# Animal Core (Core D)

> **NIH NIH P50** · UNIVERSITY OF TX MD ANDERSON CAN CTR · 2021 · $168,970

## Abstract

SUMMARY: ANIMAL CORE (CORE D) 
Investigations into brain tumor biology and therapy are best carried out in orthotopic animal models that mimic 
the natural milieu of the tumor. The ability to reach meaningful conclusions from these in vivo studies is greatly 
enhanced when uniform, readily reproducible animal models are used. The core also provides support for 
investigators using genetically engineered mouse models (in particular the RCAS/Ntv-a model). The purpose of 
the Animal Core is to provide an animal modeling service that centralizes expertise thereby achieving uniformity 
and reproducibility that permits accurate comparisons between experiments, research groups, and projects in 
this Brain Cancer SPORE. In the current funding period, the Animal Core performed 546 experiments involving 
over 15,000 animals for SPORE investigators. In the next 5-year funding period, the Animal Core will continue 
to provide expert services to all investigators in Brain Cancer SPORE. To this end, the Core will: 
1) Provide support for orthotopic animal experiments using patient-derived glioma stem cell lines (GSCs), 
 which are currently considered the gold standard in vivo model of human gliomas. This Core has 
 developed approximately 100 GSCs, over 40 of which have been fully molecularly characterized; 
2) Provide support for flank and orthotopic animal experiments using patient-derived tumor explants from the 
 operating room implanted into NOD.Cg-PrkdcscidIl2rgtm1Wjl/SzJ (NSG) mice; 
3) Provide support for animal experiments using immunocompetent genetically engineered mouse models 
 (GEMMs), particularly the RCAS/Ntv-a system; 
4) Provide support for orthotopic animal experiments testing oncolytic adenoviruses using immunocompetent 
 hamster models that are permissive to viral replication; 
5) Provide support for orthotopic animal experiments using traditional profession glioma cell lines from 
 humans (U87, U251, LN229) and mice (GL261); 
6) Provide support for in vivo imaging either with bioluminescence imaging (BLI) or magnetic resonance 
 imaging (MRI) to assess efficacy of therapeutic strategies. 
These services are mission critical and one or more of these services are used by all Projects in this SPORE.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10246331
- **Project number:** 5P50CA127001-13
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF TX MD ANDERSON CAN CTR
- **Principal Investigator:** Betty Kim
- **Activity code:** P50 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $168,970
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2008-09-01 → 2024-08-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10246331

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10246331, Animal Core (Core D) (5P50CA127001-13). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-21 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10246331. Licensed CC0.

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