Pathology Core

University Of Tx Md Anderson Can Ctr, Houston TX

Investigators

Abstract

Pathology Core Summary The pathologic analysis of human and animal samples is an integral component for all projects of this P01. The task of the Pathology Core is to provide well-characterized, high-quality biospecimens as required by the projects and to ensure that longitudinal, structured, clinical information related to treatment and outcome is collected from the patient donors of those specimens. The recurring theme of the investigations across the project is the genomic characterization of biospecimens by multiple high-throughput platforms. This provides an unprecedented opportunity to cross-validate biologic insights on a genomic scale and should provide a novel perspective through which to study urothelial carcinogenesis, progression, and resistance to specific treatments. This Core will serve as a model for addressing the difficult problems associated with cross-investigator and cross- institutional data exchange by providing a web-based portal that will allow all investigators to browse and query the contents of the biorepository, de-identified clinical data, and translational research resources such as Standard Operating Procedures, reagent details, and primary datasets. The Pathology Core will work in close collaboration with the project investigators to achieve the following specific aims: Aim 1, provide pathologic review of all tissues used in the P01 project; Aim 2, maintain a urothelial biospecimen repository; Aim 3, provide professional and technical services for the preparation and quality control of molecular analytes from the biospecimen repository; and Aim 4, provide all P01 investigators with a common portal for access to and query of project data. To facilitate seamless coordination, the Core directors will have direct and frequent communication with the leaders of the P01 projects and Administrative Core, which enables us to serve the needs of all the P01 projects and to facilitate a highly successful P01 outcome. The Pathology Core will closely interact with the Bioinformatics Core concerning the design of the projects, pathological analytes, and quality of the tissue subjected to analytical algorithms. It will receive assistance from the Administrative Core concerning strategic oversight, regulatory issues, and communication with other projects, cores, and the funding agency.