We are driven by one goal: to find a cure for chordoma. Success means initiating, enabling, and accelerating scientific discovery that leads to more effective treatments, and ultimately a cure.
With the input of our
Scientific Advisory Board, participants of our
Research Workshops, and a diverse group of scientific experts from around the world, we have created a research roadmap to guide our quest for a cure. This big-picture approach ensures that time and resources are focused to reach new treatments as quickly as possible. The Chordoma Foundation leads a coordinated, multidisciplinary team-effort to drive this plan forward, and systematically breaks down barriers that stand in the way of progress.
Roadmap Modules
The roadmap can be summarized in five modules:
»Resource Development
Develop and share scientific resources needed to study the molecular biology of chordoma, and test new treatments
»Molecular Discovery
Analyze chordoma using all available technologies and techniques to uncover its molecular underpinning and defining features
»Target Identification
Integrate results from in-vitro, in-vivo, and in-silico research to identify the molecules and pathways that chordomas rely on for survival
»Translation
Identify and develop therapies that selectively inhibit chordoma, and test these therapies, alone and in combinations, on in-vitro and in-vivo
»Clinical Research
Test the most promising therapies in clinical trials. Identify biomarkers predictive of response to inform further molecular discovery and enable increasingly individualized therapy
Each module builds upon the previous one; however we make headway on all five fronts in parallel to fast-track the treatment development process. Currently our efforts and funding focus on the Resource Development and Molecular Discovery modules.
Biobank
Biospecimens are the starting point for virtually all cancer research. However access to high-quality chordoma biospecimens is the biggest obstacle for chordoma research. To solve this problem, the Chordoma Foundation Biobank will proactively collect, analyze, and distribute biospecimens and associated data to and from hospitals and labs across the world. The Biobank will give patients an opportunity to actively participate in the search for a cure by contributing tumor, blood, DNA, and clinical information about their disease. It will also enable researchers from multiple fields to apply the latest scientific advances to understand the cause of chordoma and develop new treatments.
Model Systems
Model systems are research tools that mimic the behavior of human tumors, and allow researchers to study cancer without experimenting on people. They are needed to develop virtually any type of new therapy, however limited availability of valid models of chordoma is preventing progress from being made. Therefore, developing new models is urgently needed to advance research and improve the treatment options available to chordoma patients. We are actively developing a variety of model systems including cell lines, xenographs, and transgenic organisms. Each of these models serves an important purpose, and has its own unique benefits and drawbacks. Using all three models in combination gives scientists the most complete understanding of how the disease works and how to treat it.
Chordoma Genome Project
The Chordoma Genome Project is a collaborative endeavor involving the Chordoma Foundation, the University College London, the Sanger Institute, and the National Human Genome Research Institute. The Chordoma Genome Project will involve several different complementary types of genomic analysis, representing the most in-depth study of chordoma or any other rare cancer ever conducted. Its primary aim is to systematically discover the underlying genetic changes that drive chordoma, and that could provide clues to guide the development of new treatment.
Knowledge Exchange
The open exchange of data, resources, and ideas is crucial for making progress towards a cure. To promote communication and collaboration, the Foundation hosts
Research Workshops and coordinates local research meetings and conference calls. Beyond simply connecting researchers, the Foundation proactively distributes new data to labs equipped to follow up on the findings, ensuring that discoveries rapidly progress through the research roadmap. The Foundation acts as a hub to connect and synchronize research teams from around the globe, and we are developing a centralized database to aggregate and compare results generated in multiple labs. Our goal is to make the totality of knowledge about chordoma freely available so that all scientists interested in chordoma can bring their expertise to bear on this disease.