Melanoma PDX Resource Center for 3D Tumor Models
Official title: PDX Core
Funded at Wistar Institute · NIH-11397796 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A melanoma-focused resource center provides living tumor models and 3D shapes to help researchers test new treatments.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Wistar Institute NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Philadelphia, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2017 |
| Project end | August 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $185,841 |
| NIH project number | 5U54CA224070-08 |
| Project ID | NIH-11397796 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Researchers and institutions focusing on melanoma who need diverse, well-characterized tumor models and 3D systems.
✕Less likely to help
This grant does not directly enroll patients for treatment.
What this research studies
This program offers melanoma patient-derived xenografts (PDX), melanoma cell lines, and 3D models like organoids and spheres to study therapies in a pre-clinical setting. It maintains a large collection of over 500 tumor samples representing diverse clinical and genetic backgrounds and coordinates sharing these models with researchers. The core also characterizes models at biological and molecular levels and ensures quality control, data storage, and data sharing. It trains investigators in the use of the available assays and models to advance melanoma research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, researchers could rapidly test new melanoma therapies using realistic tumor models before human trials.
How similar studies have gone: Other labs have shown that patient-derived models can better predict treatment responses than traditional cell lines.
Where this research is happening
-
Wistar Institute
Philadelphia, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Herlyn, Meenhard F — Wistar Institute
- Study coordinator: Herlyn, Meenhard F
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.