milestone means for Spain, for the infrastructure, and for the future of biomedical research in Europe.

Julia Fernández from CNB-CSIC Highlights INFRAFRONTIER’s Contribution to Human Disease Research at ISCIII

Julia Fernández from CNB-CSIC showed INFRAFRONTIER’s contribution to the research community at the ISCIII event! With 9,000 mouse strains, valuable services, and over 2,500 citations, INFRAFRONTIER is advancing disease research, promoting animal welfare, and driving the 3Rs for responsible science.

INFRAFRONTIER at FELASA 2025: Advancing 3Rs and Animal Welfare

INFRAFRONTIER hosted a dedicated session at FELASA 2025 in Athens, sharing key insights on 3Rs and animal welfare in disease modelling. A great turnout, strong collaboration, and inspiring discussions at a truly worthwhile congress.

Thank You, Martin – Welcome, Johannes: INFRAFRONTIER Opens a New Chapter

A new chapter begins at INFRAFRONTIER: Johannes Beckers is appointed as Scientific Director, taking over from Martin Hrabě de Angelis after more than 20 years of leadership. A big thank you to Martin and a warm welcome to Johannes!

New Framework Aims to Eliminate Sex Bias in Preclinical Research

Sara Wells (Mary Lyon Centre at MRC Harwell) co-authors a new publication presenting the Sex Inclusive Research Framework (SIRF), a practical tool using a traffic light system to ensure equitable inclusion of male and female samples in preclinical studies.

EMMA Steps Up: Making Mutant Mouse Strains Easier to Track with RRIDs

Our EMMA repository now includes Research Resource Identifiers (RRIDs) for each mouse strain, enhancing traceability, reproducibility, and scientific rigor. This key update supports global research standards and reinforces INFRAFRONTIER’s mission in advancing trustworthy biomedical discovery.

Accelerated Aging and Telomere Shortening Induced by Ten1 Deficiency in Mice

Colleagues from the German Mouse Clinic (Helmholtz Munich) present a CRISPR-generated mouse model of Ten1 deficiency, revealing telomere shortening and features of dyskeratosis congenita. The study sheds light on TEN1’s role in telomere shortening aging and its association with accelerated aging.

PRIM-TECH3R Kick-off: Shaping the Future of the 3Rs in Preclinical Research

Just one month after its official start, PRIM-TECH3R kicked off with energy and one clear direction. Over the next four years, this EU-funded project will drive innovation in preclinical in vitro models, advancing the 3Rs and reshaping biomedical research across Europe.

INFRAFRONTIER Conference 2025: A Milestone in Our Commitment to Rare Disease Research

The INFRAFRONTIER Conference 2025 gathered over 100 participants and top experts in rare diseases for two inspiring days of science, discussion, and networking in Munich. Cutting-edge models, translational research, and European collaboration shaped a memorable event. See you in 2026!

Streamlining Model Organisms Facilities Operation: The Benefits of a Unified Management Structure

Colleagues from GIMM have published a work elucidating and showcasing the concept of a unified Core Facility for laboratory animals within a research institute specialised in basic biology and biomedical research.

A History of Cryopreservation at MRC Harwell [watch the video!]

Martin Fray retires after a remarkable career at MRC Harwell. Don’t miss his interview where he looks back on the origins and evolution of the MRC mouse archive, revealing insights, milestones, and some great stories. We will miss you, Martin!

INFRAFRONTIER at the International Mammalian Genome Conference 2025 in Glasgow

In April, INFRAFRONTIER joined IMGC 2025 in Glasgow with a booth and strong presence of partners in the scientific programme, including a keynote by Martin Hrabe de Angelis, a workshop by Sara Wells, and talks by key partners. A great week of science!

A Communication Pipeline for In Vivo Imaging Core Facilities

A new paper by Vasileios Ntafis proposes a structured communication pipeline for in vivo imaging core facilities, aiming to improve coordination, reduce animal use, and support high-quality, non-invasive research through standardised procedures in full-service imaging environments.

New Mouse Model for Inducible hACE2 Expression Enables to Dissect SARS-CoV-2 Pathology Beyond the Respiratory System

Colleagues at CCP present a conditional mouse model that allows inducible human ACE2 expression across multiple organs. This model helps uncover how SARS-CoV-2 affects systems beyond the lungs, including neurological involvement and immune responses. It also provides a valuable tool for preclinical testing of therapies and vaccines.

ICS Researchers Publish New Advances in CRISPR Genome Editing Efficiency

Our partners at ICS have published a new review exploring how recombinant adeno-associated viruses (rAAV) enhance the efficiency of CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing. The publication highlights recent advances, challenges, and optimisations for generating precise genetic modifications in animal models.

A Mary Lyon Centre GEMM Mouse Model Supports Male Fertility Research

As part of the Mary Lyon Centre’s second GEMM call in 2017, a custom mouse line was generated to support research into the role of a poison exon, the ultra-conserved exon in the splicing regulator gene Tra2b, essential for male fertility.

IMPC Impact on Preclinical Mouse Models

A recent article in Mammalian Genome highlights how the International Mouse Phenotyping Consortium accelerates preclinical research and biomedical innovation, providing knockout models and invaluable data to uncover gene functions, identify biomarkers, and advance disease diagnosis, treatment, and prevention.

Strengthening Global Collaboration at the Health Research Infrastructure Ecosystems Meeting

INFRAFRONTIER proudly joined leading Australian and European health research infrastructures at ICRI 2024’s side event, uniting forces to advance health research. Together, we are strengthening collaboration, data sharing, and innovation to tackle global challenges and unlock new scientific opportunities.

A Closer Look at the Laboratory Animal Genetic Reporting (LAG-R) Guidelines

Our partners Lydia Teboul and Guillaume Pavlovic are the corresponding authors of the Laboratory Animal Genetic Reporting (LAG-R) framework. Don’t miss their Lab Animal interview, where they discuss its benefits, motivations, and how to accelerate adoption of the recommendations that it presents.

Czech Centre for Phenogenomics Obtains a GLP Certificate

Czech Centre for Phenogenomics (CCP) has obtained a Good Laboratory Practice (GLP) certificate that authorises CCP to perform and provide non-clinical drug safety studies. Studies conducted under the GLP regime are recognised in the registration procedures of medicinal products, and without safety studies, clinical trials of new potential drugs cannot be started.

Revolutionising Research: Cutting-Edge Photoacoustic Imaging

Our colleagues at Czech Centre for Phenogenomics have expanded their capabilities with the VisualSonics Vevo F2 LAZR-X, offering advanced multimodal imaging for oncology, cardiovascular studies, neurobiology, and more. This state-of-the-art photoacoustic ultrasound system will enable cross-functional research with the highest resolution on the market.

