# Animal Models Shared Resource

> **NIH NIH P30** · GEORGETOWN UNIVERSITY · 2024 · $68,786

## Abstract

ANIMAL MODELS SHARED RESOURCE: PROJECT SUMMARY
Animal models are powerful tools that are vital to translational cancer research. The Georgetown Lombardi
Comprehensive Cancer Center (LCCC) Animal Models Shared Resource (AMSR), directed by Christopher
Albanese, PhD (DC), comprises three components: rodent, zebrafish, and the Preclinical Imaging Research Lab
(PIRL). Andrew Nelson, DVM (NJ), and Patricia Foley, DVM (DC), manage the rodent component; Eric Glasgow,
PhD (DC) manages the zebrafish component; Albanese directs the PIRL. The function of AMSR is to facilitate
the efficient, economical, state-of-the-art use and imaging of animals for the performance of cancer-related
studies. This is accomplished through resources situated at both LCCC Consortium sites in DC and NJ, where
highly trained faculty and staff provide access to animal services to LCCC Members. Significant emphasis is
placed on assisting users with the design, performance, and imaging of studies using vertebrate models
extending from zebrafish to genetically engineered and immunodeficient rodents. Major services in the rodent
component of the AMSR include establishing and managing xenograft, patient-derived xenograft (PDX), and
orthotopic models; performance of surgical procedures; mouse colony management; monitoring tumor growth
and metastasis; blood collection; necropsy procedures; and administration of drugs or other compounds and
delivery of specialized diets. Services for zebrafish include generation and maintenance of genetic models;
toxicity screening; and xenotransplantation experiments (i.e., “zevatars”—zebrafish avatars. Animal studies are
performed within Georgetown University’s (GU) Division of Comparative Medicine (DCM) and a centralized
animal facility in NJ, both accredited by AAALAC International. Imaging services provided by the AMSR allow
monitoring of tumor initiation, progression, metabolism, and response to therapy. Imaging equipment includes
high-resolution, in vivo and ex vivo, small animal imaging and image analysis using a new (April 2021) Bruker 7
tesla magnetic resonance imaging and spectroscopy console secured with an NIH Shared Equipment grant (NIH
S10 OD0251531), a new (March 2020) small animal ultrasound (VisualSonics Vevo 3100) workstation to
supplement the existing Vevo 3100, a mouse DEXA instrument (Lunar PIXImus) and bioluminescent and visible
to near-infrared Lumina spectroscopic imagers. The AMSR works closely with the Histopathology & Tissue
Shared Resource, the Microscopy & Imaging Shared Resource, and the Biostatistics & Bioinformatics Shared
Resource to support its users in correlating in vivo data with pathologic, genetic/genomic, molecular,
mechanistic, and statistical analyses. In FY22, the AMSR supported 26 LCCC Members across all three
Research Programs (10 Cancer Cell Biology [CCB], 15 Cancer Host Interactions [CHI], and 1 Cancer Prevention
and Control [CPC] Member). During the current funding period, the AMSR contributed to 33 publicat...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10849015
- **Project number:** 2P30CA051008-30
- **Recipient organization:** GEORGETOWN UNIVERSITY
- **Principal Investigator:** CHRISTOPHER ALBANESE
- **Activity code:** P30 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $68,786
- **Award type:** 2
- **Project period:** 1997-08-15 → 2029-04-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10849015

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10849015, Animal Models Shared Resource (2P30CA051008-30). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10849015. Licensed CC0.

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