The In Vitro Evaluation and Molecular Pharmacology Laboratories identify potential cancer therapies via high-throughput screening and mechanistic and imaging characterization studies.
Contributing to studies of patient-derived models and established cell lines
We develop, maintain, and innovate assays for screens focused on diseases and genetic alterations. Providing services for the cancer research community, our teams contribute to studies of patient-derived models and established cell lines. We use our expertise to explore and develop new methods and technologies for these endeavors.
Cutting-edge techniques enable new cancer treatments
Our laboratories support the development of new cancer treatments, deploying state-of-the-art, automated and manual approaches to evaluate candidate molecules and existing therapeutics as single and combination treatments.
NCI-60 Screening Laboratory
We test novel entities, including synthetics, biologics, and natural products, submitted by investigators for cytotoxicity or growth inhibition of 60 human tumor cell lines. Researchers have used data from the NCI-60 screen to identify and characterize valuable compounds for development as anticancer agents.
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Sixty human tumor cell lines, including leukemia; multiple myeloma; melanoma; central nervous system tumors; and lung, colon, ovary, breast, prostate, and kidney carcinomas
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More than 300,000 unique compounds and biologics and more than 34,000 crude natural product extracts have been tested against the 60-cell-line panel
Target Validation and Screening Laboratory
We evaluate investigational and FDA-approved anticancer agents, individually and in combinations, by performing automated high-throughput screens using panels of patient-derived organoids or patient-derived and established cell lines grown as multi-cell type tumor spheroids from malignant and stromal cells.
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Monolayer and 3D tumor models
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Characterization using singleplex and multiplex assays
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Luminescence, fluorescence, and absorbance measurements
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High-content imaging
Organoid Models Laboratory
We establish organoid cultures from normal and malignant tissues obtained from mice or from surgical resections and patient biopsies to evaluate the therapeutic indices of anticancer single agents or combinations of interest. We perform mechanistic studies to evaluate drug activities using a range of cell-based models.
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Characterization of patient-derived organoid models and their responses to FDA-approved and investigational oncology agents
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Establishment of appropriate culturing conditions, methodologies, and assays for automated drug screening