The INFRAPLUS Project Successfully Launched in Munich

The INFRAPLUS’s kick-off took place over two productive days in Munich. With lively discussions and concrete plans, we have set the stage for INFRAFRONTIER’s expansion in state-of-the-art in vivo models, innovative in vitro models, preclinical services, and data analysis. All set to get started!

Synergy Between Mouse and Human Brain Research in the Digital Era

Our colleagues from HMGU contributed to a groundbreaking pilot study integrating digital brain tools and genetic data. This works opens new paths to understanding rare diseases and neurodevelopmental disorders, paving the way for innovative therapies and insights into brain function.

OBSERVE: Guidelines for the Refinement of Rodent Cancer Models

Our partners at NKI and colleagues have developed the OBSERVE guidelines to improve the preparation and reporting of in vivo cancer studies in rodents. The guidelines provide detailed instructions on optimal preparation, implantation methods, and monitoring criteria. They also address expected adverse effects and offer tools to minimise distress and pain in animal models, promoting ethical practices and animal welfare in cancer research.

Two Networking and Outreach Events Define the Start of Summer

July has brought two major networking opportunities to INFRAFRONTIER: the 48th FEBS Congress in Milan, where we joined EURO-BioImaging, EU-OPENSCREEN, and Instruct, and the RExPO 4EU event in Munich focused on Drug Repurposing. Both events were enriching experiences that promise to foster new collaborations and enhance our outreach.

Improving Laboratory Animal Genetic Reporting: LAG-R Guidelines

Our partners at MRC Harwell and ICS have published the Laboratory Animal Genetic Reporting framework to improve the genetic reporting and validation of laboratory animal models, thereby reinforcing the reliability of animal experiments. This publication is a collaboration with the INFRAFRONTIER Consortium and other colleagues.

Use of the IMPC Resource to Inform Psychiatric Research

Partners from the German Mouse Clinic (Helmholtz Munich), in collaboration with INFRAFRONTIER and IMPC colleagues, reveal a convergence of schizophrenia risk genes with mouse prepulse inhibition genes. Using hierarchical clustering and weighted gene co-expression network analysis, the study highlights neuronal genes involved in synaptic function and neurotransmission.

A Role for Circular RNA in Behaviour

A new study by our partners at the German Mouse Clinic (at Helmholtz Munich) and colleagues from IBioBA-CONICET demonstrates that circular RNAs, specifically circTulp4, play a significant role in neural processes. The research used a loss-of-function animal model, showing that circTulp4 affects neurotransmission and brain behaviour.

Loss-of-Function Mutations of the TIE1 Receptor Tyrosine Kinase Cause Late-Onset Primary Lymphedema

Our partners from Biocenter Oulu have co-authored a study revealing that two TIE1 loss-of-function variants are linked to primary lymphedema, a condition causing tissue swelling and fibrosis, and are lethal in homozygous mice.

INFRAFRONTIER Receives the ERIC Plate during a Presidency Conference in Brussels

INFRAFRONTIER received the ERIC plate in a ceremony led by Anna Panagopoulou, the Director at DG Research & Innovation. After a powerful speech, she gave the floor to Martin Hrabe de Angelis, who explained the work and impact of INFRAFRONTIER. Also LOFAR ERIC was honoured. With these new additions, Europe now counts with 28 ERICs. Watch the ceremony here!

Assessment of Quality of Life and Wellbeing in Mouse Preclinical Research – A Scoping Review

The latest collaboration of INFRAFRONTIER with the German Mouse Clinic is available on line. This publication shows how standardising quality of life and wellbeing assessment protocols in mouse research can improve the relevance of these studies to human clinical trials. Supported by the CORBEL project.

HMGU Hosted the Second Live CHARLIE Consortium Meeting

The second ‘live’ Charlie Consortium Meeting brought together global experts on rare diseases linked to lysine metabolism disorders at Helmholtz Munich, co-organised by the German Mouse Clinic and INFRAFRONTIER.

INFRAFRONTIER Gets on #BOARD24!

INFRAFRONTIER joint the Be Open about Animal Research Day (#BOARD24) celebration on 3 May. We are proud to stand together with over 1000 institutions in promoting transparency in animal research, and emphasise our commitment to animal welfare through three dedicated cards highlighting our 3R practices.

An Excellent Collaboration Experience: INFRAFRONTIER and IMPC Journeyed Together to TAGC

INFRAFRONTIER and IMPC joined forces at The Allied Genetics Conference in Washington DC to promote their resources and portfolio in front of several model communities. Apart from being an excellent opportunity to establish connections with new researchers, we were fortunate to coincide with partners and colleagues.

The Finnish EMMA Node Successfully Concludes a Course on Tissue Analysis for Doctoral Students

The Finnish EMMA node, in collaboration with the University of Oulu, successfully concluded a practical Tissue Analysis Course for doctoral students. Delving into disease modelling and digital pathology, among other topics, participants gained invaluable insights and resources to enhance their research carrier.

Successful Launch of “Fibrobesity Visitor Programme” With the Visit of Dr. Yoshitaka Fujihara

The visit of Dr. Yoshitaka Fujihara marks the successful startup of the Fibrobesity Visitor Programme launched by our partner in Finland, the University of Oulu. In this way, Dr. Fujihara has become the first visiting professor supported by the mentioned programme. The 2-weeks stay took place last October thanks to the hospitality of Dr. Renata Prunskaite-Hyyryläinen’s laboratory.

A Link Between Autoimmune Disorders and Tooth Enamel Defects Revealed

In a groundbreaking study published in Nature, an international team of researchers, including our partners from CCP, has discovered a crucial link between autoimmune disorders and defects in tooth enamel development. This study sheds light on the poorly understood conditions of Amelogenesis Imperfecta in patients with Autoimmune Polyglandular Syndrome Type-1 (APS-1) and Celiac Disease.

INFRAFRONTIER Engages with Rare Disease Experts at RARE 2023 Conference in Budapest

INFRAFRONTIER recently engaged with rare disease experts at the RARE 2023 Conference in Budapest. Lively discussions at our booth focused on disease models, while sessions explored various perspectives, from early diagnosis biomarkers to palliative care. A fabulous opportunity to engage with this scientific community.

