# Core 2: In vivo cancer modeling and screening core facility

> **NIH NIH U54** · YALE UNIVERSITY · 2020 · $255,559

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY/ABSTRACT: Core 2 
We will establish a core facility for in vivo cancer modeling and screening. This core facility (core 2 in the 
cancer systems biology center) will consist of several sets of functional components, defined as modules, 
including vector design and genome-scale library construction, large-scale cell culture and virus production, 
tumor transplantation and in vivo pooled screening, CRISPR/Cas9 mediated somatic genome editing for 
invasive phenotype analysis. In preliminary studies, we have applied in vivo somatic genome editing to 
generate tumor models of specific driver genes in mice, and demonstrated in vivo screening in a lung 
metastasis animal model. We will build four modules in this core, including the following: Module 1. Facility 
for vector design and genome-scale library construction. This module supports functional investigations of 
the mammalian genome that can reveal how genetic alterations lead to changes in phenotype, for example 
cellular invasiveness phenotype described in the Projects 1 and 2. Module 2. Facility for large-scale cell 
culture, viral vector production and transduction. This will serve for two purposes: (1) generation of 
customized viral particles for in vivo studies involving animals models for Projects 1 and 2 as well as other 
collaborators; (2) high-throughput screening applications that requires transduction of a population of cells with 
highly complex libraries. Module 3. Facility for tumor transplantation and in vivo pooled screening. This 
module will setup a facility with two capacities: (1) tumor transplantation and (2) in vivo pooled screening. This 
will serve for the purpose of validating the genes discovered in the projects in mouse models, to discover new 
genes with invasive phenotypes using in vivo screens, or to enable collaborative research for discovery of new 
drug targets. Module 4. Facility for CRISPR/Cas9 mediated somatic genome editing, for somatic genome 
editing in various animals for virtually any loci in the mouse genome. We will establish this platform and utilize 
it for research described in the projects and for setting up collaborations with various Yale investigators. 
Specifically, we will utilize CRISPR library approach in conjunction with the Rapid Analysis of Cell migration 
Enhancement (RACE) system described in the Projects, to identify how genetic alterations lead to changes in 
cellular invasiveness phenotype. In addition, we will utilize these modules in the core to build novel models of 
WNK1, NKCC1 and their targets, as well as combinations of mutant ERK, AKT and downstream genes. In 
summary, this core will be tightly integrated into the U54 center, provide a powerful technology and resource 
platform for in vivo cancer systems biology, and support Research Projects in the center as well as other 
collaborators at Yale and the wider scientific community. Since there is no facility currently existing at Yale 
providing similar function...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10003293
- **Project number:** 5U54CA209992-05
- **Recipient organization:** YALE UNIVERSITY
- **Principal Investigator:** Sidi Chen
- **Activity code:** U54 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $255,559
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2016-08-08 → 2022-07-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10003293

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10003293, Core 2: In vivo cancer modeling and screening core facility (5U54CA209992-05). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-22 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10003293. Licensed CC0.

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