Consortium for Genetically Tractable Organisms

The advent of model organisms where genetic manipulations became standard procedures revolutionized biomedical research. Among these organisms, fruitflies Drosophila melanogaster, zebrafish Danio rerio, and mice Mus musculus have been the most widely used. A search in Pubmed reveals that up to 2013 more than 1 million research articles have been published using these 3 species. Studies using genetic manipulations in these species have led to fundamental findings in development, immunology, neuroscience, cancer, etc, that have been recognized with distinctions such as the Nobel Prize and the Lasker Award. They also have led to clinical trials and applications as vast as immunotherapy, chemotherapy, and drugs for psychiatric and cardiovascular disorders. Therefore, supporting research in these genetically modified organisms and developing new technologies is fundamental for biomedical research in Portugal, Europe and the World. Still, and despite the combination of expertise that exists nationally, Portugal has no organized Infrastructure to support research in these organisms.

CONGENTO - a Consortium for Genetically Tractable Organisms is the response to this need, and the first worldwide infrastructure to integrate the expertise in fruitflies, zebrafish and mice in one research supporting facility. CONGENTO was born from the realization of the needs in Portugal and the opportunity of synergizing efforts by the participating institutions. FC, IGC and IMM, later joined by CEDOC, organized a working group to do a SWOT analyses and perform a viability study with the Consulting Group ALCIMED concluded in 2009 and updated in 2013. Three main domains of services were identified as being critically needed in Portugal: 1 maintenance and hosting of genetically modified lines from the 3 species, either live or cryopreserved, 2 generation of new genetic lines and technologies in the different species, and 3 continuous education and certification in animal research and technology. CONGENTO has internationally recognized experts in these 3 domains, and has the combined spatial and equipment resources to support the Portuguese and also European Biomedical Research Community. The opportunity cost of not doing this is high, and can result in Portugal loosing important research, innovation, and technology transfer.

CONGENTO will be the first infrastructure in the world to synergize technology development across these 3 species, and provide state of the art services in all 3 organisms. Besides providing better and new services, CONGENTO will also lower costs for National research through an economy of scale, and importantly, will allow individual research groups at National and International institutions that do not have the appropriate facilities/infrastructures to perform experiments in these organisms through the site www.congento.org. CONGENTO will place Portugal in an unprecedented position in biomedical research in these species.