Cell Culture Model Initiative
Creating a series of rapid, biologically relevant and cost-effective tools to assess efficacy of potential therapies alone and in combination for cutaneous and plexiform neurofibromas
When NTAP convened scientists from around the world at its 2012 symposium, the lack of cellular model systems was identified as a major limiting factor in NF1 research. While animal models were remarkably predictive for NF1 research, they were also expensive and slow. The combination of high cost and long lead times meant that too few therapies were being studied.
To solve this problem, NTAP established the Cell Culture Model Initiative, which funded a series of projects to develop cell models and offer a rapid, cost-effective way to predict the efficacy of potential drug candidates alone and in combination.
As a result of this successful initiative, today NTAP is able to offer NF1 researchers all over the world access to cell model systems, often with full reimbursement. This early breakthrough is just one more example of how NTAP is leading the way in accelerating the developing of therapeutic answers for patients with NF1.
NTAP has supported several cell culture model systems for both cutaneous and plexiform neurofibroma applications; ranging from semi-immortalized cells for high-throughput screening platforms to induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs), co-culture systems and organoid models. To learn more about specific cell model systems NTAP has supported click here.