ATCC wins prestigious National Institutes of Health Replication Prize for advancing reproducibility in virus research. News Release Global biological resource center recognized for groundbreaking work that makes high-stakes biomedical research more trustworthy and repeatable. May 14, 2026 ATCC is a winner of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Common Fund Replication Prize, a prestigious national competition designed to advance scientific research by identifying strategies to make biomedical research more replicable. ATCC is recognized as one of 35 winners, and one of 15 selected winners for the Replication Exemplars Track. ATCC was recognized for its innovative approach to producing Well-characterized Challenge Material (WCCM) - standardized, rigorously tested virus samples that enable researchers across institutions to generate comparable, reproducible results for high-containment virus research. The NIH Replication Prize, launched with NASA's Tournament Lab, addresses critical challenges in biomedical research where many peer-reviewed studies cannot be reliably replicated due to incomplete documentation and variability in materials. The program aims to shift scientific culture by embedding replication as a standard practice rather than an afterthought. ATCC won for developing a comprehensive strategy that produces viral challenge materials with consistent genomic and functional characteristics across multiple production runs. The approach ensures independent lots meet quality standards and can be used interchangeably without additional manipulation. This capability is critical for high-containment virus studies including SARS-CoV-2, MERS-CoV, and Eastern, Western, and Venezuelan Equine Encephalitis viruses. Reduced variability in these materials strengthens the reliability of evaluating vaccines, therapeutics, and diagnostics. "This recognition validates ATCC's commitment to reproducible science and highlights the critical importance of standardized, high-quality biological materials in advancing research," said Rebecca Bradford, senior vice president of Federal Solutions at ATCC. "By eliminating variability in viral challenge materials, we're building a foundation for more reliable research across institutions worldwide." ATCC's winning replication strategy involved three critical phases: * Controlled optimization studies to identify optimal cell line selection (HeLa, Caco-2, U-87 MG, and SW-13), seeding density, multiplicity of infection, and harvest timing * Small-scale engineering runs to confirm reproducibility * Large-scale production exceeding one liter per batch Each run underwent rigorous quality control including whole-genome sequencing, sterility and mycoplasma screening, and functional validation through TCID[50] and plaque assays. The ATCC team produced over 30 production runs generating more than 1,000 vials per run while maintaining genomic stability with only low-frequency variants detected through integrated next-generation sequencing. The out-of-the-vial model eliminated additional passages by researchers, reducing experimental variability and decreasing quality control turnaround time by 30%. The impact extends beyond individual projects to strengthen global pandemic preparedness. Through management of BEI Resources, ATCC enables worldwide distribution of standardized materials for eligible researchers. The scalable platform allows rapid production of challenge material for emerging pathogens, ensuring validated viral stocks can be deployed quickly during public health emergencies. Proven during the COVID-19 response, this capability positions the global scientific community for faster, more coordinated responses to future outbreaks. This recognition reinforces ATCC's leadership in advancing reproducible science and its ongoing commitment to supporting the global research community with trusted biological resources.

ATCC and the Broad Institute have developed CRISPR-engineered cancer cell lines to study drug resistance in non-small cell lung cancer. The initial collaboration produced 13 isogenic NSCLC cell lines, each containing a specific resistance mechanism to osimertinib, an EGFR inhibitor used to treat EGFR-mutant lung cancers. The models address a critical oncology challenge: whilst targeted therapies improve survival, resistance inevitably develops. Developing resistant models from patient tumours can take years due to sample scarcity, but engineered models allow systematic study of multiple resistance pathways more quickly. The engineered models will be integrated into the Cancer Dependency Map to help build a response and resistance map of therapeutic vulnerabilities. They will be made available through ATCC and the DepMap portal to support cancer research, functional genomics and AI-driven drug discovery globally.

ATCC and Broad Institute engineer new cancer models to decode resistance to targeted therapy. New models can help researchers accelerate discovery of resistance pathways. 20 avr. 2026 08h30 HE | Source: ATCC Key Takeaways * Creating new models of drug-resistant cancer: ATCC and the Broad Institute collaborated to develop CRISPR-engineered drug-resistant isogenic cell lines that replicate clinically observed resistance mechanisms to targeted therapies. The initial effort resulted in 13 isogenic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cell lines, each engineered to harbor a defined resistance mechanism to the EGFR inhibitor osimertinib. * Expanding the Cancer Dependency Map: The models will be integrated into the Cancer Dependency Map (DepMap) to help build a response and resistance map (ResMap) of therapeutic vulnerabilities in cancer. * Advancing precision oncology: The models allow researchers to directly compare drug-sensitive and resistant cancer cells to uncover new therapeutic targets and drug combination strategies. * Providing an open resource for global researchers: The engineered models and associated genomic datasets will be made available through ATCC and the DepMap portal to support cancer research, functional genomics, and AI-driven drug discovery. MANASSAS, Va., and CAMBRIDGE, Mass., April 20, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) - ATCC and the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard today announced new research describing the development of engineered isogenic cancer models designed to replicate resistance to targeted therapies, beginning with osimertinib, the latest-generation epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) inhibitor used to treat non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) with EGFR mutations. The work addresses a critical challenge in oncology - treatment resistance that emerges over time. EGFR-mutant lung cancer was among the first subsets of a major epithelial cancer where directly targeting an oncogene was associated with marked clinical benefit. While targeted therapies have significantly improved overall survival, resistance inevitably develops. Understanding resistance mechanisms is essential for