project-idea

GBM Recurrence Resistance Tracker: Open Registry for Matched Tumor Models

The 'resistant GSC families' platform generates within-patient matched models of chemo vs. radiation resistance from the same tumor — but there's no shared registry where labs can pool and compare these models across institutions.

Build an open registry and data-sharing platform for matched GBM primary/resistant cell line pairs. Labs that generate resistant GSC families (or any matched primary/recurrent GBM models) could deposit their models, associated genomic data, and resistance phenotype annotations. The registry would enable cross-lab comparison of resistance mechanisms — answering questions like 'How often does MMR loss drive TMZ resistance across different patient backgrounds?'

The platform would include a standardized metadata schema for resistance model deposition (treatment pressure, resistance mechanism, genomic alterations, RTK profile), a search interface for finding models by resistance type or molecular feature, and a data download API for computational researchers.

This directly addresses the bottleneck identified in the paper: resistance evolution studies are limited by scarce matched models. A shared registry could multiply the effective sample size for every lab in the field without requiring anyone to generate more models — just share what they have.

Who Is This For?

GBM research labs, neuro-oncology consortia, and computational cancer biologists studying treatment resistance.

Skills & Tools Needed

Database design and schema development (Postgres, GraphQL or REST API)
Scientific metadata standards (familiarity with FAIRDOM, ISA framework, or similar)
Web frontend for search and deposition (React or Vue)
Genomics data formats (VCF, MAF, expression matrices)
Community engagement and scientific outreach to recruit depositing labs

Feasibility

medium — The technical build is straightforward, but success depends on community adoption — without labs actively depositing models, the registry has no value; a founding consortium of 3–5 labs would be needed to launch.

Inspired by: Ex vivo stem-like cell families model evolution of glioblastoma therapeutic resistance

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