MMPC-live: Accessible resources for phenotyping of live mouse models of diabetes and obesity

MMPC-live: Accessible resources for phenotyping of live mouse models of diabetes and obesity

Professor Carol F. Elias, from the University of Michigan’s Department of Molecular & Integrative Physiology, discusses key research opportunities enabled by the NIDDK Mouse Metabolic Phenotyping Center in live models – MMPC-Live. The research community increasingly confronts challenges in accessing, applying, and executing specialized techniques to evaluate nuanced quantitative and qualitative phenotypes in the growing array of genetically altered (e.g., transgenic, knockout), surgically modified (e.g., bariatric surgery), and environmentally influenced (e.g., high-fat diet) mouse models. The expertise, equipment, and capabilities required to perform intricate physiological, metabolic, and behavioral assessments in live mice are often unavailable at every research institution involved in diabetes and obesity studies. In 2001, the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIH-NIDDK) established the Mouse Metabolic Phenotyping Centers (MMPCs) to provide the scientific community with subsidized, high-quality, specialized phenotyping services. As of 2023, these centers exclusively offer services for live mouse models of obesity, diabetes, and related complications and have been rebranded as MMPC-Live.