INFRAFRONTIER ERIC: A Key Achievement Defining a New Era

After a long time in the making, INFRAFRONTIER has officially become an ERIC (European Research Infrastructure Consortium). This significant milestone emphasises INFRAFRONTIER’s dedication to excellence and collaboration across Europe in pioneering research initiatives. It would not have been possible without the support of the Founding Members: Czech Republic, Finland, France, Germany, Greece and Sweden. Exciting times coming!

The Collaboration within the European Project EOSC-Life Culminates in its Landmark Publication on FAIR Principles in Life Science Data Handling

The EOSC-Life consortium publishes an article in the EMBO Journal, outlining effective measures to boost the utilization and sustainability of data resources. The study also presents twelve recommendations for handling research data in alignment with FAIR principles.

canSERV Open Call Invites Cancer Researchers to Apply for Free State-of-the-Art Services and Training

Under the canSERV Open Call, researchers are invited to apply for a portfolio of services covering the entire oncology developmental pipeline, with the participation of 9 INFRAFRONTIER partners providing in vivo services. Deadline: 4 January 2023

DHX9 – New Candidate Gene for Neurodevelopmental Disorders and Charcot-Marie-Tooth Disease

A study conducted by the German Mouse Clinic and collaborating research institutions reveals a previously unknown connection between the DHX9 gene and various rare neurodevelopmental disorders.

Targeting Senescence and Inflammation in Chronic Destructive TNF-driven Joint Pathology

Biomedcode’s Tg197 human TNF transgenic mouse model of chronic destructive arthritis provides new insights on how combination treatment with Dasatinib and low-dose anti-TNF leads to synergistic senolytic effects on chondrocytes and effective treatment of arthritis.

Α Humanised RANKL Transgenic Mouse Model of Progestin-Induced Mammary Carcinogenesis for Evaluation of Novel Therapeutics

A Biomedcode collaboration has developed a human-RANKL dependent breast cancer mouse model aiming to study disease mechanisms and establish preclinical platforms for the evaluation of human therapeutics targeting cancer.

New INFRAFRONTIER Article Published in Journal Mammalian Genome

A new publication of INFRAFRONTIER in Mammalian Genome is available on line now. Get an overview of the latest INFRAFRONTIER advancements, including services, resources, and technical developments.

Showcasing INFRAFRONTIER at the ESHG Conference in Glasgow

The ESHG brought together the most innovative research projects in human genetics. Thanks to representatives from the Mary Lyon Centre at MRC Harwell, INFRAFRONTIER had the opportunity to inform researchers of their expansive service portfolio.

SERF2 – a New Player Contributing to Amyloid Pathology in the Brain?

New research identified an endogenous factor influencing amyloid pathology in Alzheimer’s disease using the APPPS1-21 mouse model. The study opens doors to novel polymorphism-based interventions.

INFRAFRONTIER Sparks Interest Among RE(ACT) 2023 Attendees

INFRAFRONTIER services and resources on rare diseases were presented in RE(ACT) Congress in March. The stand attracted the attention of many visitors who came to find out more about the infrastructure.

New BSL-3 Laboratory for Work with Small Laboratory Rodents at the Czech Centre for Phenogenomics in Vestec

The new state-of-the-art BSL-3 laboratory for work with highly infectious viruses and bacteria in the Czech Republic opened in March at the Czech Centre for Phenogenomics (CCP).

Importing Genetically Altered Animals: Ensuring Quality

A useful resource for institutions that receive laboratory animals from colleagues or third parties to ensure that a tried and tested system of quality control is in place.

Knockout Mice Are an Important Tool for Human Monogenic Heart Disease Studies

Mouse models are relevant to study the functionality of genes involved in human diseases; however, translation of phenotypes can be challenging. This paper identified 153 genes associated with heart disease in humans, 151 with a one-to-one mouse ortholog.

The EU-Funded Master “MorphoPhen” Has Opened its Call for Applications

MorphoPHEN, the interdisciplinary master in Human Diseases Models Morphological Phenotyping has been awarded with European funding until 2028. This master aims to generate a positive impact of preclinical biomedicine and improve human translatability.
Applications deadline: 31 March

Oulu Visits Instituto Gulbenkian de Ciência (IGC) in Lisbon

Staff from Oulu EMMA node and Oulu Laboratory Animal Centre visited the axenic and gnotobiology facilities at Instituto Gulbenkian de Ciência (IGC), Lisbon.

ERN-ITHACA Partners from Warsaw Visited Oulu University and University Hospital

As part of the ERN-ITHACA network actions, partners from the Children’s Memorial Health Institute in Warsaw, visited Oulu University Hospital and University of Oulu in Finland. The guests received a series of trainings on molecular genetic methods.

Czech Centre for Phenogenomics Explains the Gene Therapy to the General Public

Outreach activities are very important to inform the public about our research. In December 2022, CCP members started with a series of lectures on the links between gene functions and human diseases: The Gene Age Lecture Series.

Longevity Treatments Do Not Slow Ageing

Three approaches with a reputation for slowing ageing processes have proven largely ineffective. For their study, researchers developed a new method to measure aging, which accounts for the complexity of ageing in organisms.

INFRAFRONTIER and IMPC Will Organise a Satellite Event on Deciphering Human Gene Function at the ICRI2022 Conference

The International Conference of Research Infrastructures 2022 (ICRI 2022) will take place from 19-21 October in Brno, Czech Republic.

17th Transgenic Technology Meeting as a Hybrid Event in Helsinki

The 17th Transgenic Technology Meeting (TT2022), organized by the International Society of Transgenic Technology (ISTT) will take place on 17 – 20 September 2022 in Helsinki, Finland.

New mouse model for interventional obesity research

Suitable animal models are essential for translational research, especially in the case of complex, multifactorial conditions, such as obesity.

Genetically sterile Prm1 males: Another great tool for the production of genetically altered mice.

Using genetically sterile Prm1 males is a recognised alternative to surgical vasectomy when generating pseudopregnant females for embryo transfer programmes.

PHENOMIN-ICS celebrates its 20 years in 2022

The 20th anniversary of the ICS (Institut Clinique de la Souris) coincides with the 20th anniversary of the sequencing of the mouse genome!

Uqcrh – a new player in mitochondrial complex III disorders

This recently published translational study sheds light on the UQCRH gene and mitochondrial complex III diseases. An international team led by researchers and clinicians from Helmholtz Zentrum München, Germany, Manchester Centre for Genomic Medicine, UK, Newcastle University, UK and University Hospital Salzburg, Austria, identified two cousins with a deletion in the UQCRH gene, which codes for a structural complex III subunit, and characterized a novel mouse model that carries the equivalent deletion in Uqcrh.

