rapidCohort IVF expansion
rapidCohort – Rapid expansion through IVF
Build the cohort to fit the study.
Ozgene’s rapidCohort in vitro fertilization (IVF) expansion service helps you meet your study timeline with the right genotype, sex, age range, and cohort size. Expand an existing colony, re-establish one from frozen sperm, rederive a colony to specific pathogen-free (SPF) health status, or build a cohort following new model generation.
Combine rapidCohort with our goGermline™ model generation technology to reach study-ready animals three months sooner by eliminating the conventional post-chimera colony expansion breeding step.
How does IVF mouse cohort production work?
rapidCohort – IVF cohort expansion uses sperm and oocytes to generate embryos outside the animal before embryo transfer. More importantly, rapidCohort uses IVF as a strategic cohort-production option: instead of relying only on successive natural breeding cycles, production can be planned in larger, more synchronized waves around the requirements of the study.
When should I use IVF expansion instead of natural breeding?
Natural breeding is highly effective for many projects. As cohort requirements increase, however, animals are typically produced across successive matings and litters. This can extend production timelines, broaden the cohort’s age range and increase breeder management, cage use and scheduling complexity.
rapidCohort is especially useful when speed, age matching, scale or a defined study start date are priorities. The point at which IVF becomes advantageous depends on several factors, including genotype, sex, cohort size and breeding performance. Our experts can help you weigh these factors and choose the production strategy that best fits your study.
rapidCohort may be the right choice when:
- You need a large cohort for the required genotype. As cohort size increases, natural breeding requires more breeding pairs, cages and time. IVF enables production to be scaled more efficiently.
- You need animals within a very tight age range. IVF can generate a large number of animals within a defined production window, reducing the age spread that typically develops during sequential natural breeding.
- You need a large cohort fast. When timing matters, rapidCohort provides a more controlled production strategy rather than relying on successive rounds of mating and may be the faster strategy depending on cohort size.
- Sperm is already cryopreserved. A study cohort can be generated directly from cryopreserved sperm using IVF, avoiding the need to first recover the line and establish a natural breeding colony.
For smaller cohorts with flexible age requirements and timelines, natural breeding may still be the most practical approach. As cohort size, synchronization requirements or time pressure increase, the advantages of rapidCohort become increasingly significant. Genotype matters too: homozygous cohort projects may benefit from IVF at smaller overall cohort sizes, while heterozygous cohort projects may benefit from IVF when tighter age matching is required.
Heterozygous cohorts
Homozygous cohorts
Why choose Ozgene and rapidCohort?
rapidCohort is more than an IVF procedure – it is part of a coordinated strategy to deliver the animals your study needs. Ozgene brings together model generation, breeding, genotyping, model validation, IVF, colony management, and cryopreservation within one program. We plan around your study objectives, timeline, and budget, recommending natural breeding, rapidCohort, or a combination to suit your project.
- Connected workflow: From an existing line or new model generation to study-ready cohorts.
- Study-led planning: Genotype, sex, cohort size, age-range, and delivery date aligned with your requirements.
- Flexible production: Natural breeding, rapidCohort, or a combined approach.
- In-house genotyping and quality control: Verification built into the production process.
- Production in Australia and the USA: Breeding and cohort-production capabilities in both countries.
- Long-term line protection: Cryopreservation options to safeguard valuable mouse lines.
Create efficiently with goGermlineTM
Expand strategically with rapidCohort
goGermline™ + rapidCohort. Great on their own – Better together.
The germline of fertile male goGermline™ founders is derived exclusively from the targeted ES cells, resulting in transmission of the targeted allele to approximately half of their offspring. Unlike conventional male chimeras, goGermline™ removes the need for an additional generation to establish germline transmission, allowing cohort expansion to begin directly from the founders and shortening the time to cohort by at least three months.
rapidCohort builds on this advantage by using sperm from goGermline™ founders for IVF to generate multiple litters within a coordinated timeframe. Predictable transmission of the targeted allele enables efficient planning for the required genotype and cohort size, while IVF expansion supports the production of age-matched animals for a defined study start date.
Together, goGermline™ and rapidCohort create a direct path from custom model generation to study-ready cohorts—reducing successive breeding steps, accelerating cohort expansion, and providing greater control over cohort size, genotype, and timing.
What information do you need to plan my cohort?
Start with a conversation with one of our PhD scientists to discuss your project and study requirements. We’ll review the number of animals needed for each genotype and sex, the acceptable age range, whether the line is live or cryopreserved, and your target study start or delivery date. Together, we’ll identify the production strategy that best fits your study.
The cohort you need. When you need it.
Get in touch
We provide tailored preclinical solutions to support your research, from genetically modified mouse models to breeding and phenotyping. Request a free quote today.
Fill out the form, and our team will respond within two business days. For stock strain enquiries, contact Ozgene ARC at arc@ozgene.com. For additional contact options, visit our contact page.
