Transgenic Core and Vivarium

Overview

Van Andel Institute is committed to conducting exceptional animal research in an ethical and responsible manner to further science and improve the health of society. VAI’s Transgenic Core and Vivarium develop, provide and support the gold standard of high-quality mouse, rat and zebrafish modeling services for VAI investigators, collaborators and the greater research community. VAI’s Vivarium is a state-of-the-art facility that includes a high-containment barrier. All procedures are conducted according to the National Institutes of Health’s Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals. The Institute is accredited at the highest standard of care through the Association for Assessment and Accreditation of Laboratory Animal Care (AAALAC) International.

The Vivarium is led by Director Scott Bechaz, an accomplished leader and expert in laboratory animal research and management with more than 30 years of experience. He holds a Bachelor of Applied Biology from Ferris State University, a Laboratory Animal Technologist (LATG) certification and is a graduate of the Institute of Laboratory Animal Managers (ILAM). Prior to become director of VAI’s Vivarium in 2022, he held key leadership positions at University of Michigan, Novartis Pharmaceuticals, Harvard University, The Broad Institute and the University of Toledo, among others. The faculty is committed to the highest quality animal standards and care as well as to providing strong, dedicated support for the research community. Vivarium staff understand the importance of providing exceptional humane care in order to produce quality research.

The Transgenic Core is led by Tristan Kempston, who has more than a decade of experience developing and leading gene targeting projects. He earned his B.A. in biology (magna cum laude) from Grand Valley State University and later trained with Dr. Thom Saunders at University of Michigan. Tristan joined the Transgenic team at Van Andel Institute in 2010, where he advised clients on optimal gene targeting strategies and designed projects to facilitate leading-edge research. He was a key collaborator in VAI’s first CRISPR experiments in 2014 and, in 2017, Tristan helped launch a CRISPR design service to labs across the Institute. In 2022, VAI transitioned the Transgenic Core and Vivarium into two separate but collaborative groups to better support research. Tristan was promoted to director of the Transgenic Core and leads an exceptional team with deep expertise in gene targeting, CRISPR and many other crucial services.

VAI’s Core Technologies and Services manages service requests through CrossLab Solutions. Each Core maintains a CrossLab page that provides descriptions of the Core as well as options to schedule equipment and request services. Pricing also is available in CrossLab (See Schedule Equipment and/or Request Services). Current CrossLab users can login here.

VAI staff that need a login (or further CrossLab support) should contact Lori Moon. MSU and external users that need a CrossLab account/login should go here for account creation. After logging in, external users should click “list all cores” under the Core Facilities section in the left menu and scroll down to “Cores at Van Andel Institute.”

For production of transgenic mice, gene-targeted mice, cryopreservation and rederivation, please contact our team at [email protected].

VAI’s Transgenic Core and Vivarium provides high-quality mouse, rat and zebrafish modeling services. All procedures are conducted according to the National Institutes of Health’s Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals. The Institute is accredited by the Association for Assessment and Accreditation of Laboratory Animal Care (AAALAC) International.

Services offered:

• Cryopreservation
  • Mouse sperm
  • Mouse embryo
  • Rat embryo
• Transgenic Mouse Production
• iGONAD
• Gene Targeting
  • Gene knock-in or knock-out
  • Electroporation of ES cells, clone selection and DNA isolation
  • Thawing and expansion of ES cell clones
• Blastocyst Microinjection
• CRISPR/Cas9
• Rederivation
  • Sperm cryopreservation to rederivation
  • Traditional rederivation

VAI’s Core Technologies and Services manages service requests through CrossLab Solutions. Each Core maintains a CrossLab page that provides descriptions of the Core as well as options to schedule equipment and request services. Pricing also is available in CrossLab (See Schedule Equipment and/or Request Services). Current CrossLab users can login here.

VAI staff that need a login (or further CrossLab support) should contact Lori Moon. MSU and external users that need a CrossLab account/login should go here for account creation. After logging in, external users should click “list all cores” under the Core Facilities section in the left menu and scroll down to “Cores at Van Andel Institute.”

For production of transgenic mice, gene-targeted mice, cryopreservation and rederivation, please contact our team at [email protected].