Open Call for trans-national access is CLOSED.

Access Modalities:

• Access will be possible through three different access types

  • Sample

    Shipment of frozen PDX tumour samples to selected academic laboratories

    
    More info

    Each user of the infrastructure will receive viable tissue aliquots from the PDX models she/he would have selected for their particular features in the public EurOPDX Data Portal. Prior to shipment, all PDX models will have been expanded, biobanked, and quality controlled (histology, identity check, health monitoring) in one of the six nodes according to the standards agreed within the EurOPDX RI. Each model will be accompanied by a “PDX passport”, a factsheet developed by the EurOPDX RI to contain all main features of a given PDX model, such as histology, strain, growth characteristics. Access also includes support/consulting to the users after shipment of models, for the handling of samples, design of in vivo studies etc…

    The access to the SAMPLE service is free of charge, and available for the performance of non-commercial research activities only. However, the shipment cost of frozen vials to the user’s laboratory must be borne by the user.

  • Deposit

    Deposition of PDX models into the repository and infrastructure biobank

    
    More info

    The user’s PDX models selected for deposition into the EurOPDX RI biobank will be health checked according to our Health monitoring SOP, and if cleared expanded, biobanked, and quality controlled (histology, identity check, health monitoring) in one of the six nodes according to the standards agreed within the EurOPDX RI.

    In parallel to this biobanking process, PDXs data (metadata, as well as molecular and/or pharmacological data if available) will be collected to be included in the public EurOPDX Data Portal. Each model will be accompanied by a “PDX passport”, a factsheet developed by the EurOPDX RI to contain all main features of a given PDX model, such as histology, strain, growth characteristics.

    Once deposited into the EurOPDX RI and Data Portal, users’ models will be made available to the scientific community for TA, through the SAMPLE service described above, or at minima on a collaborative basis if properly justified by the owner of the models. A grace period is possible to allow for proper publication and/or protection of a model.

    The access to the DEPOSIT service is free of charge. However, the shipment cost of frozen vials from the user’s laboratory to the designated infrastructure node must be borne by the user.

  • Test

    Performance of in vivo studies on selected PDX models at one of our 6 infrastructure nodes.

    
    More info

    One of the infrastructure node will be designated to perform the in vivo drug efficacy study for each TEST project, based on the PDX model(s) selected by the user for their particular features in the public EurOPDX Data Portal. The user will supply its drug of interest. Regular updates will be sent during the study, and an experimental report detailing the results and quality controls will be provided at study completion.

    In the TEST service, unless justified by the user upon application, each treatment arm will consist in 6 NSG mice, selected for homogeneous tumour size from 10 implants of one particular PDX model, and randomized for treatment. This design will correspond to 1 access unit. As a consequence, the testing of one drug in an in vivo study will require two access units (drug vs. control arm, six mice per arm), etc…

    The access to the TEST service is free of charge. However, the shipment cost of the drug(s) of interest from the user’s laboratory to the designated infrastructure node must be borne by the user.

    The TEST access type is open to both Academic and Industry researchers.

• Hands-on training

  We offer hands-on training opportunities in the nodes to users, primarily targeted at early career researchers and technical staff. You will be able to sign-up for it and motivate your application in the different templates. The selection will be made at the same time as the projects by the Committee of TA Evaluators, based on relevance of the application and taking a careful consideration of gender balance.

• Cost

  Trans-national Access to the EurOPDX Research Infrastructure is free of charge for selected users, costs being covered by the EurOPDX Research Infrastructure grant. However, the shipment cost of the samples must be borne by the applicants.

• Selection procedure

  Eligible proposals will be selected by a mixed panel of partners of the EurOPDX Research Infrastructure project (for feasibility under the grant) and an independent committee of external evaluators.

  More info

  We established a Committee of TA Evaluators (TA-CE), as a mixed panel consisting of external experts in the field of molecular, translational, preclinical and clinical oncology, and experts from the EurOPDX Consortium. Evaluators are covering a wide range of cancer types and expertise in the field. While EurOPDX evaluators will mainly focus on eligibility and feasibility of the proposals under the grant, two external and independent evaluators will review each submitted project proposals with respect to the following criteria:

  • Scientific excellence (originality and scientific quality)
  • Expected impact (interest to the wider scientific community and societal needs)

  Whilst also considering aspects such as:

  • The prioritisation of new users and users who work in countries where no such Research Infrastructures exists
  • Gender balance
  • Career stage of applicant

  All applications will be handled with strict confidentiality.

  A scoring system has been established that allows the objective selection of successful applications. Results of evaluations will be sent by email.

Available models

858 models from 8 cancer types and 8 EurOPDX Research Infrastructure partners have been made available for trans-national access.

To browse our available models, register to the EurOPDX Data Portal and select for “Transnational access” in the “Access modalities” filter. Certain models are available for TEST only.

Nodes providing access:

TA is provided by a distributed infrastructure composed of six independent nodes, which are state-of-the-art laboratories or platforms performing research using PDX models:

• University of Torino, Department of Oncology at Candiolo Cancer Institute IRCCS, Xenopatients' Platform for Experimental Oncology (Candiolo, Italy)
• Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Trace PDX platform (Leuven, Belgium)
• The University of Cambridge, Cancer Research UK Cambridge Institute, Carlos Caldas laboratory (Cambridge, UK)
• Institut Curie, Laboratory of Preclinical Investigation (Paris, France)
• Vall d’Hebron Institute of Oncology, CELLEX building (Barcelona, Spain)
• Netherlands Cancer Institute, Preclinical Intervention Unit of the Mouse Clinic for Cancer and Ageing (Amsterdam, the Netherlands)

For any questions regarding the EurOPDX Research Infrastructure Trans-national access programme, please contact our helpdesk at: ta@europdx.eu