Connecting patient-derived tumor models to early cancer trials at Dana‑Farber
DF/HCC Preclinical Translation-Focused Clinical Investigator to Bridge PDXNet and the ETCTN
This effort links tumor models made from patients' cancers with early-phase cancer trial teams to help bring better treatment options to people with cancer.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Dana-Farber Cancer Inst NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-10893222 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
You would see a clinician-scientist at Dana‑Farber working with researchers who run patient-derived tumor (PDX) models to choose the most promising drugs and models. He will mentor early- and mid-career investigators and help turn strong lab data into Letters of Intent for ETCTN early-phase trials. At least one PDX therapeutic study per year will be run to generate the data needed to support new clinical trials, including projects that address health disparities. The approach combines lab studies using patient tumor tissue with multi-site clinical trial planning through the ETCTN.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates are people with cancers that match therapies being developed for ETCTN early-phase trials or patients willing to donate tumor tissue for PDX research.
Not a fit: People without cancer or whose tumor types are not included in the chosen PDX models or ETCTN trial plans are unlikely to benefit directly.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could speed the move from lab findings to early clinical trials and increase access to more targeted treatment options.
How similar studies have performed: PDX-based preclinical work and ETCTN early-phase trials have each informed treatment development before, so this bridging approach builds on prior successes though it is still being refined.
Where this research is happening
Boston, United States
- Dana-Farber Cancer Inst — Boston, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Shapiro, Geoffrey I. — Dana-Farber Cancer Inst
- Study coordinator: Shapiro, Geoffrey I.
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.