Insights in the genesis of migraine

In this current study scientists teamed up to unraveled the mechanistic cascade underlying cortical spreading depression (CSD) and migraine susceptibility exemplified in a mouse model of familial hemiplegic migraine type 3 (FHM3).

Influenza during pregnancy increases the susceptibility to infection in offspring

Influenza during pregnancy increases the susceptibility to infection in offspring In this recent study, scientists of the Heinrich-Pette-Institute, Hamburg, and the University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover together with colleagues from the Helmholtz Zentrum München, the Imperial College London, and the Research Center Borstel could show, that moderate influenza A infection of pregnant mice increased the offspring’s susceptibility to infection from other viruses as well as bacteria, especially early in life. Enhanced vulnerability to infection in neonates was associated with reduced haematopoetic development and immune responses.

EJP RD Resource Finder: a “one stop shop” for rare disease researchers

Virtual mindmap shows the way through a diverse network of research options for Rare Diseases

The European Joint Programme on Rare Diseases (EJP RD), coordinating 130 institutions from 35 countries, is the largest international network of activities to fight the more than 7,000 known rare diseases. Launched by the European Commission in 2019, the programme´s vital goal is to create a comprehensive, sustainable European and worldwide “rare diseases ecosystem” – allowing a virtuous circle between research, care and medical innovation.

Record participation in COVID-19 Open Call – five projects selected

The interest in the scientific community to fight the pandemic using mouse models is remarkably high. In December 2020, INFRAFONTIER launched an attractive free-of-charge service for the biomedical research community fighting against the COVID-19 pandemic: The COVID-19 Therapeutics Pipeline Trans-national Access (TA) Call offered academic researchers to test their novel therapeutics and vaccine candidates in a preclinical Bio-Safety Level 3 (BSL3) pipeline using COVID-19 optimized mouse models

Central role of Creld1 in mammalian heart development and function

Scientists from the University of Bonn in collaboration with colleagues from Radboud University, Nijmegen and the German Mouse Clinic showed, that Creld1, the first single gene linked to atrioventricular septal defects (AVSD) of newborn, regulates myocardial development and function in mice.

IMM2021 workshop held virtually in June 2021

Famous mouse model workshop in Leiden has opened its online registration. The Innovative Mouse Models workshop IMM2021 in Leiden has a long history and is highly acknowledged among biomedical and genetic scientists worldwide. Due to the pandemic situation in Europe, the famous mutant mouse workshop, traditionally held at the Leiden University Medical Center (LUMC) and co-organized by INFRAFRONTIER´s Dutch partner institute NKI, will be presented as a virtual meeting this year for the first time.

French Transparency Charter: Why openness is key for animal research in Europe

On 22 February 2021, thirty universities, research organizations and biomedical companies in France signed the “French transparency charter on the use of animals for scientific and regulatory purposes”

PREMOS: how mouse models contribute to a better treatment of human brain disorders

A new EBRA cluster will coordinate the predictive use of animal models in brain research

The European Union and its member states have been investing in research to better understand the human brain and its disorders for many years.

IMPC now headed by a 3 member Senior Leadership Team

The International Mouse Phenotyping Consortium has announced the election of a new Senior Leadership Team (SLT): Radislav Sedlácek is the new Chairman of IMPC, and Yann Herault the new Vice-Chair. Steve Brown, who was the Chair for many years, has stepped down to become the Past Chair. All three of them are long-term members of IMPC as well as INFRAFRONTIER.

Novel Genes That Influence Bone Mineral Density

As part of the International Mouse Phenotyping Consortium (IMPC), researchers from Helmholtz Zentrum München led by Prof. Hrabě de Angelis, have uncovered a large number of novel genes controlling the mineral density of bone. Because bone mineral density is low in patients with osteoporosis, these findings will help to better understand the underlying molecular mechanisms of the disease. The new insight is important to advance precision medicine for people affected by osteoporosis in terms of prevention and therapeutic options.

Increased estrogen to androgen ratio in mice feminize the male immune system

In a common effort, scientists of the German Mouse Clinic and Turku University examined the immune system of genetically modified mice that develop high estrogen levels in males. Applying in vivo and molecular phenotyping approaches, the researchers showed that an imbalanced circulating estrogen to androgen ratio in male mice feminized their immune response. Furthermore, their B cell function was altered, and the risk of autoimmune diseases was enhanced. The study was published recently in Scientific Reports.

IMPC Awards 2020 go to scientists in the USA, UK, Canada and Japan

KOMP program director Colin Fletcher and his colleague Oleg Mirochnitchenko from NIH, former RIKEN BRC director Yuichi Obata, Ann Flenniken from TCP and Luis Santos from MRC Harwell are the winners of this year´s IMPC Awards.

Each year in autumn, the Steering Committee of the International Mouse Phenotyping Consortium (IMPC) honours several members of the consortium with the IMPC Awards of Excellence in three categories:

New methyltransferase METTL6 and its role in cancer

Using a combination of in vitro and in vivo screens, scientists from the Helmholtz-Zentrum München and colleagues identified the RNA-modifying enzyme METTL6 as a potential new oncogene. In line with findings that loss of METTL6 inhibits liver cancer cell proliferation and impaired colony formation capacity, low expression of METTL6 correlates with increased survival of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma.

New “National Mouse Genetics Network” established in the UK

By funding £20 million into a new National Mouse Genetics Network, the British Medical Research Council (MRC) acknowledges the critical importance of the mouse as an experimental model. The Mary Lyon Centre (MLC) in Harwell will serve as the national facility hub of the new network.

ISTT 3Rs Prize 2020 for MRC researcher Lydia Teboul

Lydia Teboul from INFRAFRONTIER partner MRC Harwell has been awarded the 3Rs Prize 2020 of the International Society for Transgenic Technologies (ISTT). The prize recognises Lydia’s work in developing a new technique to reduce the number of animals used in research.

INFRAFRONTIER Conference 2020: How Mouse Models support top level Cancer Research

How can genetically modified mouse models help scientists with their research on cancer – one of the predominant causes of human deaths in Europe and worldwide? This was the working question dominating the 4th Annual Conference of the INFRAFRONTIER Research Infrastructure, held virtually on 7 and 8 October 2020.

Is there an essential physiological role for the oncogenic neuronal inositol-1,4,5-trisphosphate 3-kinase?

