Clinical Research Correlatives Core

Division Of Basic Sciences - Nci

Investigators

Abstract

The Clinical Research Correlatives Core (CRCC) - a state-of-the-art clinical research flow cytometry core employing spectral technology for high dimensional multi-parameter cell analysis - has been fully established and opened to the CCR's investigators. The design stage has benefited from the advice and extensive experience of other expert NIH flowcytometrists, including both clinical and research core managers (Maryalice Stetler-Stevenson, Hao-Wei Wang, Constance Yuan, Pradeep Dagur, Karen Laky, Katherine McKinnon, Iyadh Douagi, Ferenc Livak). The core has been staffed with experts in both flow cytometry and immunology, and as such, provides a unique set of skills and knowledge to clinical investigators. Additional technical staff were recently recruited and fully trained to meet growing demand for the core's support. The facility offers extended service to include experimental design, assay optimization, sample processing (including staining), acquisition and analysis. Using either custom-designed assays or some of the 8 already optimized (CYTEK) panels, CRCC supports CCR's investigators in the: 1) Center for Immuno-Oncology, evaluating the effect of autologous and allogeneic stem cell transplant on immune reconstitution (Christopher Kanakry, Jennifer Kanakry and Dimana Dimitrova) 2) Pediatric Oncology Branch, studying the immunophenotypic changes that CAR T cells (or autologous IL-15 activated NK cells) undergo after infusion into pediatric and young adult cancer patients (Nirali Shah, Haneen Shalabi, Rosie Kaplan, Rosa Nguyen). These studies aim at improving adoptive cancer therapies. 3) HIV and AIDS Malignancy Branch, characterizing the phenotype of Kaposi Sarcoma Herpes Virus- associated hematolymphoid malignancies such as Multicentric Castleman's Disease and Pleural Effusion Lymphoma (Ramya Ramaswami and Laurie Krug) 4) Lymphoid Malignancy Branch, defining the effect of immunotherapy on the phenotype and function of abnormal plasma cells in multiple myeloma (Elizabeth Hill) 5) Immune Deficiency Cellular Therapy Program, evaluating lymphocytic phenotype and function in pediatric patients with immunodeficiencies such as Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome and DOCK8 deficiency (Sung-Yun Pai) and in adults with chronic GvHD treated with novel therapies such as palifermin (Steven Pavletic). Overall, the facility has been involved in supporting 18 clinical protocols with either already established assays or those currently being optimized (custom). The facility also contributes to the development of the bioinformatic tools for flowcytometric panel design through collaboration with the group of Gregoire Altan-Bonnett.