Genetically-altered mice are becoming increasingly more popular as surrogates in biomedical research. Their usefulness, however, is limited by a scientist's technical abilities and knowledge of mouse biology, and the availability of sufficient appropriate infrastructure. To address these limitations, the Center for Comparative Medicine in 1997 established the Mouse Biology Program (MBP) of the University of California, Davis. This interdisciplinary group of scientists and technical staff from the Schools of Medicine and Veterinary Medicine and the College of Biological Sciences is focused on expanding knowledge on the biology of the laboratory mice and on the application of genetically-altered mice in biomedical research. The MBP offers coordinated expertise in mouse biology "from concept through creation" and supports state-of-the-art facilities and services to provide an enriched environment for students, trainees, and established investigators utilizing genetically-altered mice in research. Research, teaching, and service components of the MBP include experimental project design and planning, molecular construct preparation, microinjection, assisted reproduction techniques, cryopreservation, infectious disease diagnostics and surveillance, genotyping, comprehensive phenotyping, bioinformatics support, and colony management and distribution, and other areas. These unique capabilities of the MBP coupled with our newly established and growing relationship with JAX-West has established UCD's pre-eminent reputation in mouse biology. Ultimately, the mission of the MBP is to develop, promote, and enhance mouse model systems for understanding and resolving biomedical problems in humans and animals.

     UC Davis intends to become the national/international leader in interdisciplinary biologic and health sciences research. It will accomplish this goal by focusing on the biological sciences that contribute to the solution of the important health problems facing the people of California and our country overall. A central focus of research program development at UC Davis will be whole animal biology, wherein mouse model systems will be used as surrogates for understanding and resolving problems in human and animal disease. This is an extraordinary opportunity to evaluate novel therapeutic strategies occurring in natural or unique experimental animal model systems. One key element toward this broader goal is the development of the UC Davis Mouse Biology Program, which in turn will be a key element toward the longer-term development of the comprehensive UC Davis National Center for Integrative Biology.