Inositol-1,4,5-trisphosphate 3-kinase-A (ITPKA) is the neuronal isoform of ITPKs and exhibits both actin bundling and InsP3kinase activity. In addition to neurons, ITPKA is ectopically expressed in tumor cells, where its oncogenic activity increases tumor cell malignancy. This raise the question, if inhibition of ITPKA could reduce oncogenic activity. However, prior to developing ITPKA specific inhibitors for treatment of cancer patients, it has to be excluded that ITPKA exhibits essential functions in non-tumor cells.

METTL5 – a new human RNA methyltransferase that is involved in human diseases

An international team of researchers lead by Helmholtz Zentrum München uncovered the molecular mechanisms that link rRNA methylation to development and disease. The study was published in “Genes & Development”.

A Basic Introduction to Pathology in the Mouse

17 to 18 November 2020, MRC Harwell Institute, Harwell, UK

This course provides an introduction to basic pathology terminology and how to recognise physiological and pathological changes in mouse tissues sections stained with H&E. It will include an introduction to background pathology in mice, how spontaneous and induced pathology can be distinguished and techniques for recording pathology data. It is aimed at research staff, technical staff, students and medical or veterinary pathology trainees with some experience of evaluating tissue sections using a light microscope.

INFRAFRONTIER Conference 2020 postponed from June to October

INFRAFRONTIER, the European Research Infrastructure for developing, phenotyping, archiving, and distribution of genetically modified mouse and rat models, has decided to postpone its annual scientific conference. The INFRAFRONTIER Conference 2020 with its focus on “Targeting Cancer with Animal Models” had originally been scheduled for 22 to 24 June 2020 in Brussels, Belgium will now be postponed to 7 to 9 October 2020, same location.

New link between iron deficiency in pancreatic cells and diabetes

Munich / Salt Lake City – The role for iron in the pathogenesis of diabetes is on debate. While the consequences of excess iron in β-cell function and survival are established, the effects of iron deficiency on β-cell function and diabetes risk in humans are not yet fully understood.

Trans-national Access Call – Specialised phenotyping: Mutant mice under inflammatory disease conditions

In the INFRAFRONTIER2020 specialised phenotyping program, INFRAFRONTIER partner institutions offer the indepth characterisation of mouse mutants for interested biomedical researchers all around the globe. The call is free of charge for the user, concerning scientific service and expertise.

Karolinska Institutet becomes the sixth shareholder of INFRAFRONTIER GmbH

Munich / Stockholm – Karolinska Institutet, one of the world´s leading medical universities selecting the Nobel Prize laureates in Physiology or Medicine every year, is now a co-owner of INFRAFRONTIER GmbH.

First INFRAFRONTIER QM Workshop: Quality makes the difference!

High quality in research data and strict quality standards and procedures have always had a top priority in the EMMA consortium and the INFRAFRONTIER research infrastructure from their very first day.

However, a consortium-wide expert meeting about a complete system of Quality Management (QM) for the whole consortium: This was a premiere in the INFRAFRONTIER QM Workshop on 8 and 9 October 2019 in Munich.

12-13 September 2019: Phenogenomics Conference in Prague

It is the start into a new era at BIOCEV campus, the newly built Centre of Excellence in Biomedicine and Biotechnology in Vestec near Prague: On 12 and 13 September 2019, the Czech Centre for Phenogenomics (CCP) is inviting the European biomedical research community for its first top-level scientific conference on Phenogenomics.

IMGC 2019: Come to Strasbourg in September – and register soon!

The annual conference of the International Mammalian Genome Society (IMGS) in autumn is a highlight for researchers in functional genomics worldwide. After exciting and scientifically fruitful meetings in Puerto Rico (November 2018) and Heidelberg (October 2017), the IMGS invites its global community to the 33rd edition of the International Mammalian Genome Conference (IMGC) to Strasbourg, France.

Phenomin invites biomedical researchers from all over Europe to its Advanced School for Mouse Phenogenomics, 20 – 24 May 2019

It´s a unique training event for of all kinds of biomedial scientists working with mouse models – held in a fascinating location: The bi-annually organized European Advanced School for Mouse Phenogenomics, taking place on 20 to 24 May 2019 near Strasbourg, offers an overview of up-to-date methods and good practices for the use of mouse models in scientific research that cannot be found anywhere else in Europe.

THE FUTURE IS NOW: Hackathon starts Machine Learning effort among INFRAFRONTIER/IMPC partners

“The application of artificial intelligence is the next big step to discover new ground in our massive biomedical data sets. We have to make use of this disruptive technology now”, says Prof. Dr. Martin Hrabĕ de Angelis, director at the Helmholtz Center Munich and coordinator of the pan-European project “INFRAFRONTIER”.

Call for abstracts for EMBO Workshop organised by INFRAFRONTIER partner BSRC Alexander Fleming in Athens, Greece

Abstract submission and registration for the “Mesenchymal cells in inflammation immunity and cancer” workshop in Athens-Greece, 19 – 23 May, 2019 is NOW OPEN

50 animal research experts visit the German Mouse Clinic

GV-SOLAS, the German Society for Laboratory Animal Research, is Europe´s oldest and largest association of animal research experts of all kind –scientists, veterinary doctors, animal keepers, and operators of animal facilities. Its annual meeting 2018 was held on 12 to 14 September in Munich.

CORBEL offers Open Call for biomedical research projects

In its second Open Call CORBEL (Coordinated Research Infrastructures Building Enduring Life-science services ) invites researchers from the biomedical field to apply to access technologies and services offered by more than 20 facilities from 10 different research infrastructures (RIs) across Europe, including INFRAFRONTIER.

New CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing course in Strasbourg, 22-23 November 2018

You want to learn more about gene editing and how it really works? You want to hear about current advances on many technical aspects and to optimize the RNA guide design to the genotyping analysis?

Training Course in Transgenic Technology at MRC Harwell, Oct. 2018

From 16th to 18th October 2018 MRC Harwell offers a practical training course in transgenic technology. The course is aimed at newcomers to the transgenic field or those looking to brush up their skills. Participants will have practical hands on experience in a technique that will enable them to generate their own mutant mouse models using CRISPR/CAS9 reagents.

The microbiome – subject of two INFRAFRONTIER meetings in 2018

The human microbiome and its immense impact on the health conditions of the human body has become a vital topic in international biomedical research – as shown lately in a interesting article in the British daily The Guardian.

In 2018, two big European meetings co-organized by INFRAFRONTIER will cover the role of animal research for studying the microbiome:

INFRAFRONTIER opens its services for precision rat mutant model generation

In a new Trans-national Access Call INFRAFRONTIER offers open access to its infrastructure and expertise for researchers who need rat mutant models to be generated for their scientific aims. It’s the first time that the European research infrastructure for modeling human diseases via mammalian genomes expands its unique services to generate not only mouse, but rat models for its users.

