# Keck-UNM Small Animal Models and Imaging Shared Resource

> **NIH NIH P30** · UNIVERSITY OF NEW MEXICO HEALTH SCIS CTR · 2020 · $6,764

## Abstract

KECK-UNM SMALL ANIMAL MODELS & IMAGING SHARED RESOURCE 
ABSTRACT 
The University of New Mexico Cancer Center (UNMCC) Keck-UNM Small Animal Models and Imaging (Animal 
Models) Shared Resource provides cost-effective comprehensive services in the development and use of animal 
models for basic, translational, and pre-clinical cancer research. The Resource was established as a Developing 
Resource in July 2006 with funds from the UNMCC and the NCI P30 Cancer Center Support Grant and has 
evolved to offer a wide range of services, including consultation, protocol development and guidance through 
the compliance process, animal housing (provided in collaboration through the Animal Resource Facility), 
husbandry, handling, treatment, monitoring, surgery, and dissection/necropsy. The Resource has a 
comprehensive range of state-of-the-art capabilities in small-animal imaging, including PET/SPECT/CT 
modalities, MRI and other magnetic-based imaging modalities. The small-animal models component of the 
Resource specializes in genetically modified, chemically induced, and xenograft models of cancer, including 
orthotopic models and immunodeficient models for growth of primary human tumor tissues. The small-animal 
imaging component of the Resource is involved in emerging PET/SPECT/CT and bioluminescence/ fluorescence 
imaging and therapeutic research, and offers users a broad range of radiolabeling and in vivo analysis. In 2014, 
UNMCC purchased a new bioluminescence/fluorescence imaging instrument to track tumor progression, 
metastasis, and labeled nanotherapeutics and a new small animal irradiator, which will enhance development 
and analysis of humanized mouse models and hematopoietic cell engraftment. In 2014, the Cancer Center also 
recruited a dedicated Veterinary Pathologist to join the Resource to provide support to UNMCC investigators. 
Two faculty co-Directors, Helen Hathaway, PhD and Jeffrey Norenberg, PhD, PharmD, direct the Resource and 
services are provided by experienced technical staff. The Resource Directors are committed to continual 
development of state-of-the-science techniques to enhance UNMCC Research Programs. The Resource 
disseminates information about new technologies and models by maintaining an up-to-date web page, hosting 
regular open houses, and by giving presentations at UNMCC meetings and retreats. Reservations, billing and 
usage are tracked through a centralized on-line system. During the previous 5-year project period, 13 UNMCC 
members from 3 UNMCC Research Programs used the Resource, resulting in a total of 27 publications, of which 
5 are presently pending PMCIDs. In the reporting year of July 2013 – June 2014, UNMCC members were 
responsible for 83% of total Resource usage and were supported by 29 cancer-focused, peer-reviewed grants. 
Utilization of the Resource is expected to grow significantly in the next project period with the recent recruitment 
of many new UNMCC investigators developing and utilizing animal...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10230659
- **Project number:** 3P30CA118100-15S9
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF NEW MEXICO HEALTH SCIS CTR
- **Principal Investigator:** CHERYL LYNN WILLMAN
- **Activity code:** P30 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $6,764
- **Award type:** 3
- **Project period:** 2005-09-26 → 2021-08-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10230659

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10230659, Keck-UNM Small Animal Models and Imaging Shared Resource (3P30CA118100-15S9). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10230659. Licensed CC0.

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