Background: Our national collaborative research initiative is proposing to develop a common infrastructure for Rb research. We are proposing a novel in vivo Rb model using human Rb cells line.

Methods: The rabbit model has advantages over the mouse models: (I) the larger eye size of rabbits, similar to the human infant eye, permits a more accurate injection of the drugs and evaluation of methods of targeted intraocular drug delivery; (II) the rabbit model demonstrated similar fundus appearance and pathologic features to human Rb, including vitreous seeds of viable tumor when the retinal tumor is mid-sized, which are usually found in the late stage in mouse models. The lack of ability to eliminate vitreous seeds is a major reason of current treatment failures in Group C and D tumors; therefore, the rabbit model of Rb may be used as a model to evaluate the effectiveness and various routes of drug delivery.

Results: This is an implementation of an infrastructure for evaluating therapeutic targets. In addition, this finding enables a variety of pharmacokinetic studies, pharmacodynamic and toxicology studies for new therapeutic agents.

Conclusions: This infrastructure meets the growing concern of practitioners and researchers in the field. The common facility is easily accessible to all VHRN members on request, including requests from other sectors.