Tissue Procurement, Processing Facility and Biorepository

Division Of Basic Sciences - Nci

Investigators

Abstract

The Tissue Processing and Procurement Facility (TPPF) of the Laboratory of Pathology (LP) is staffed by two Pathologists Assistants (PAs for Pathology) and a Technical Laboratory Manager (TLM), who each also supports the Clinical Operations and Histology services. The TPPF also houses LP's frozen section room, and is contiguous to the Clinical Center's Operating Rooms. The connection to the OR allows LP's PAs to support time-sensitive tissue procurement inside the OR or immediately following collection and delivery to the TPPF. This allows immediate processing and preservation of tissues procured for diagnosis and research. The PAs act as liaisons between OR staff, research teams, and pathology staff by coordinating tissue procurements in the operating room (OR), which entails facilitation of the complex procurements that often involve multiple investigators and multiple protocols simultaneously. PAs work with investigators, identifying what tissues need to be procured, how they are to be stabilized and what protocols allow the tissue procurement to occur, all while preserving the diagnostic integrity of the tissue. The PA also works with the senior resident, and between them, perform most of the procurements. This system allows as many investigators as possible to benefit, all while meeting the standard-of-care for anatomic pathology. During the past fiscal year, TPPF staff processed more than 3,450 specimens to support 1,241 tissue procurements during surgery, which were distributed to more than 260 NIH investigators, under approximately 185 protocols. This volume is double compared with last year. The WRNMMC tissue bank collection has amassed just over 590 frozen and ffpe blocks from more than 294 anonymized cases. This additional biomaterial and associated clinical information expands upon the resources available for utilization by NIH investigators. Each request for specimens is reviewed by a Tissue Resource Committee of Pathologists and regulatory administrative staff in LP prior to distribution. Materials acquired from the TRC program were instrumental resources for data comparison and collection leading to publications in peer review journals. In support of our academic and research missions, the TPPF PAs accept 2 Pathologists' Assistant students each year from Eastern Virginia Medical School (EVMS) who wish to gain exposure to biomedical research in anatomic pathology. During their clinical rotations, the students shadow for one month through LP, and work with our PA's and residents to hone their grossing, autopsy, and frozen section skills while being introduced to the unique field of tissue procurement. The PA students gain experience in research ethics relating to biospecimen procurement, technical skills with tissue procurement and processing, and in the research and translational laboratory sections in LP. Exposure to procurements allows the students to apply didactic knowledge to real-time situations, requiring critical thinking catered to meet the needs of each specific case and research need. In addition to the two PA students, the PA's also instruct 3 new residents each year in tissue procurement and frozen sections for intra-operative consults.