# Core B: Small Animal Radiation Core

> **NIH NIH P01** · UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA · 2021 · $183,888

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY
The overall goal of the Small Animal Radiation Core (SARC) is to provide “turn-key” animal
housing and photon and proton radiation (including image-guided radiation) to tumors implanted
into syngeneic mice as well as spontaneous, autocthonous tumors. Moreover, it will furnish
accurate dosimetry and quality control necessary for successful completion of the studies
proposed in Projects 2 and 3. A key feature of this Core is the centralization and
standardization of services intended to minimize inter-animal variability in terms of immune
system regulation and tumor response to radiation. We have devised a streamlined process for
movement of animals from ordering (C57/Bl6) or procuring them from breeding (KPC pancreatic
tumor model) to tumor radiation and back to housing until the animals are euthanized and
tumors and tissues are harvested. At the center of this Core is a dedicated animal holding
facility and a brand new renovated animal treatment room which will house and already
available and established Small Animal Radiation Research Platform (SARRP) instrument from
X-Strahl, Inc as well as dedicated proton Beam available in the Smilow Center for Translational
Research (SCTR). The three main aims of this core are: Aim 1: To establish a dedicated
housing suite with controlled environmental parameters. Aim 2: To deliver both Photon and
Proton-based irradiation to mouse tumors in a conformal manner using the Small Animal
Radiaiton Platform (SARRP) and available Proton Beam thereby avoiding radiation of normal
tissues as much as possible. Aim 3: To develop precise dosimetry and quality-control analysis
systems to ensure the prescribed dose was delivered to the target. The two co-Directors, Drs.
Koumenis and Solberg, bring considerable expertise in small animal radiation as well as
managing radiation facilities both at Penn and prior Institutions. Successful implementation of
these services will provide the Project Leaders seamless and uniform treatment modalities and
has the potential to serve as a model facility for other similar research efforts world-wide.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10005187
- **Project number:** 5P01CA210944-04
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA
- **Principal Investigator:** Constantinos Koumenis
- **Activity code:** P01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $183,888
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2017-08-01 → 2023-01-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10005187

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10005187, Core B: Small Animal Radiation Core (5P01CA210944-04). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10005187. Licensed CC0.

---

*[NIH grants dataset](/datasets/nih-grants) · CC0 1.0*