Translational Science Biocore

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PROJECT SUMMARY / ABSTRACT The mission of the Translational Science Biocore (TSB) is to facilitate cancer research by providing comprehensive services that enable cellular and molecular characterization of animal models and human- derived biospecimens. Aim 1 is to collect, annotate and distribute human-derived biospecimens. TSB operates with Institutional Review Board (IRB) approval to collect, store, annotate and distribute a wide variety of human tissues and body fluids that meet specified quality parameters. In the current Cancer Center Support Grant (CCSG) cycle, we expanded our protocol to enhance patient consenting and improve access to tissue and linked clinical data across multiple resources and repositories. TSB is authorized to serve as an ‘honest broker’ to provide investigators with clinical annotations that are coded to protect patient confidentiality. TSB also provides these services to UWCCC members with project-specific, IRB-approved protocols, such as investigator-initiated as well as national clinical trials. Aim 2 is to construct and distribute disease-specific tissue microarrays (TMAs). TSB pathologists review archival tissue blocks to identify specimens well suited for inclusion in each TMA which is then constructed by TSB staff. In the current CCSG cycle, 57 new TMAs with annotated clinical data were created, bringing the total to 115 which was facilitated by the purchase of an automated microarrayer funded by an NIH S10 award (S10OD023526). Aim 3 is to provide high quality services, expertise, and infrastructure in cellular, molecular, quantitative, and computational pathology. TSB pathologists and expert staff guide project development, conduct experiments, and interpret data that utilize human- and/or animal model-derived biospecimens. Our broad expertise and services span histopathology, morphometric analysis, quantitative analyses of specific molecular phenotypes, in situ hybridization, immunohistochemistry, and cell line authentication. TSB houses state-of-the-art instrumentation required for each of these services. During this CCSG cycle, TSB upgraded its digital pathology whole slide scanner and purchased systems to expand spatial and molecular profiling services. Impact on UWCCC: During the current CCSG cycle, TSB has supported the research of 129 unique UWCCC program members across all six scientific programs and distributed over 4,800 biospecimens. These members held 431 cancer-relevant research grants totaling $65.6M in annual direct costs, including 142 NCI grants, during this interval. By combining human and animal pathology cores from the previous CCSG cycle into central management with improved efficiency/coordination, we have increased the number of members served, types of biospecimens collected, number of samples processed/distributed, and the number of protocols/clinical trials supported. We have increased TMA creation and offer new spatial and molecular profiling services enabling members to perform innovative research that advances the UWCCC mission. Continued CCSG support allows us to provide members with priority access to biospecimens, extensive pathology services at low-cost and expert consultative support for their research needs.