● http://emice.nci.nih.gov/

Mouse models are frequently used by cancer researchers, as they successfully recapitulate many aspects of human cancer. But with the number of models now on offer, how do researchers find out which models are available and most appropriate for their work? Enter the Mouse Models of Human Cancers Consortium (MMHCC) web site, stage right.

The MMHCC web site, hosted by the National Cancer Institute, has recently been given a major overhaul. It has merged with the private emice site, and some sections of the web site remain secure. So, does this new and improved site achieve all it sets out to?

The home page links through to seven sections, the most useful of which should prove to be 'Mouse models'. Much of this section is still under construction, but its potential is apparent. The models are arranged under subheadings that include organ type, genes, pathway and therapeutics, which should greatly facilitate the ease with which researchers can choose the best model for them. Organ types is the most complete section — it provides details on models for 12 organ sites. The Resources section complements this as — amongst other useful tips — it includes protocols that are relevant for work on specific organ sites.

Learning tools (which aims to “provide 'how to' information for all aspects of mouse model engineering”) and Applications (which will include comparisons of human and mouse cancers and details on clinical trials) hold much promise but, again, are far from complete. The site should prove immensely valuable to researchers, so let's hope these sections are completed soon.