Shared Resources: The Xenograft Core
Developing essential patient-derived xenografts to be utilized in translational research.
Overview
The Xenograft Core is dedicated to establishing and expanding patient-derived xenograft models generated from donated pediatric tumor tissue. Our goal is to serve as a resource for molecularly characterized xenograft tumor models freely distributed to requestors both internally and outside the institution via the Childhood Solid Tumor Network and the Neurobiology Brain Tumor Program.
The lab provides services for the handling, processing, propagation and storage of solid tumor and brain tumor specimens. The four full time core personnel have expertise in murine injections, biological sample collection and clinical observations of xenograft tumor models.
Impact
Xenografts provide valuable support for investigators studying pediatric solid tumors and brain tumors. Xenografts help establish common themes across distinct diseases and are essential in preclinical testing of novel therapeutics which can drive new effective treatment strategies in the clinic. The Xenograft Core offers over 300 different models and over 35,000 tumor samples, with a myriad of tumor histologies and disease stages.
About the manager
Brittney Gordon
Brittney Gordon received her BS in Biology with a minor in Chemistry (with honors) from the University of Memphis. Brittney has worked in the Animal Resources Center at St. Jude, providing technical research support for investigators, and as a preclinical researcher in the Center of In Vivo Imaging and Therapeutics where she coordinated preclinical testing and conducted surgeries and utilized a variety of imaging modalities. In 2017, she joined the Department of Developmental Neurobiology to start the Xenograft Core where she applies her expertise in preclinical care and support to expand a pivotal resource here at St. Jude.
The team
- JaKayla Johnson, Researcher
- Kaitlin Lord, Researcher
- Samantha Walls, Researcher
Memphis, TN, 38105-3678 USA GET DIRECTIONS