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Human Cancer Models Initiative (HCMI)

Green and blue conditionally reprogrammed organoid cells.

Revolutionizing cancer research with next-generation 2-D and 3-D patient-derived cancer models


The Human Cancer Models Initiative (HCMI) is an international consortium that is dedicated to generating novel human tumor-derived culture models with associated genomic and clinical data. The HCMI consortium comprises funding agencies and cancer model development institutions. The consortium's funding agencies include the National Cancer Institute (NCI), Cancer Research UK (CRUK), Hubrecht Organoid Technology (HUB), and Wellcome Sanger Institute (WSI). NCI-funded model development institutions include the Broad Institute and the Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory. CRUK and WSI co-fund organoid development in the United Kingdom; CRUK provides the patient samples, while WSI derives and sequences the organoid models. The foundation HUB is a Netherlands-based not-for-profit organization that derives and sequences organoid models. ATCC was selected as the sole distributor for the HCMI models. The generating institutions deposit the models into ATCC, where they are authenticated, expanded, preserved, and made available for global distribution. The HCMI model data are available from the NCI as a resource to the research community.

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HCMI unmanufactured models

ATCC has HCMI models that have not yet been selected for expansion. We would appreciate guidance from the scientific community on what models should be prioritized for manufacturing.

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HCMI searchable catalog

Search HCMI models by patient demographics, tumor, and model elements including diagnosis age, sex, treatment information, clinical tumor diagnosis, primary site, clinical stage, model type, and open-access masked somatic MAF variants, etc.

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Patient-derived cancer models

ATCC is excited to provide the HCMI models, which include both common as well as rare and understudied examples of cancer from numerous tissues. These HCMI models are valuable tools to study cancer, identify and target novel therapies, and facilitate translational cancer research. To enhance their clinical relevance, the sequence data and patient clinical information for each model is available to the research community.

Features of 2-D and 3-D HCMI models:

  • All models are human patient-derived
  • Diverse genetic backgrounds
  • Advanced models such as organoids
  • Clinical and sequencing data available via the HCMI portal
  • Models from primary, metastatic, and recurrent cancer
  • Rare and pediatric cancers included
  • Model-specific, easy-to-follow culturing protocols
Purple and pink sanger11 ecad 647 organoid cells.

Organoids are game changers for cancer research

See the tumor antigens

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