identifying combination therapies capable of producing durable responses and potentially disease-free remissions. Developing resistant models directly from patient tumors, however, can take years due to the scarcity of samples. In contrast, engineering resistance mechanisms in controlled laboratory models allows researchers to systematically study multiple escape pathways much faster. To accelerate discovery, scientists from ATCC and the Broad Institute collaborated to engineer a panel of drug-resistant NSCLC models using CRISPR gene editing and gene overexpression techniques. These models systematically model the resistance mechanisms that arise in patients treated with osimertinib. "With this powerful new set of tools, drug-sensitive and drug-resistant cancer cells can be studied side by side to understand therapeutic resistance and the underlying drivers," said Ruth Cheng, PhD, CEO of ATCC. "By creating and providing these cancer models along with a rich data-set to the global research community, our hope is to reveal hidden targets and combination strategies that turn today's treatment failures into tomorrow's breakthrough. We look forward to extending this approach to additional cancer types." Engineering drug-resistant lung cancer models Led by William R. Sellers, MD, Director of the Cancer Program at the Broad Institute, Fang Tian, PhD, Director of Biological Content at ATCC, and Francisca Vazquez, PhD, Director of DepMap at the Broad Institute, the ATCC-Broad team identified representative classes of resistance mechanisms to osimertinib. They then selected three disease-representative, osimertinib sensitive NSCLC cell lines as the foundation for developing the new isogenic drug- resistant cell models. ATCC engineered the selected authenticated cell lines with resistance mechanisms using CRISPR-based methods. The six resistance mechanisms included: * PIK3CA E545K mutation * KRAS G12D mutation * BRAF V600E mutation * EGFR C797S mutation * CCDC6-RET fusion * TPM3 - NTRK1 fusion In addition, scientists at the Broad Institute are generating additional resistant cell lines driven by gene amplification mechanisms using overexpression methods. These engineered isogenic model systems allow researchers to compare genetically matched cancer cells that differ only by a specific resistance alteration - providing a powerful framework to study how tumors evolve under targeted therapy. Building a response and resistance map for cancer The models will be integrated into the Cancer Dependency Map (DepMap), a global effort to identify genetic vulnerabilities across hundreds of cancer cell models. The collaboration also contributes to the development of a Response and Resistance Map (ResMap) - an emerging framework designed to systematically characterize how cancers respond to therapy and how resistance evolves. "Drug resistance remains one of the most significant barriers to durable cancer treatment," said Kirsty Wienand, PhD, Sr Research Scientist in DepMap at the Broad Institute. "Systematically engineering resistance mechanisms in well-characterized cell models allows us to study how tumors adapt to targeted therapy. Integrating these models into DepMap will help researchers worldwide identify new vulnerabilities and potential therapeutic combinations." Enabling and accelerating discovery across the global research community The collaboration ensures that both the biological models and the associated data will be widely accessible to the scientific community. * Data will be integrated into the DepMap portal, with links to the corresponding ATCC cell line identifiers. * The engineered cell lines will be distributed globally through ATCC following authentication and quality control. Systematically engineering clinically relevant resistance mechanisms in lung cancer models, the collaboration establishes a scalable framework for studying how tumors escape targeted therapies. The resulting models and datasets will help researchers identify new vulnerabilities and therapeutic strategies to overcome drug resistance and improve outcomes for patients with cancer. By combining advanced cell engineering, functional genomics, and computational biology, the collaboration provides a powerful resource for studying drug resistance, cancer vulnerabilities, and precision oncology strategies. Research to be presented at industry event ATCC and Broad Institute will present the research findings at the American Association for Cancer Research(R)(AACR) Annual Meeting 2026, April 17-22 in San Diego. Title: Engineering isogenic models harboring resistance mechanisms to the latest-generation EGFR inhibitor in non-small cell lung cancer Session Category: Experimental and Molecular Therapeutics Session Title: Drug Resistance 2: Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitors Date: April 22, 2026 Time: 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM Location: Poster Section 11 Poster Board: 8 Poster Number: 7029 About ATCC ATCC is a premier global biological materials and information resource and standards organization and the leading developer and supplier of authenticated cell lines, microorganisms, and associated data for academia, industry, and government. With a history of scientific contributions spanning more than a century, ATCC offers an unmatched combination of being the world's largest and most diverse collection of biological reference materials and data, and is a mission-driven, trusted partner that supports and encourages scientific collaboration. ATCC products, services, partnerships, and people provide the global scientific community with credible, advanced model systems to support complex research and innovations in basic science, drug discovery, translational medicine, and public health. ATCC is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization headquartered in Manassas, Virginia, with research and technology centers of excellence in Gaithersburg and Germantown, Maryland. Media Contact: Samantha Paro Senior Manager, Corporate Communications & Public Affairs ATCC [email protected] About the Broad Institute Broad Institute is an independent, non-profit research organization whose mission is to understand the roots of disease and close the gap between new biological insights and impact for patients. Founded in 2004 by the visionary Los Angeles philanthropists Eli and Edythe Broad, the Broad Institute exists at the intersection of scientific disciplines, convening scientists and other experts from genomics, cell biology, chemistry, engineering, neuroscience, therapeutics, artificial intelligence/machine learning, computational biology, and public health. The Broad Institute engages thousands of scientists from MIT, Harvard, Harvard's primary teaching hospitals, other academic institutions, and leading corporate partners in the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries, all of whom share the goal of translating research findings into safe and effective therapeutic interventions for all common and rare diseases. [*Not affiliated with or endorsed by AACR.]