Back to Table of Contents

Report of the NIH Rat Model Repository Workshop

To participate in the development of new genetic technologies, e.g., embryonic stem cell production, nuclear transfer, etc., that will improve the function of the NRGRC and be disseminated to the scientific community.

By virtue of the work conducted at the NRGRC, it is likely to be an important source of methodological advances. Many of the technological necessities of maintaining existing stocks and developing new mutants and models of human disease require the use of state-of-the-art methods. The NRGRC should be an important source of the development, maintenance, and distribution of these methods.

Involvement of the NRGRC in research and development activities is expected to attract the best and the brightest individuals to staff its mission and to ensure the scientific excellence of the Center's activities.

To provide relevant information to the scientific community via a Web page that interfaces with other rat databases and to develop a data management system that serves the internal needs of the Center.

A local database should be developed with different levels of accessibility. The database should include information on strain origin and pedigree, status of the strain (living or cryopreserved), and strain availability. The database should also contain all aspects of the internal operation (data flow/management systems) and management of the NRGRC, including procedures and results, and have links to other related databases. The mechanism of recovery of information by users of the database should be through accessing the Web page for the NRGRC. To institute an Advisory Board to oversee the operation and activities of the NRGRC, to set broad policy guidelines, and to report to the appropriate NIH designee.

An Advisory Board should be convened to oversee the operations and activities of the NRGRC and to report to the NIH its recommendations on implementation, access, and future directions of the NRGRC. This committee should consist of members with expertise in facility management, genetics, pathology, informatics, and cryopreservation. In addition, the committee should have a representative from an outside animal resource facility and representatives expert in disease models, such as transplantation, cardiovascular diseases, toxicology, cancer, neurosciences, behavior, immunogenetics, autoimmunity, and rat reproduction. This committee should meet two times a year and as necessary by electronic means.

The Advisory Board should perform a number of important functions, including:

Back to Table of Contents