Vienna Cryo & Embryo Transfer Course, August 27 to 31

At the end of August, the University of Veterinary Medicine in Vienna will offer a comprehensive course on cryopreservation, embryo transfer and other methods of assisted reproduction of mice. The advanced training course is intended to give state-of-the-art background knowledge and hands-on training used at Vetmeduni Vienna to technicians and scientists (post-graduate) working in the field of animal research and scientific experiments.

EBI will be partner in Big Data project for health research

Health Data Research UK will invest £30 million in a newly developed big data approach for health and biomedical informations from all over the country. Starting in April 2018, only six sites in the UK with high-class expertise in the management of health data will be part of the new public venture.

Finnish Study reveals a new gene required for normal fetal development

A new multi-organ disease named FINCA (Fibrosis, Neurodegeneration and Cerebral Angiomatosis) that is fatal in early childhood has been identified in three pediatric patients in Finland. Children affected have previously undescribed formation of connective tissue in the lungs, neurodegeneration and increased vasculature formation in the brain.

Upcoming AAI Training Workshops

• CORBEL/AARC AAI Training Workshop 23-24 April 2018, Munich Airport Marriott Hotel, Freising Germany
• ELIXIR AAI training for service providers 24-25 April, Munich Airport Marriott Hotel, Freising Germany

New diabetes genes discovered in international mouse phenotyping study

Scientists have identified a network of genes that could play a vital role in the development of metabolic diseases such as diabetes

INFRAFRONTIER Stakeholder Meeting – Advancing Personalised Medicine with Animal Models

This is the first stakeholder meeting of INFRAFRONTIER, the European Research Infrastructure for phenotyping and archiving of model mammalian genomes. The meeting will be jointly organized with the International Mouse Phenotyping Consortium (IMPC, www.mousephenotype.org) to which INFRAFRONTIER is contributing. Focus of this meeting is on ‘Advancing Personalised Medicine with Animal Models’. The meeting is open to a wide range of INFRAFRONTIER stakeholders including Personalised Medicine initiatives, Rare Disease networks, funders, regulators and the INFRAFRONTIER user community to discuss advances in CRISPR/Cas9 technology to model human conditions.

Two IMPC papers published in Nature Journals

Two major papers from the International Mouse Phenotyping Consortium have been published today in Nature Genetics and Nature Communications.

Executive Masters Management of Research Infrastructures – Applications Open

The RItrain Project, launched a unique international management development programme.

Upcoming INFRAFRONTIER training courses

Partners of the INFRAFRONTIER Research Infrastructure offer unique training opportunities in mouse phenogenomics, genome editing and cryopreservation technologies.

The INFRAFRONTIER GmbH is hiring

• Database Developer m/f
• Web Developer m/f
• Communications Officer m/f (part-time)
• Quality Manager m/f (part-time)

Mouse surgery workshop at UPMC Paris, France

The Jackson Laboratory is delivering a hands-on mouse surgery workshop at UPMC in Paris, France.

INFRAFRONTIER open call – Disease model development and systemic phenotyping

INFRAFRONTIER, the European Research Infrastructure for phenotyping and archiving of model mammalian genomes is opening a call to facilitate access for the wider biomedical research community to the unique infrastructure and scientific expertise of the INFRAFRONTIER mouse clinics. INFRAFRONTIER offers the testing of mouse mutant lines through a broad based primary phenotyping pipeline in all the major adult organ systems and most areas of major human disease. Access will be granted on the basis of scientific excellence and supports the development and in depth characterisation of new mouse models for investigating gene function and human pathophysiology. INFRAFRONTIER will provide open access to all newly developed disease models and phenotyping data.

Anatomical Bases of Mouse Multimodal Imaging Course,16-20 January 2017

The preliminary programme for the Anatomical Bases of Mouse Multimodal Imaging Course, which will be held at the Czech Centre for Phenogenomics (CCP) has been announced.

This 5 day hands-on course will be led by Jesús Ruberte and Marc Navarro, authors of the textbook ‘Morphological Mouse Phenotyping: Anatomy, Histology and Imaging’.

CORBEL launches 1st Open Call for research projects

CORBEL – Coordinated Research Infrastructures Building Enduring Life-science services – is an EC Horizon2020 project uniting 11 Biological and Medical Science Research Infrastructures (RIs). In CORBEL, the participating RIs expand their cooperation in order to harmonise researchers’ access to their cutting-edge technologies and services by establishing a sustainable platform of aligned services that will enable faster admission to and a wider portfolio of technologies and services to boost research projects.

IMPC study shows that genes essential to life are enriched in human and mouse

Roughly a third of all genes in the mammalian genome are essential for life. A new article in Nature, from an international, multi-institutional research team including many INFRAFRONTIER partners, describes the large-scale discovery of those genes and how it will impact understanding of mammalian development and human disease.

Upcoming Training Courses in Mouse Phenogenomics at phenomin

• Strasbourg, France, 2016 November 09th-10th –In vivo CRISPR-Cas9 genome editingNEW!
• Strasbourg, France, 2016 November 23th-25th –Primary phenotyping of mouse embryos
• Strasbourg, France, 2017,March 14th-17th –Mouse models for diseases: approaches in phenotyping
• Goersdorf, France, 2017, June 12th-16th– 2d advanced European school in mouse phenogenomics

INFRAFRONTIER Rates Changing as of 01 August 2016

INFRAFRONTIER service charges will be changing as of 01 August 2016. New pricing will be posted and take effect as of 01 August 2016.

We will honor previously quoted rates for registrations of interest (ROI) and projects with ongoing services initiated prior to 01 August. Projects initiated after 01 August will be quoted and billed with the new rates.

INFRAFRONTIER Industry & Innovation Workshop

On 28 and 29 June the INFRAFRONTIER Industry & Innovation Workshop took place in Munich. 88 participants from Europe, North America, Asia and Australia, among them 23 representatives from industry, discussed technological innovations, how biopharma uses mammalian models in drug discovery and how the resources and services provided by the INFRAFRONTIER Research Infrastructure and the International Mouse Phenotyping Consortium (IMPC) can support translational research.

INFRAFRONTIER Article in Mammalian Genome

The next issue of the Journal ‘Mammalian Genome’ will be dedicated to the study of ageing and age-related diseases. It contains an overview article on INFRAFRONTIER as a European resource for studying the functional basis of human disease. The article highlights the platforms and resources that INFRAFRONTIER provides for ageing research, an more generally how INFRAFRONTIER promotes the global sharing of high-quality resources and data and thus contributes to data reproducibility and animal welfare.

