Biorepository and Animal Core

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Project Summary Abstract – Animal Model and Biorepository Core (Core D) The Animal Model and Biorepository Core (Core D) of the Hepatobiology and Toxicology Center provides the essential expertise, facilities, resources, and standardized services required for impactful liver research. The Core focuses on the needs of the COBRE’s junior investigators, but it also serves other Center members and liver investigators. The Core enhances infrastructure as well as the technical and academic capabilities of the Center and the Institution as a whole. Core D’s primary functions are to provide COBRE members with access to: (i) animal models of liver disease (including the characterization of these models); (ii) primary liver cells; and (iii) previously collected, de-identified biological specimens from human subjects with liver disease. The Core’s experimental model services include: animal exposure; husbandry; necropsy with tissue collection, processing and biorepository storage; phenotyping and liver histology; as well as the isolation of primary hepatic cells for ex vivo and in vitro studies. The Core will assist COBRE members in developing new experimental animal models and in vitro systems to study liver disease. The Core will serve as a liaison to non-duplicative animal research resources at UofL’s two other COBRE Centers to maximize overall impact. Core personnel will ensure uniformity of husbandry as well as sample collection, processing and evaluation so that the same set of characteristics is measured in each model. This uniformity ensures that the data generated within the COBRE are consistent and that results of one experiment will be directly comparable with the results of another. The Core’s human biorepository enables access to a unique inventory of previously collected de-identified biological samples from subjects with liver diseases (e.g., alcoholic liver disease, occupational/environmental liver diseases, liver cancer, etc.) in order to promote translational research. Core D will assist COBRE members with the necessary regulatory approvals for their research. In addition to its function as a service core, Core D will promote the education and training of the COBRE junior investigators and members. To function as a vital integrative component of the COBRE providing services not only for its members but also for the Institution as a whole, Core D has the following Specific Aims: 1) To foster the development and success of current and future COBRE projects. 2) To educate and train investigators. 3) To develop new protocols and techniques. 4) To become an integral and self-sustaining component of the COBRE.