Small Animal Studies

Abstract Shared Resource 11: Small Animal Studies (SAS-SR) The Small Animal Studies Shared Resource (SAS-SR) comprises two components: the Small Animal Imaging Core and the Animal Tumor Models component. This combined resource provides exceptional quality services for City of Hope Comprehensive Cancer Center (COHCCC) Members for basic and translational preclinical studies in cancer biology, anti-cancer drug development, and stem cell therapeutic development. Specific Aims for SAS-SR: Aim 1. Provide consultation for the design, performance, and analysis of animal experiments. Aim 2. Facilitate the development of new animal models and novel non-invasive in vivo imaging technology in support of cancer research. Aim 3. Maintain the resources and expertise necessary for conducting animal research with high quality standards and in compliance with local, state, and national guidelines. The Small Animal Imaging component of the SAS-SR provides consultation, advanced imaging equipment, imaging services, hands-on training for COHCCC Members, and support for protocol and grant preparation. Current systems in the Imaging Laboratory include five units for bioluminescence/fluorescence optical imaging (Lago/Lago X/Ami HTX from Spectral Instruments Imaging and a PerkinElmer IVIS), a GNEXT PET/CT instrument (SofieBiosciences), a 7T MRI/PET (MRsolutions), and ultrasound imager (VisualSonics VEVO). These systems support molecular-based imaging to allow for the monitoring of cellular processes and the non- invasive assessment of pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of therapeutic agents. The Animal Tumor Models component of the SAS-SR has established patient-derived xenograft (PDX) models of multiple cancers in collaboration with COH faculty and has developed next-generation humanized mouse models for research in cancer immunotherapy and in vivo drug metabolism/toxicity studies. The development of PDX models supports precision medicine allowing investigators to evaluate tumor growth and therapeutic response for individual patients. The Animal Tumor Models component also provides specialized drug delivery services, training for in vivo procedures, and support for protocol preparation and grant development. The SAS-SR is co-directed by Dr. Anna Wu, Professor and Chair, Department of Immunology and Theranostics and by Dr. Jun Wu, an Associate Research Professor of Comparative Medicine. Activities are supported by highly qualified personnel that maintain and operate the instrumentation. Members Utilization by %Revenue 2017–21: 96.7 Total (11.2 MCBC, 33.4 DCT, 26.6 CI, 25.5 HM) Publications by Members: 88, 28 with Impact Factor >10 Grants Supported: 78 Total (3 ACS, 8 CIRM, 8 DoD, 4 LLS, 33 NCI of 46 NIH (32 R01, 1 U01))