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Scientists at Rutgers have developed a novel melanoma animal model that expresses Grm1 in a melanocyte-specific manner.
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Summary: Advances in translational research are very closely linked to the rational design and selection of animal models. Patients with advanced melanoma have very low 5-year survival rates of 1%-2% and there is a critical need for clinically relevant discoveries and development of therapeutic treatment approaches. Metabotropic Glutamate receptor-1 (Grm1) has been implicated in the development of melanocytic neoplasms. Therefore developing inhibitors/antagonists against Grm1 could potentially arrest the progression of this pathway. Scientists at Rutgers have developed a novel melanoma animal model that expresses Grm1 in a melanocyte-specific manner and as a result, exhibits a predisposition to the development of melanoma. This technology will advance testing of new chemotherapeutic agents as well as conducting melanoma research. In summary, this technology fills the gap in the availability of effective model systems to provide insights into molecular derangements, assess drug efficacies and optimize treatments associated with melanoma. Market Application: Melanoma Research, Melanoma Detection, Cancer Therapies, Animal Models for Cancer. Advantages: Melanoma Research, Melanoma Detection, Cancer Therapies, Animal Models for Cancer, Discovery of novel therapeutic agents that antagonize Grm1, Screening technology for potential drug candidates for the prevention/treatment of melanoma