Genetically Engineered Models (GEMs) for Preclinical Research
Taconic Biosciences offers over 20,600 genetically engineered models (GEMs), including proprietary transgenic mice, knockout models, and curated repositories. Many live GEMs are available for immediate access under simple licensing terms. Cryopreserved models can be recovered and delivered in as little as 12 weeks, with a single purchase covering cryorecovery, delivery of four mutant animals, and perpetual use rights. Through partnership with Cyagen Biosciences, Taconic now provides access to one of the most extensive cryopreserved repositories in the industry, paired with Taconic's integrated embryology and colony management services. We make it easy to accelerate discovery with trusted, high-quality GEM solutions.
Predictive, Translational Research - Taconic’s GEMs are designed to accurately model human disease biology, providing highly predictive insights that translate more effectively to clinical outcomes. By using models that better reflect human physiology and disease progression, researchers can reduce the risk of failure in later stages of drug development.
Customizable Solutions - Taconic offers both a broad portfolio of ready-to-use GEMs and fully customizable model generation services. Whether you need a rapid solution or a complex, targeted model, Taconic’s scientific team can design, create, and deliver a GEM tailored to your specific research objectives, saving valuable time and resources.
Accelerated Study Timelines - Through comprehensive colony management, breeding optimization, and preconditioning services, Taconic helps researchers streamline workflows and shorten study timelines. With scalable vivarium space and flexible delivery options, projects can move from concept to actionable data faster and more efficiently.
Scientific Partnership - When working with Taconic, researchers gain more than just a model—they gain a scientific partner. Our team of PhD-level experts provides ongoing guidance on model selection, experimental design, and troubleshooting, ensuring studies are optimized for success from start to finish.
High Quality and Compliance Standards - Taconic’s commitment to animal welfare, rigorous health standards, and regulatory compliance ensures the highest quality models for your research. Programs like Taconic AWARE™ further enhance animal care practices, helping researchers meet ethical standards while maintaining reproducibility and data integrity.
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Contact us today to start a conversation about your genetically engineered model needs.
Why Use Genetically Engineered Mice for Your Research Studies?
Genetically engineered models (GEMs) play a critical role in advancing preclinical research at Taconic Biosciences. These mouse and rat models are designed to replicate human disease biology, enabling researchers to study gene function, disease mechanisms, and therapeutic responses in a controlled, in vivo setting.
Taconic's GEMs support a wide range of research areas—including oncology, neuroscience, and immunology—by delivering highly translational insights and reducing the time to discovery. With custom model generation, colony management, and PhD scientific support, Taconic provides the expertise and infrastructure to help researchers accelerate the development of targeted therapies.
- Live GEMs
- Cryopreserved GEMs
- Featured Models: NOG Portfolio
- Featured Model: rasH2 mice
- Featured Models: Transgenic HLA mice
Live GEMs
Taconic Transgenic Models (TTMs)
- Available off-the-shelf in typical study quantities with full use rights
- Sold under simple license terms with no license fees or signatures required
- Colonies are sized to provide typical cohorts with minimal lead time
- Widely used in ADMET, metabolic and cardiovascular disease, neurodegeneration, short-term carcinogenicity bioassays, immunology, and oncology studies
- All TTMs may be purchased directly by CROs for use in contract studies
Other live GEMs
Terms for other lines vary; see individual product pages. Some models are sponsored for distribution by third parties such as The Michael J. Fox Foundation or The ALS Association.
Cryopreserved GEMs
Taconic offers thousands of cryopreserved GEM lines accessed via simple Terms of Sale which grant perpetual use rights. A single purchase price provides cryorecovery and a deliverable of four* mutant animals at the Murine Pathogen Free™ health standard within 12 weeks. Taconic can work with you to quickly scale up to meet your study cohort needs and manage your colony.
Featured Models: NOG Portfolio
A unique portfolio with broad applications built upon the super immunodeficient CIEA NOG mouse®
The NOG mouse is a widely used and versatile super immunodeficient mouse which offers many advantages over standard nude and scid strains, particularly for engraftment of challenging cell lines, patient-derived xenografts, and immune system humanization.
The NOG mouse is the base of a flexible platform which includes a variety of next-generation models which have specific utility as well as several different types of humanized immune system (HIS) models.
Featured Model: the rasH2™ mouse
The rasH2™ mouse is a genetically modified model carrying a human HRAS transgene, making it highly susceptible to carcinogenesis. It enables faster, more reliable cancer risk assessment in preclinical research, reducing the time and cost of long-term studies. Regulatory agencies recognize rasH2™ mice as a key tool for evaluating the carcinogenic potential of new drugs.
The rasH2™ model enables you to perform short-term carcinogenicity testing of compounds on a much faster timeline, reducing the in-life portion of your study to 1/4 of a traditional two-year study. Developed by the Central Institute for Experimental Medicine (CIEM) and distributed by Taconic, rasH2™ is the only transgenic model widely used by drug developers and accepted by regulatory authorities. rasH2™ mice are sold with full research rights and are readily available in typical quantities for distribution globally - enabling you to begin using them in your research immediately.
Featured Models: Transgenic HLA mice
Taconic Biosciences offers an exclusive portfolio of transgenic rodents which express human HLA molecules.
Transgenic mice that express chimeric human HLA molecules represent a unique in vivo experimental model for evaluating human immune system function, and they are commonly used in vaccine and immuno-oncology research. The comprehensive Taconic Transgenic HLA model portfolio provides excellent coverage across HLA class I supertypes as well as an exclusive HLA class II supertype model, which are all available under simple use terms without license fees.
Frequently Asked Genetically Engineered Model Questions
Learn more about using genetically engineered models in your in vivo studies.
Genetically engineered mouse and rat models (GEMs) are laboratory animals whose DNA has been intentionally modified using techniques like CRISPR, transgenesis, or gene knockout. These models are critical tools for preclinical research, allowing scientists to study the genetic basis of diseases, evaluate drug efficacy, and explore biological functions in a controlled environment.
GEMs provide essential in vivo systems to replicate human disease mechanisms, offering insights that cell cultures and in vitro studies cannot achieve. By using genetically modified mice and rats, researchers can better predict therapeutic responses, study disease progression, and accelerate the development of new treatments in areas like oncology, neuroscience, immunology, and metabolic disorders.
Genetically engineered rodent models are created through advanced gene editing technologies. Scientists can insert, delete, or alter specific genes using methods such as CRISPR/Cas9, traditional transgenic techniques, or targeted gene knockouts. Depending on the research goal, models can be designed for conditional gene expression, humanized immune systems, or specific disease mutations, making them highly customizable for scientific studies.
Various genetic modifications are possible, including:
Knockout models, where a gene is completely disabled to study loss-of-function effects.
Knock-in models, where specific mutations or reporter genes are inserted into the genome.
Humanized models, where human genes or immune components are introduced to better mimic human biology.
Conditional models, where gene expression is controlled spatially or temporally using inducible systems.
Choosing the right GEM depends on several factors, including your target disease area, the genetic background required, and the specific biological pathways you want to investigate. Researchers should consider factors like model validation data, strain background, phenotypic characteristics, and licensing terms. Partnering with a specialized provider like Taconic Biosciences can also help ensure the optimal model selection to meet your experimental needs and accelerate research outcomes. Contact us now to drive your discovery forward.
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