PHISM
Pre-clinical Human Immune System Mouse model
Shared Resource
The Pre-clinical Human Immune System Mouse model Shared Resource (PHISM) provides a nexus for multiple aspects of translational immunology research. Novel immunotherapies must be tested with sophisticated preclinical models before they can be tried in humans. Ideally, these models should provide a platform where the human immune system can be exposed to experimental and therapeutic manipulations, and the readout is meaningful and applicable to humans.
PHISM provides this key component with the production, distribution and/or analysis of Human Immune System mice.
Human Immune System mice are immunodeficient mice transplanted with a human immune system, or some of its components and can be utilized to understand basic mechanisms of the human immune system and to study genetic, biological, and pharmacological therapies to autoimmune and inflammatory responses.
When also engrafted with tumors, these Human Immune System mice become an ideal tool for testing the effects of novel immunotherapies, such as immune checkpoint inhibitors, on human immune responses to tumors.
Experimental Studies
PHISM not only provides the humanized mice but also can run experimental studies with this model.
These include tumor injections, measurements, injections of drugs, immunizations, etc.
End of Study Analysis
Analysis of immune system at end of study in humanized mice or syngeneic mouse models.
PHISM is proficient at harvesting organs (lymph, non-lymph (e.g. lung, liver, kidney), and tumors), preparing single cell suspensions, fixing tissue in formalin or freezing in liquid nitrogen, and collecting sera for downstream analysis.
Our core specializes in ex vivo analysis of the immune system.
Flow Cytometry
PHISM is led by basic/tumor immunologists with long-standing experience in immune assays, especially flow cytometry. PHISM develops customized multi-color (spectral or standard fluorescence) flow cytometry panels, for both humanized mice and syngeneic mouse projects, performs the staining, runs the flow cytometry, and analyzes the data, providing final graphs comparing immune parameters from experimental groups.
Contact
Julie Lang, PhD
Co-Director, Pre-clinical Human Immune System Mouse Core
303-724-4684
[email protected]