Grant applications proposing work that will be performed by Xenograft and Live Imaging Services (XLIS) or with XLIS’ assistance do not require letters of support unless the methods that will be used are not included in XLIS’ service description in the JAX Facilities and Other Resources master document (see description below). For methods that are unusual or particularly challenging in the xenografting and live imaging field, or that were recently published, please contact the XLIS Associate Director to determine whether a letter of support would be appropriate.
Given the custom nature of each investigator’s project, please contact XLIS to discuss service pricing.
Facilities and Other Resources Documentation:
The Xenograft and Live Imaging Services (XLIS) provides customizable services to facilitate in vivo orthotopic or subcutaneous implantation of viral vectors, bacterial vectors, organoids, cell lines, or tissues from human patients, mice, or any other organism into genetically diverse host mice. This service also provides probe-induced, fluorescent, and bioluminescent imaging of live mice, for either one-time or longitudinal studies. In addition, efficacy studies of novel therapies can also be conducted by the service. Through coordination with The Jackson Laboratory’s Comparative Medicine and Quality, Research Animal Facility, Surgical Services, and relevant Scientific Services, the XLIS assists users in (i) coordination of the filing/amendment of regulatory paperwork required by the Animal Care and Use Committee (ACUC), Institutional Review Board for Human Subjects Research (IRB), and/or Institutional Biosafety Committee (IBC), (ii) planning and management of xenograft projects, (iii) implantation of the aforementioned samples into host mice, (iv) post-engraftment tumor characterization and analysis, including bioluminescence and fluorescence in vivo imaging, and (iv) efficacy studies.
XLIS provides management mechanisms to coordinate the receipt of human patient tissue samples from regional and/or out-of-state hospitals as well as mouse tissue samples. Upon arrival, tissue samples are tested for the presence of the viral contaminant LCMV and for bacterial contamination. With the necessary approval from the ACUC, IRB, and/or IBC for a specific project, XLIS performs implantation procedures that can include intraperitoneal, intravenous, intrafemoral, intracranial, or subcutaneous routes, as well as orthotopic surgery. Based on project requirements, XLIS performs post-engraftment analyses of host mice that can include tumor volume measurement, in vivo imaging, compound/drug administration, tumor harvesting, and/or passaging.
All implantation procedures are performed in shared ABSL-2 facilities equipped with the necessary common surgical and research equipment.
Xenograft and Live Imaging Services equipment
Acknowledgement & Authorship: (sample language for Scientific Services acknowledgements for your team will be included here)
Xenograft and Live Imaging Services (XLIS) is a collaborative core facility with specialized expertise. Please consider the importance of our contributions to your research program which may fit one or several roles of the CRediT authorship taxonomy.
Please remember to acknowledge the use of XLIS in all manuscripts, publications, grant applications, press releases and presentations. Example language for the use of XLIS is below:
“We gratefully acknowledge the contribution of [optional: name of person] and the Xenograft and Live Imaging Services at The Jackson Laboratory for expert assistance with the work described in this publication.”