The mission of the UAB Center for Precision Animal Modeling (C-PAM) is to serve as a national resource for the generation, analysis, and distribution of animal models relevant to human genetic disorders for the purpose of pursuing disease mechanisms, developing diagnostic evidence, and identifying potential therapeutics. 

Description

C-PAM consists of five highly integrated components – the Coordination Section (CS), Pre/Co-Clinical Section (PCS), Bioinformatics Section (BIS), Disease Modeling Unit (DMU), and the Resource and Services Section (RSS) – that are essential for the efficient generation of precise animal models of direct relevance to human disease.  Each center’s component is directed by well-established clinicians, research scientists, or computational/data scientists with expertise in complementary and critical areas essential for this precision medicine initiative.

Goals

  • Interface with the clinical, research, and patient communities to select variants to model.
  • Confirm the pathogenicity of patient variants by modeling the variant in one or more animal disease model systems (C. elegans, Zebrafish, Xenopus, mouse, or rat).
  • Utilize these new models to provide biological insights into the function of the affected gene/protein and how the variant alters this function.
  • Identify, prioritize, and test targeted or repurposed therapeutics to alter disease progression and patient outcomes.
  • Develop tools and resources that facilitate definitive diagnoses and contribute to improving patient care. 
  • Establish protocols, processes, algorithms, and tools for the research community to further the understanding of human disorders.

Current Collaborations