Cancer Model Development

PROJECT SUMMARY CANCER MODEL DEVELOPMENT SHARED RESOURCE (CMD) The overall mission of The Jackson Laboratory Cancer Center (JAXCC) is to bring genomic solutions to cancer medicine. Our basic research goal is to tackle the question of “Genetics and Genomics of Aging and Cancer”, while our translational intent is to contribute new concepts, technologies, and clinical education initiatives originating from basic science to advance precision cancer medicine. The Cancer Model Development Shared Resource (CMD) supports JAX Cancer Center members in the design, development, and use of sophisticated in vitro and in vivo models of cancer. The goal of this integrated Shared Resource is to provide end-to-end model development solutions for JAXCC investigators, facilitating navigation of the various components and services required to move from concept to the utilization of specific models for their own research. Critically, the CMD leverages the wealth of models available in JAX repositories and the deep expertise and experience of CMD staff to facilitate the development and use of such models by JAXCC members who have limited experience and/or infrastructure to design and execute such genetic manipulation and/or experimentation in their own laboratories. CMD consists of four services: Genetic Engineering Technologies (GET), which provides services to engineer and produce complex, precisely tunable, genetically engineered mouse models of cancer; the Genetically Engineered Mouse Models (GEMMs) service focusing on end-to-end project consultation and management of studies involving new or existing mouse models of cancer; Xenograft and Live Imaging Services (XLIS), which supports all aspects of xenograft project planning and colony management including creation and engraftment, compound testing, generation of new xenograft models, and live imaging; and Cellular Engineering (CE), which provides high-quality, custom-edited lines of human induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs), offering a range of allele types that include knock-outs, knockins, single-base variants, and conditional loss-of-function alleles. To accomplish CMD’s goal of serving as a one-stop shop to support cancer model development and application, the Specific Aims of the CMD Shared Resource are: Aim 1: Support the creation and use of genetically engineered models for cancer research; Aim 2: Provide access to a comprehensive suite of resources and services for the construction, use, and imaging of patient-derived xenograft (PDX) mouse models; and Aim 3: Support the use of unique resources including those from the JAX Center for Aging Research (JCAR) and strain heterogeneity panels to develop improved models of cancer.