Name of resource
The Harwell Frozen embryo and sperm archive (FESA)
Name of Principal Investigator
| Title | Dr |
| First name | Martin |
| Last name | Fray |
Address of institution where award is held
| Institution | MRC Harwell |
| Street Address | Harwell Science and Innovation Campus |
| City | Oxford |
| Postcode | OX11 0RD |
Country
United Kingdom
Website
Contact email
Summary
The MRC’s frozen embryo and sperm archive holds a collection of mouse models of human disease that are distributed to the wider scientific community. We also hold some mouse models that have been frozen for our own researchers that are not available to the community.
1a. The resource holds animal models relevant to the study of the following neurodegenerative diseases
Motor neurone diseases Prion disease Huntington’s disease Neurodegenerative disease in general Parkinson’s disease Spinocerebellar ataxia (SCA) Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA)
1b. The resource holds:
Animals Frozen embryos Frozen sperm
2a. The resource acts as a centre for access and distribution to external groups (who are not the PIs of the resource)
2b. Procedures and rules for access
Access independent of collaboration with PI Local/ regional access National access International access Access to industry Charge for retrieval
3a. Does the resource develop animal models for external groups
1
3b. Types of models provided
Not applicable
4a This activity is supported as:
Independent of collaboration
4b. The supplied material deposited in a central repository
2
5a Disease models available
| Disease | Species | Available to external user (Y/N) | Full phenotypic character (Y/N or partial) | Phenotypes | Genotypes or other subtypes |
| HD | Mouse | N | Partial | Short life span/tremors | Hets |
| Prion | Mouse | Y | Y | Suceptibility to disease | Hets/Homs |
| SMA | Mouse | Y | Partial | Neuropathology | Homs |
| PD | Mouse | Y | Partial | Olfactory memory and motor control | Het |
| MND | Mouse | Y | Y | Mice show dystrophic changes in mucscle histopathology | Hets/Homs |
5b. Other models/phenotypes available through the resource relevant to neurodegenerative conditions
| No. of models | Available to external users | Full phenotypic characterisation available (Y/N or partial) | Nature of phenotype |
| Low grip strength | 3 | Y | Partial |
| 2 | Y | Partial | Memory deficit |
| 2 | Y | Partial | Muscle tremors |
| Numerous | Y | Partial | Various phenotypes |
6. European or international consortia or networks to which the resource is linked
| Jackson Laboratories, USAInternational mouse knockout consortium |
| European Mutant Mouse Archive |
| International Mouse Knockout Consortium |
7a. Maintenance of the resource is dependent on continued funding
1
7b. End date of current funding period
N/A
7c. Expected lifespan of the resource (in years)
1000
7d. Other plans affecting future use
FESA is a core funded MRC resource but it is also supported in part by the funds we receive from the EU through our membership of the EMMA consortium. The current EMMA grant will come to an end Dec 2012.