# Biological Evaluation SR (BE-SR)

> **NIH NIH P30** · PURDUE UNIVERSITY · 2020 · $184,396

## Abstract

Biological Evaluation Shared Resource (BE-SR)
 Project Summary
 The discovery of new drug moieties to combat cancer is of paramount importance in overcoming this
destructive family of diseases. In order to facilitate entry of new drugs into clinical trials, biological targets must
be identified and validated, preliminary pharmacokinetics must be assessed, and initial toxicity/safety
characteristics must be determined. Furthermore, new compounds must demonstrate sufficient efficacy in
eliminating established tumors in animal models. In cancer biology, mouse models continue to play significant
roles in studying tumor invasion, metastasis, and malignant transformation, as well as in examining responses
to therapy. Towards this end, the use of mice for this testing is a cost-effective approach in early-stage
evaluations, especially in a basic science research environment. Key advancements have emerged in the
development of animal models for cancer biology, including the advent of orthotopic models for metastasis,
transgenic animals that have developmental pathways to tumorigenesis, and state-of-the-art
immunocompromised strains. In addition, transplanted human xenografts continue to serve as primary tools for
molecular discovery and evaluation. Despite their flaws and shortcomings, xenograft mouse models have played
a significant role in cancer drug development over the past three decades, and mouse models will continue to
be a foundation in the war against cancer. At the Purdue University Center for Cancer Research (PCCR), where
a vast pipeline of potential new agents for diagnosing and treating cancer are emerging, researchers need a
productive and established facility for in vivo testing in murine cancer models. The mission of the Biological
Evaluation Shared Resource (BE-SR) is to provide expert guidance to PCCR investigators in preparing grant
proposals selecting animal models, designing animal studies, and performing toxicity testing and proof-of-
concept efficacy studies to advance investigator's projects using in vivo testing. In keeping with the BE-SR's
desire to offer the latest technologies in platform testing, the BE-SR has transitioned to using The Jackson
Laboratory's highly immunocompromised NRG mice for xenograft studies with cell lines, and to using patient-
derived xenograft (PDX) testing in this strain. These new services are just an example of the BE-SR's
commitment to adopting new technologies and approaches into the PCCR in order to better serve the evolving
needs of its researchers.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10024913
- **Project number:** 2P30CA023168-40
- **Recipient organization:** PURDUE UNIVERSITY
- **Principal Investigator:** BENNETT David ELZEY
- **Activity code:** P30 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $184,396
- **Award type:** 2
- **Project period:** — → —

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10024913

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10024913, Biological Evaluation SR (BE-SR) (2P30CA023168-40). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10024913. Licensed CC0.

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