The Human Cancer Models Initiative (HCMI) is generating a community resource of a large number of in vitro, next-generation cancer models. These models, along with the clinical and molecular characterization data, will be made available to scientists from academic, industry, and nonprofit organizations. The intent is for models, materials, and data generated under this project to be considered community resources, delivered such that downstream use and worldwide distribution is unencumbered, particularly so they are free from excessive intellectual property constraints.
The Biospecimen Research Group has provided scientific oversight, and programmatic and operational support to implement, monitor, and ensure completion of tasks related to this study (as summarized below):
Cancer Model Development
To contribute to the initiative’s goals, the Biospecimen Research Group established several Cancer Model Development Centers (CMDCs). Our team worked with the subcontracted centers, which include several universities and international institutes, to establish robust infrastructure and processes for the delivery of next-generation cancer models from various cancers and tumor subtypes. This includes the development of cancer models from pediatric cancers and from patients in underrepresented populations.
Using systematic techniques and workflows, the centers generated and submitted next-generation cancer models, case-matching normal and tumor material for further processing through the pipeline, as well as extensive clinical data for each case.
Comprehensive characterization of cancer models’ genomes, transcriptomes, and epigenomes
We manage the molecular characterization of cancer models generated by HCMI (funded through the Cancer Moonshot Initiative). Two Genomic Characterization Centers subcontracted to Frederick National Laboratory for HCMI perform multiple high-throughput next-generation sequencing studies, such as WES, WGS, RNA sequencing, as well as epigenome characterization (EPIC methylation arrays).
The aim is to have all characterizations conducted on analytes from the same biospecimens for optimal analytical integration for data comparability, with the characterization data accessible worldwide (through the Genomic Data Commons).
The Biospecimen Research Group oversees technical aspects of the centers’ work, facilitates key communications between stakeholders, and manages end-to-end tracking of samples selected for sequencing.
Searchable catalog
To promote the use of this initiative’s model collection by the worldwide research community, we provided oversight of software development of the HCMI Searchable Catalog and its ongoing operation and maintenance.
For any further information related to the Human Cancer Models Initiative (HCMI), please feel free to contact Conrado T. Soria at BRGSupport@nih.gov.