Tissue Array Research Program

Division Of Basic Sciences - Nci

Investigators

Linked publications & trials

Abstract

The Tissue Array Research Program (TARP) focuses on the use of tissue microarrays (TMAs) in biomedical research. TMAs are collections of samples of formalin fixed, paraffin embedded tissue from tens to hundreds of patients on a single microscope slide for high throughput analysis of protein expression most often by immunohistochemistry. The TARP Lab focuses on production and application of TMAs for cancer research. The studies utilizing TMAs are typically identified at the identification of biomarkers for diagnosis, prognosis and prediction of response to therapy for cancer. The TARP Lab investigates quality issues pertaining to surgical pathology diagnostic samples in the form of formalin fixed paraffin embedded tisue, the most common source material for surgical pathology diagnosis in clinical care, as well as use in TMAs. Defining and refining quality parameters in pathology specimens is an essential element of development of robust clinical tissue based biomarkers.