Obesity, Diabetes and Epigenetic Inheritance Study: ‘You are what your parents ate’

Scientists at Helmholtz Zentrum München (HMGU), in collaboration with the Technical University of Munich (TUM) and the German Center for Diabetes Research (DZD), have shown that diet-induced obesity and diabetes can be epigenetically inherited by the offspring via both the oocytes and the sperm.

The results were published in Nature Genetics and have received broad international media attention.

INFRAFRONTIER present at Transgenic Technology Meeting 2016

INFRAFRONTIER will be present at the ISTT 13th Transgenic Technology Meeting, March 20-23, Prague, Czech Republic.

You are welcome to visit us at stand 25 and learn more about INFRAFRONTIER!

INFRAFRONTIER is a Landmark on the new ESFRI Roadmap 2016

The European Strategy Forum on Research Infrastructures (ESFRI) officially launched its Roadmap 2016 Report on an event held in Amsterdam on 10 March 2016 organised under the Dutch EU Presidency.

The Report lists 29 “ESFRI Landmarks”, one of them is INFRAFRONTIER. ESFRI Landmarks are research infrastructures that were implemented or started implementation before 2015 and are now considered “major elements of competitiveness of the European Research Area”.

Detailed protocol of GEMM-ESC strategy published in Nature Protocols

GEMM-ESC protocol published in EMBO Molecular Medicine last year, the Netherlands Cancer Institute (NKI) presented a strategy for rapid analysis of gene function in mouse models by deriving and modifying embryonic stem cells (ESC) from validated genetically engineered mouse models (GEMM), the so-called GEMM-ESC strategy.

The INFRAFRONTIER GmbH is hiring

The INFRAFRONTIER GmbH has opened postitions. If you are a highly-motivated person and want to leave your mark in a small and innovative team, please check our job advertisements.

H2020 projects CORBEL and RItrain start with INFRAFRONTIER participation

INFRAFRONTIER is partner in two new Horizon 2020 projects that started on 01 September: CORBEL and RItrain.

CORBEL brings together the ESFRI Biological and Medical Research Infrastructures (BMS RI) to develop common services and harmonised access procedures to facilitate groundbreaking interdisciplinary research in the area of the life sciences. Together, the BMS RI cover the entire range from the discovery of basic biological mechanisms to applied medical translation.

Blastocyst genotyping for quality control of mouse mutant archives: an ethical and economical approach.

Mutant mouse strains generated and phenotyped by the International Mouse Phenotyping Consortium are made available to the research community via public repositories, mostly as cryopreserved sperm or embryos. To ensure the quality of this frozen resource there is a requirement that for each strain the frozen sperm/embryos are proven able to produce viable mutant progeny, before the live animal resource is removed from cages.

Primary Phenotyping of Mouse Embryos: Phenomin Training Course

A course on primary phenotyping of mouse embryos will take place at the Institute Clinique de la Souris, November 25-27, 2015.

The course is aimed at providing a theoretical and practical background knowledge destined for researchers and engineers that are willing to acquire primary expertise in mouse development. The topics will cover dissection of post implant embryos, histology, whole mount Lac Z staining and confocal imaging of whole embryos.

IPAD-MD project kicked-off in Munich

On July 21-22, INFRAFRONTIER IPAD-MD project was kicked-off, in a two-day meeting in Munich, Germany.

Analysis of mammalian gene function through broad-based phenotypic screens across a consortium of mouse clinics

The function of the majority of genes in the mouse and human genomes remains unknown. The mouse embryonic stem cell knockout resource provides a basis for the characterization of relationships between genes and phenotypes. The EUMODIC consortium developed and validated robust methodologies for the broad-based phenotyping of knockouts through a pipeline comprising 20 disease-oriented platforms. This consortium developped new statistical methods for pipeline design and data analysis aimed at detecting reproducible phenotypes with high power.

EMMA partners offer 3 cryocourses in autum 2015

1. University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Cryo & Embryo Transfer Course, September 7-11, 2015
2. MRC Harwell Cryocourse, September 21-24, 2015
3. CNR Monterotondo, Workshop on Cryopreservation and Recovery Techniques in the Laboratory Mouse, November 16-20, 2015

Reproducibility: Use mouse biobanks or lose them

Reproducibility: Use mouse biobanks or lose them, Nature | Comment 10 June 2015 Kent Lloyd, Craig Franklin, Cat Lutz & Terry Magnuson Now that genetic engineering of mice is so easy, centralized repositories are essential, argue Kent Lloyd and colleagues.

First INFRAFRONTIER project funded under EC Horizon 2020: IPAD-MD Grant Agreement signed

The IPAD-MD project, Research Infrastructures for Phenotyping, Archiving and Distribution of Mouse Diseases Models, will address the coordination and cooperation between INFRAFRONTIER and complementary research infrastructures world-wide contributing to the global effort of IMPC, has been funded under the EC Horizon 2020 Programme.

The INFRAFRONTIER GmbH has opened a position for a Senior Database and Web Developer

The INFRAFRONTIER GmbH is hiring. If you are a highly-motivated person and want to leave your mark in a small and innovative team, please check our job advertisements.

Next MRC Harwell cryo-course will be held in September 2015 – registration open

The course is intended to give animal technologists hands-on experience of the murine embryo and spermatozoa freezing techniques routinely used at Harwell. In addition, delegates will gain experience of a simple and robust in vitro fertilization procedure.

Workshop Mouse Microbiota: genotype-phenotype control and technological challenges

The Workshop Mouse Microbiota will take place on 26 – 27 March 2015 at the Instituto Gulbenkian de Ciência, Oeiras, Portugal.

Training Course: Primary phenotyping of mouse embryos

On 17-19 March 2015, a training course on primary phenotyping of mouse embryos will take place at Institute Clinique de la Souris, Illkirch, France.

The course is aimed at providing both theoretical and practical background knowledge targeted at researchers and engineers, willing to acquire primary expertise in mouse development. The topics will cover dissection of post implant embryos, histology, whole mount Lac Z staining and confocal imaging of whole embryos.

INFRAFRONTIER supports the campaign for a European Year for Rare Diseases in 2019

EURORDIS, the alliance of European patient organisations for rare diseases, campains for a European Year on Rare Diseases 2019. This should raise awareness for the 30 million Europeans who suffer from a rare disease and encourage research that focuses on these rare, mostly unknown, seriously debilitating and often life-threatening diseases.

