EMU scientific: acquisition/purchasing equipments to install a multiuser center for health evaluation, genetics and assisted reproduction at CEMIB, contributing to the improvement of medical-biological research in theSstate of São Paulo

• Grant number: 22/11608-9
• Support Opportunities: Research Infrastructure Program - Scientific
• Start date: August 01, 2023
• End date: July 31, 2030
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Physiology - General Physiology
• Principal Investigator: Marcelo Alves da Silva Mori
• Grantee: Marcelo Alves da Silva Mori
• Host Institution: Centro Multidisciplinar para Investigação Biológica (CEMIB). Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP). Campinas , SP, Brazil
• Associated researchers: Fernando Ferreira Costa ; Jose Antonio Rocha Gontijo ; Roger Frigério Castilho ; Sara Teresinha Olalla Saad
• Associated scholarship(s): 24/05783-8 - Training for operation on equipment installed in a Multi-User Center for sanitary, genetic, and Assisted Reproduction assessment at CEMIB, contributing to the strengthening of medical-biological research in the State of São Paulo, BP.TT; 24/06414-6 - EMU Scientific: Training for operation on equipment installed in a Multi-User Center for health assessment, genetics, and Assisted Reproduction at CEMIB, contributing to the strengthening of medical-biological research in the State of São Paulo., BP.TT; 23/15338-9 - Development of genetically modified models by CRISPR/Cas9, BP.TT

Abstract

The number of genetically modified animals increases each day, and support this growth is fundamental for an universal and competitive medical-biological research. The pandemic has clearly demonstrated difficulties faced by research groups inside our country, both to receive animal models to understand the diseases, and for evaluation of immunobiologicals such as vaccines. CEMIB was set up as an animal facility by FAPESP and both the quality of animals and services provided demonstrate that its among the most successful investments made by FAPESP in animal facilities. The investments contributed to the development and internationalization of CEMIB that is the only representative of ICLAS (International Council for Laboratory Animal Science) in Latin America. The protocols used in the Laboratory of Animal Health, are the same as used in Europe, Asia and the United States, ensuring that the provided animals has the same quality as those used in first world countries. The excellence was build up by inclusion of its laboratories in international networks. The first step was the participation in the Performance Evaluation Program, or PEP Program, an ICLAS initiative that focus on the health quality of laboratory animals used worldwilde. The program has 26 certified laboratories around the world. The reports issued have an international validity, and stay in this consortium depends on the success rate of answers in samples that are annually forwarded by ICLAS. Samples are analyzed in the form of blind tests, and results are reported to the Council, that will define if CEMIB continues or not in these network. It is important to mention that the success rate of correct answers was 100%, certifying the quality of services provided. Recently, CEMIB begin to participate in a genetic quality network, the GenReference Program and through this program, LCG receives standard DNA samples that are used to analyse samples from animal strains of CEMIB. Also, CEMIB is developing efforts to set up the Laboratory of Cryopreservation and Assisted Reproduction (LabCrio) in the European Mouse Mutant Archive (EMMA), becoming one of its nodes. This action will allow researchers even from the state of São Paulo and our country, to access cryopreserved strains in germplasm banks of developed countries. Although, the competitiveness will be impacted due to technological dependency in developing these models. Each day, an increasing number of new animal strains are available. In 2019, there were 59937 strains and by June of this year, this number jumped to 81,166 new models, indicating an increasing of new models in scientific purposes. This scenario demonstrates the strategic role of Cemib for Unicamp and also for external research groups, considering the number of Institutions attended. Its knowhow combined with the installation of its facilty, will impact medical and biological research in the State of São Paulo in several ways as: a) creating conditions to produce transgenic animals using new technologies on gene editing; b) by the formation of new excellence academic core; c) developing complexed protocols in biomedical research due to technologies applied in the equipments; d) intensifing ongoing researches impacting on the results; e) innovating for a competitive, universal and reproductive research with international recognition; f) capabling to receive strains with complexed genomes; g) expanding services offered by CEMIB to the University and Brazilian Institutions; h) adding greater value to provided services, especially by the international reports consigned by CEMIB; i) using assisted reproduction techniques in order to produce special strains; j) to innovate and recognize the entrepreneurship through a knowhow transfer to private companies; k) accompanying international actions, such as ARRIVE and RRID, supporting biomedical research quality conducted at Unicamp and State of São Paulo and reinforcing its multi-user nature of CEMIB. (AU)