The Comparative Molecular Pathology initiative is intended to spearhead
opportunities for bridging basic and clinical research efforts by more
precisely optimizing development, characterization and utilization of
models of human disease. The initiative will include both applied research
and collaborations aimed at developing new reagents, methods, and technologies
in preclinical diagnostic medicine, thus enhancing capabilities to integrate
molecular and systemic aspects of disease mechanisms. Designing and
employing state of the art medical and pathology investigative tools
to the study of animal models will help promote translational phenotype
comprehension, and therefore improve model predictability for human
cancer diseases. Activities in comparative molecular pathology, headed
by Dr. Mark Simpson, seek to:
- Interface with other CCR animal model initiatives and core centers
to serve as a scientific resource for enhancing the interpretive extrapolation
and translational value of model findings for human diseases. Improve
model validation by integrating any experimental biology of disease
produced with the respective human disease natural history. Side by
side collaborations between comparative molecular pathologists and
medical investigators exploring basic mechanisms in animals, which
take into account potential intercurrent animal pathophysiology, will
foster this effort.
- Develop animal tissue-based libraries, probes and assays for use
in molecular pathology approaches to identifying gene function, molecular
targets, surrogate biomarkers, and early intervention endpoints. The
aim is to discover gene function in the context of cell networks and
systemic biopathways and within a predictive tumor biology context.
- Develop an inclusive portfolio of clinical diagnostic and laboratory
medicine capabilities to aid real-time, longitudinal (when feasible)
approaches to credential molecular events occurring in the development,
growth and metastasis of experimental cancers using a variety of models.
This includes building functional and structural correlates among
multiple diagnostic clinical molecular medical imaging modalities
and pathology.
- Train multidisciplinary medical scientist-investigators in a program
focused on the comparative and translational molecular pathogenesis
of cancer models. Opportunities for sabbatical, pre-doctoral and post-doctoral
experiences, as well as NIH-university program partnerships for Ph.D.
level education of graduate veterinarians and other allied health
scientists are included. The dual responsibilities for appropriate
animal use and the necessity that models predict human cancer disease
as accurately as possible, are leading to the recognition that coupling
human biomedical research training with medical discipline-based specialization
in veterinary medicine affords a great opportunity for bridging basic
and clinical research. The core education element will revolve around
molecular pathology and biomedical research training experiences for
clinical specialty-trained veterinarians, who will interface with
both veterinary- and physician-pathologist-investigators, as well
as with other researchers, clinicians and the core research technology
centers at the NIH. Graduate veterinarians entering into preparation
in pathology, radiology and medical oncology specialties are particularly
well suited for the research training initiative, as similar approaches
are expected to encompass comparative oncology and radiology.
