The Sidi Chen Lab at Yale has developed genetically engineered mice using the CRISPR enzyme Cas12a to enable simultaneous editing of multiple genes. These mice serve as powerful tools for advanced disease modeling and immune cell engineering, allowing scientists to study complex genetic interactions and rapidly create realistic cancer models. A paper describing the work recently appeared in Nature Biomedical Engineering.

Central to the project was high-performance research computing, which powered the analysis of vast genomic datasets. Tools like BWA-MEM, GATK, and CRISPResso2 were used to assess gene editing efficiency and detect off-target effects. Spatial transcriptomics data were processed using Seurat and UMAP to map cellular diversity in tumors.

This integration of biotechnology and computational analysis marks a significant step toward scalable, precision genome engineering.