Services

ICS is specialized in the characterization and validation of genetic engineering models and in pharmacological studies (Drug target identification or validation / Efficacy / Risks evaluation).

Because genetically engineered mouse models for human disease are pivotal in bridging scientific discovery to clinical development, ICS's unwavering mission is to give every model and/or drug its best chance to succeed. We achieve this by applying our core scientific knowledge, regulatory expertise, and preclinical excellence for expedited discovery and analysis.

Our phenotyping department was established to provide state-of-the-art service, consultancy, and equipment for the analysis of anatomical, physiological, and behavioral changes. Consequently, ICS fosters the development and implementation of new technologies for testing mouse models and new therapeutic molecules.

Our phenotyping department was established to provide state-of-the-art service, consultancy, and equipment for the analysis of anatomical, physiological, and behavioral changes. Consequently, ICS fosters the development and implementation of new technologies for testing mouse models and new therapeutic molecules.

• Only ICS is directly backed up by a fundamental research institute. The exclusive network and alliances of academic specialists and experts from the IGBMC enables access to quality and late innovations to perform projects.

• Final scientific report analyzing all generated data starting from specific results to global understanding. 

• An all-inclusive range of services within a single facility (50000 mice, 900m2 phenotyping area, 2100m2 breeding area).

Our mission is to assist investigators in their experimental design and execution by providing an extensive baseline phenotypic profile of mice. Several approaches can be proposed, according to our established SOPs and our expertise. 

ICS Services allows you to explore the whole physiological systems and the related diseases with more than 250 validated tests covering 500 different parameters.

We propose standardized assays... to tailored-made protocol

• Neurobiology and Behavior
  • Behavior and Cognition
  • Sensory systems
• Cardiovascular system
  • Cardiac system
  • Vascular system
  • Models / Challenges
• Lung exploration functions
  • Assays
  • In vivo inflammatory disease models
• Clinical chemistry and haematology
  • Blood chemistry
  • Endocrine exploration
  • Haematology and coagulation
  • Immunology
  • Renal function
• Metabolic exploration
  • Energy metabolism
  • Glucose homeostasis
  • Bone metabolism
  • Intestinal function
  • Renal function
  • Challenges / Models
• Histopathology and Embryology
  • Standard pathological analysis
  • Gene expression patterns
  • Histological technics
  • Embryology
  • Cell proliferation and apoptosis

What's wrong with my mice ?

Exemples of comprehensive standardized first line protocols

Strategy of systematic pathological analysis

For meaningful scientific interpretation of histopathological data through analysis of large cohorts of mice, we recommend, 24 mice per age group (i.e., number used in systematic clinical tests). However, as it takes several hours of technician time to collect, process and stain the tissues of a single mouse, economical aspects must be taken into account. Hence, we commonly recommend the following as a more economical phenotyping strategy:

• Step 1. Each age group is subdivided into two subgroups. Mice from subgroup A are subjected to systematic macroscopic and microscopic analyses. Mice from subgroup B are subjected to systematic necropsy and to targeted histological evaluation.
• Step 2. A preliminary histopathology report is made available 5 weeks after necropsy. 
• Step 3. Depending on the histological findings, a second round of targeted histological analyses of subgroup B mice may be undertaken with the objective of increasing the statistical significance of the observations.

Proposed flow scheme

Strategy of first-line blood analysis

ICS proposes a first-line panel of blood analyses in order to give first insights into clinical chemistry, hematology and endocrinology. This provides clients a rapid and economical first insight regarding general health and potential aberrant pathways for their mouse model.

• We recommend use of 9 mice/group/gender. All mice should be housed and handled under the same conditions.t is recommended to use 9 mice/group/gender. All the mice must be housed and handle within the same conditions.
• The analyses are generally performed on adult mice, up to 12 weeks of age, withthe same age +/- 2 weeks. 
• The recommendation is to fast the mice for 4 hoursprior to blood collection.
• Blood can be collected from various routes: retro-orbital puncture, jugular vein, sub-mandibular or tail bleeding. Intra cardiac puncture can also be used as a terminal procedure.lood could be collected by different way: retro-orbital puncture, jugular vein,sub-mandibular or tail bleeding. Intra cardiac puncture could be used as a terminal procedure.

See parameters

Exemples of first-line phenotyping analysis

Broad general phenotyping (Metabolism, cardiology, bone...) through EMPReSS program

Broad general phenotyping (Behavior, CNS, sensory system...) through EMPReSS program

Embryonic and adult phenotyping through the IMPReSS program

• The IMPC (International Mouse Phenotyping Consortium) core pipeline describes the phenotyping parameters that have been set by the participating institutions. This pipeline provides a broad and unbiased evaluation of mutant phenotypes and is freely available to the research community. Updates on the progress of this are available through IMPReSS. 

Specialized phenotyping approaches

Disease focused approach

• Metabolism
• Nephrology
• Cardiovascular
• Respiratory
• Inflammation
• Psychiatry
• Neurology
• Development and growth
• Oncology

Customized phenotyping protocol

Pharmaco-phenotyping (Pharmacology, lead optimization toxicology screening)

Web resources

Infrafrontier

International Mouse Phenotyping Consortium

Jax Laboratories