At the forefront of biomedical research, the Mary Lyon Centre at MRC Harwell (MLC) plays a critical role in advancing our understanding of human disease through mouse genetics. As the UK’s national facility for mouse genetics model research, it provides specialised services that are indispensable for both academia and the biotech industry. From generating and phenotyping genetically altered mice to housing the National Mouse Archive, the centre serves as a hub of innovation and collaboration.

Why Mouse Models Matter

“I spend a lot of my time talking to people who have exhausted all other alternatives before moving to a mouse model,” says Sara Wells, Director of the MLC. “They might have done computational modelling, cellular work, or used other organisms like flies and worms, but at some point, they need a more complex mammalian system. That’s where we come in.”

Most human diseases have a significant genetic component. Many variants in our DNA predispose us to disease, yet our knowledge of these changes and how they cause disease remains limited.

Although outwardly a mouse looks very different from a human, its development, physiology, and biochemistry are remarkably similar. Studying genes in mice can therefore reveal important insights into the functions of genes in humans and mouse models of disease can closely mirror their human equivalents. This helps researchers investigate how a disease develops and explore potential treatments or preventive strategies.

One recent example is a collaboration between the MLC and the University of Bristol which used a new mouse model to provide an explanation as to why a toxin produced by E. coli bacteria leads to kidney failure in children. The exciting results have suggested that if doctors identify cases early, treatment with the drug eculizumab may prevent life-threatening kidney damage and death in children.

For researchers exploring complex biological processes, mouse models offer an essential bridge between early-stage discoveries and clinical applications. Whether assessing developmental gene mutations affecting conditions like cleft palate or investigating multi-gene interactions in cancer progression, the centre enables researchers to validate their findings.

Supporting Biotech and Pharma Innovation

“We have some large pharma partners who have been working with us for years,” says Sara. “They come to us because we are specialists in generating new mouse strains, modifying genes, and characterising them. Sometimes they need a strain from our National Mouse Archive, or they may have a strain they no longer use but want to store for future research. We provide all those services.”

The MLC collaborates with major pharmaceutical companies and emerging biotech firms alike, offering a range of services tailored to their research and development needs. For many smaller organisations, maintaining in-house animal facilities is cost-prohibitive and logistically complex. By partnering with the MLC, these companies gain access to cutting-edge facilities, expert animal care, and an ethical review process that ensures compliance with rigorous legal and regulatory standards.

A Neutral Ground for Scientific Collaboration

“One of the things we do here is provide a neutral platform for joint ventures between academia and commercial organisations,” Wells explains. “We have projects where the

academic lead is from a university and the commercial lead is from a biotech firm. We act as a neutral ground so that these partnerships can flourish without getting caught up in university or corporate regulations allowing both researchers and industry leaders to focus on scientific progress.”

Ethical and Transparent Research

“The more open you are about animal science, the better it is,” Wells emphasises. “Transparency is key. If you’re quiet about it, people assume the worst. We have a big outreach program to ensure people understand what we do and why it’s important.”

The centre provides an ethical review process led by experts in legislation and external committee members, to ensure that all projects adhere to the highest standards of animal welfare.

The Future of Research Partnerships

With world-class facilities and a mission to support both academic and commercial research, the MLC continues to be a vital resource for the scientific community. “Maintaining a facility like ours is expensive—we operate 24/7 to ensure the right temperature, humidity, and care for our animals,” Wells notes. “Smaller companies and individual researchers would struggle to maintain these resources on their own, which is why we are here to support them.”

Whether providing access to specialised mouse strains, facilitating complex genetic studies, or fostering industry-academic collaborations, the centre remains at the cutting edge of biomedical innovation. As the landscape of life sciences evolves, partnerships with institutions like the MLC will be essential in accelerating the translation of discoveries into real-world medical breakthroughs.