Key research position at LBI-CR. Emilio Casanova is an expert in BAC/PAC-based transgenic mice, Cre recombinase lines (constitutive and inducible), classical Knock-outs, conditional Knock-outs and Knock-ins. He is currently developing different cancer models using transgenic mice and combinatorial over-expression of oncogenes. He has also established the technology that allows us to generated BAC-based constructs and targeting of embryonic stem cells.
Robert EFERL, LBI - CR: BAC recombineering to generate compound Stat3/Stat5 double knock-out mice
Group Leader at LBI-CR. Recognized for work in liver, skin and bone disease. An authority on BAC recombineering and generation of multi-hit BAC transgenics for liver cancer mouse models; Basic biomedical science to identify functions of transcription factors in developmental processes and diseases.
Javier Martinez uses biochemistry to dissect the mechanism of RNAi. A new direction has also been established in the laboratory, towards the validation of targets for certain microRNAs. The biochemical skills and tools developed in the Martinez group for the study of RNA silencing, together with a global knowledge on RNAi technologies, will be critical for the elaboration of a RNAi platform applicable to mouse functional genomics.
Arabella MEIXNER, Stem Cell Centre: Gene Targeting Unit, IMBA
Mouse transgenesis has proven to be one of the most powerful approaches to study gene function both in physiology and pathological contexts. For instance, in cancer research, mouse models are an invaluable tool to identify the genetic alterations involved in the onset, progression and expansion of tumors, to define best targets for cancer treatment and to develop new, target-specific and more effective, cancer therapies. The main objective of the “Stem Cell Centre – Gene Targeting Unit” is to provide state of the art technologies for the manipulation of the mouse genome and the generation of genetically modified mouse strains.
Matthias Mueller is the head of the department of Agrobiotechnology IFA Tulln at the IFA Tulln at the University of Natural Resources and Applied Life Sciences (BOKU), Vienna. In 2000 he has initiated and established the Austrian Center for Biomodels and Transgenetics of the Veterinary University Vienna. He has established a strong internationally recognized research profile on veterinary biotechnology, transgenesis of biomodels and farm animals and signal transduction in host pathogen interaction. In addition, the biotechnology using transgenic farm animals for the production of proteins of high value as well the development of molecular tools for the large scale monitoring of health and hygiene status is another research field.
Josef Penninger has extensive experience in immunology, cardiovascular diseases, cancer, and functional mouse genomics. The basic approach of his group is to genetically manipulate genes in mice and combined with biochemical and functional studies to determine the effects of these mutations. As coordinator of the network he will act as overall leader for the project, will chair the board of directors and will be responsible to organize annual meetings.
Thomas Rülicke has a PhD in Genetics of Farm Animals, Faculty of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, University of Leipzig. Since his appointment as Full Professor in 2005 he is heads the Austrian Center for Biomodels and Transgenetics. His scientific experience is the field of laboratory animal science, including generation of genetically modified rodents by different techniques, cryopreservation and different techniques in assisted reproduction, phenotype characterization, and welfare assessment of transgenic rodents.
Maria Sibilia has successfully generated several inducible and conventional transgenic and knock-out mouse lines which have been published in leading scientific journals. She also employed tetraploid morulas and blastocysts to generate chimeric and ES mice, as well as inducible systems (Cre/LoxP, Tet) for regulated gene expression in mice. Maria Sibilia heads a research group which is focusing on the molecular characterization of EGF receptor signaling in cancer development and on the analysis of DC function during anti-tumor immune responses using the mouse as a model system.
