# Animal Models of Disease Core

> **NIH NIH P30** · UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA · 2020 · $61,293

## Abstract

ANIMAL MODEL OF DISEASE CORE – PROJECT SUMMARY/ABSTRACT
 The Animal Model of Disease Core (AMDC) is a comprehensive shared resource that has served UVA
Cancer Center researchers' needs for more than two decades. Mice are one of the most widely used animal
models for cancer. While cancer researchers have successfully studied the molecular and cellular properties of
cancer cells propagated in culture, increasingly mouse models of cancer provide a more physiologically
relevant opportunity to investigate the interplay of cancer cells, the tumor microenvironment, and the host
immune system. Mouse models provide opportunities to study the evolution of cancer progression from first
mutations to metastasis, and the unique opportunity to assess the genetic and epigenetic events correlated
with acquisition of drug resistance.
 Following guidance from the UVACC leadership, the AMDC was formed by integrating two pre-existing
shared resources: the Genetically Engineered Murine Model (GEMM) Core, and the Preclinical Tumor
Assessment and Imaging Core, which consisted of the Tumor Xenograft Model (TXM) and Molecular Imagining
Core (MIC) sections. This merger was conducted with the goal of better integrating cancer animal model
creation, analysis and imaging. The AMDC integrates genome engineering, tumor xenografting, and imaging
technologies to efficiently produce and analyze cancer animal models for UVA Cancer Center investigators.
Since the last CCSG renewal, the AMDC has made great strides in novel technology development and state-
of-art instrument acquisition. The AMDC swiftly adopted the Crispr-Cas9 technology for genome editing which
enables cancer animal model generation at an unprecedented speed with significantly lowered cost. The
AMDC also greatly expanded their library of patient derived xenograft (PDX) tumor models of ovarian cancer,
head and neck cancers, and prostate and kidney GU cancers. The ultimate goal of these PDX efforts is to
generate several lines of highly clinically relevant cancer models to be made widely available to the UVA
community of cancer investigators. The AMDC has upgraded its PET imaging program with the addition of a
cyclotron, which was funded by an NIH-NCRR high end instrument grant. In 2011, the cyclotron was installed
in the Life Sciences Annex (built with funds from UVA SOM) adjoining the Snyder Building in the Fontaine
Research Park.
 The AMDC is administered under ORCA, led by Dr. Jay W. Fox, the UVA Cancer Center Associate
Director for Laboratory Infrastructure. AMDC staff routinely interact with other Cancer Center shared resources
in particular the Biomolecular Analysis Facility, Biostatistics, Advanced Microscopy Facility, and Biorepository
and Tissue Research Facilities. The interactions with other shared resource facilities on behalf of AMDC users
help make the AMDC a one-stop service provider.
 Many of the AMDC users are UVA Cancer Center members who benefit from a co-pay that reduces
their charges. The AMDC al...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9854910
- **Project number:** 5P30CA044579-29
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA
- **Principal Investigator:** WENHAO XU
- **Activity code:** P30 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $61,293
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** — → —

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9854910

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9854910, Animal Models of Disease Core (5P30CA044579-29). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-21 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9854910. Licensed CC0.

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