INFRAFRONTIER, provider of resources and services for rare diseases research, strongly supports the EURORDIS campaign.

3rd Council Meeting of the INFRAFRONTIER GmbH took place in Munich

On 19 November 2014 the Council of the INFRAFRONTIER GmbH met in Munich for its third regular meeting. The Council discussed and approved the work programme, budget and the overall scientific strategy for the INFRAFRONTIER GmbH in 2015.

INFRAFRONTIER resources and web portal will be published in Nucleic Acids Research Database Issue

A publication describing the INFRAFRONTIER service portfolio and the web portal that gives access to all of them has been accepted for the next Database Issue of Nucleic Acids Research. Advance access is available on the NAR webpage.

The INFRAFRONTIER GmbH has open positions for a Web Developer and a Head of Unit – INFRAFRONTIER Mouse Clinics

The INFRAFRONTIER GmbH is hiring. If you are a highly-motivated person and want to leave your mark in a small and innovative team, please check our job advertisements.

Cryoport and EMMA enter into global agreement to provide full-service logistics solutions for frozen biomaterials

Cryoport, Inc. the only end-to-end cryogenic logistics solutions provider, entered into an agreement with the European Mouse Mutant Archive (EMMA), a part of INFRAFRONTIER, the European Research Infrastructure for phenotyping and archiving of model mammalian genomes

genOway offers industry scientists immediate access to EUCOMM conditional KO mouse models

enOway guarantees freedom to operate (FTO) and offers important time gain in conditional knockout development time for industry scientists.

Monterotondo laboratory course on cryopreservation of mouse germplasm

From 20 to 24 October 2014 the CNR Monterotondo and The Jackson Laboratory offer a comprehensive course on cryopreservation of mouse embryos, sperm and ovaries. The course is financially supported by the EC FP7 Capacities Specific Program through the INFRAFRONTIER-I3 project.

Council Meeting of the INFRAFRONTIER GmbH held in Munich

On 07 May 2014 the Council of the INFRAFRONTIER GmbH met in Munich. This was the first meeting of the Council after the accession of France, Czech Republic, Finland and Greece to the INFRAFRONTIER GmbH on 05 December 2013.

INFRAFRONTIER IMPC Workshop: Promoting the international exchange of mouse mutant resources, Munich, Germany

The INFRAFRONTIER IMPC workshop: Promoting the international exchange of mouse mutant resources, took place in Munich, Germany, 08-09 May 2014.

The main objectives of the workshop were to discuss how to simplify the international exchange of mouse mutant resources and to define the procedural changes to achieve it, to review the key issues facing the mouse community and mouse repositories as well as focus on IP issues and to present best practices in sharing research tools

INFRAFRONTIER IMPC Phenotyping Workshop, San Francisco, USA

The INFRAFRONTIER IMPC Phenotyping Workshop took place in San Francisco, California, USA, 19 – 20 March 2014, attracting the participation of around 60 international delegates.

The main aims of the Phenotyping Workshop were to assess tests, progress and phenotype detection, as well as to discuss the test implementation for IMPC Phase II.

The Phenotyping Workshop was funded through the INFRAFRONTIER InfraCoMP Project.

Free of charge mouse phenotyping service for European researchers

Second phenotyping call of the EC FP7 funded INFRAFRONTIER-I3 project open until March 15, 2014.

A total of 22 mouse mutant lines can be characterised through a broad based primary phenotyping pipeline in all the major adult organ systems and most areas of major human disease.

Next MRC Harwell cryo-course will be held in March 2014 – registration open

The course is intended to give animal technologists hands-on experience of the murine embryo and spermatozoa freezing techniques routinely used at Harwell. In addition, delegates will gain experience of a simple and robust in vitro fertilization procedure.

France, Greece, Czech Republic and Finland enter the INFRAFRONTIER GmbH

In a formal act authenticated by a notary in Munich, four founding members acquired shares of the INFRAFRONTIER GmbH: the Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS) from France, the Biomedical Sciences Research Center ‘Alexander Fleming’ from Greece, the Institute of Molecular Genetics of the Acedemy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, and the University of Oulu in Finland.

INFRAFRONTIER IMPC IKMC Rome Meeting with more than 200 participants on Dec 02-04

On 02 to 04 December, INFRAFRONTIER holds an international workshop in Rome, together with the International Mouse Phenotyping Consortium (IMPC) and the International Knockout Mouse Konsortium (IKMC). More than 200 participants will participate.

The aim of the Rome meeting is to discuss how researchers from different scientific fields and from industry can benefit from the large-scale mouse genomics initiatives INFRAFRONTIER, the IMPC and the IKMC, and to obtain feedback from the research community on future needs and improvements.

The meeting is funded through the EC-funded projects InfraCoMP and EUCOMTOOLS, the Italian National Research Council (CNR) generously provides the meeting venue.

Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona training course on mouse osteology

The aim of this INFRAFRONTIER training course held from 20 to 22 Novembeer 2013 at the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB), Spain is capacitating participants to localize and to interpret the most common skeletal morphological abnormalities found in mutant mice. This will occur in the context of dedicated learning sessions devoted to the study of bone anatomy and the methodologies (X-ray, CT, Alizarin staining, etc) used to visualize the mouse skeleton. Each lecture will be followed by a practical session in which participants will work with real bone specimens and CT images.

Monterotondo laboratory course on cryopreservation of mouse germplasm (2013)

From 21 to 25 October 2013 the CNR Monterotondo and The Jackson Laboratory offer a comprehensive course on cryopreservation of mouse embryos, sperm and ovaries. The course is financially supported by the EC FP7 Capacities Specific Program through the INFRAFRONTIER-I3 project.

First INFRAFRONTIER-I3 project Transnational Access call for mouse production published

FP7 funded INFRAFRONTIER-I3 project (2013-2016) supports eligible customers with a free of charge mouse production service implemented as a Transnational Access (TA) activity providing a total of 30 access units. The access unit is defined by the production of a minimum of two heterozygous mice carrying the targeted gene allele of choice from the corresponding validated gene-targeted ES cell clone(s).

INFRAFRONTIER highlighted in the 2013 ESFRI brochure on ‘European Research Infrastructures with global impact’

INFRAFRONTIER project was included in a selection of ESFRI projects, currently in implementation phase, to feature in the ESFRI brochure on ‘European Research Infrastructures with global impact’, published for the 10th anniversary of ESFRI. With the publication of this brochure, ESFRI intents to make the general public more broadly aware of the ESFRI itself and of the goals of the different ESFRI Research Infrastructures.