Developing advanced cancer models from diverse patient groups

University of California and UT Southwestern D-PDTC

NIH-funded research University of California at Davis · NIH-11168885

This project creates special cancer models from diverse patients to help us learn more about advanced cancer and find better treatments.

Quick facts

Grant typeNIH-funded research
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionUniversity of California at Davis NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Davis, United States)
Project IDNIH-11168885 on NIH RePORTER

What this research studies

We are creating over 120 new patient-derived xenograft (PDX) models from individuals with advanced cancer, focusing on diverse racial and ethnic backgrounds. These models, which involve growing patient tumor cells in laboratory settings, help us understand how cancer develops and responds to different treatments. We will use these models to test existing FDA-approved drugs and new drug combinations to see which ones work best. This work aims to reduce health disparities in cancer care by ensuring our research reflects the diversity of patients affected by advanced cancer.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: Patients with advanced cancer, particularly those from racially and ethnically diverse backgrounds, could potentially contribute tumor samples to help create these research models.

Not a fit: Patients who do not have advanced cancer or are not able to provide tumor samples for model development would not directly benefit from this specific research opportunity.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to more effective, personalized treatments for advanced cancer, especially for diverse patient populations.

How similar studies have performed: Patient-derived xenograft models are a well-established tool in cancer research, and this project expands on existing successful infrastructure to include more diverse populations.

Where this research is happening

Davis, United States

Researchers

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.
Conditions Advanced Cancer
Last reviewed 2026-06-09 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.