December 1, 2013 (Vol. 33, No. 21)
URL:
http://cancermodels.nci.nih.gov
Rating:
Strong Points: Easy to search, gives model availability
Weak Points: Some model descriptions not in-depth
Summary:
Mouse models for human diseases have become an integral part of biomedical research. The situation is no different when it comes to studying the underlying biology of cancer. Conveniently for cancer biologists, the National Cancer Institute has developed a database—the Cancer Models Database (caMOD)—that lists various mouse lines used in cancer research. Site visitors can search the database by keyword, model name/descriptor, principal investigator’s name, species, or site of lesion/tumor. For each entry there is a description of the experimental design and the observed phenotype. These descriptions vary in length, being brief for some models and quite lengthy and comprehensive for others. Importantly for researchers, the availability for each mouse model is also indicated. For researchers looking to contribute to, rather than simply browse, the database, one can submit a model after registering for a free account on the site.
