TISSUE AND DATA ACQUISITION AND ANALYSIS CORE: PROJECT SUMMARY/ABSTRACT The overall objective of the Tissue and Data Acquisition and Analysis Core (TDAAC) is to support translational research at the Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) Massey Cancer Center (MCC) by functioning as the primary fresh-frozen tissue acquisition and processing facility for human solid tissue and hematopoietic specimens. The broad, long-range objectives of TDAAC are to provide a gateway through which investigators involved in MCC investigator-initiated studies and clinical trials can acquire the human tissue samples required to support their research, to ensure the safeguard of sample acquisition for patient care, and to preserve the molecular integrity of the specimens. These objectives are met by leveraging a network of interdepartmental and informatics relationships within MCC and VCU Health. For each specimen, TDAAC collects and maintains the associated clinical and pathological annotation and provides this information under an anonymous honest broker system or for specific IRB-approved protocols. The cancer specimen acquisition process ensures that the primary purpose of the specimen for patient care is maintained and the quality of the specimen is optimal for biomedical research. TDAAC does not bank specimens from international sources or other biorepositories, and the specimens are not distributed without informed consent or IRB approval. The IRB-approved ?Tissue Acquisition System to Support Cancer Research? protocol allows TDAAC to collect and bank ?residual? specimens (ie, samples that are no longer needed for diagnostic purposes) arising from surgical specimens collected from standard patient care. Thus, all the fresh-frozen tissue specimens banked in our biorepository have a corresponding formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded counterpart in the Department of Pathology archives. Patients who sign the TDAAC informed consent documentation agree to have their residual fresh-frozen tissue banked by TDAAC and also agree to give access to their formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded specimens for translational research. In addition, TDAAC banks hematopoietic specimens by cryopreserving mononuclear cells for future assays that may require primary cell culture. TDAAC is a jointly managed (MCC and VCU) resource and is directed by Catherine Dumur, PhD, and Michael Idowu, MD, with the support of 4.05 FTEs. The resource directors and staff provide consultative services for experimental design and data interpretation, and education to certify end-users in the use of the biospecimens. Standard hours for the facility are 8:00 AM until 5:00 PM, Monday through Friday. The use of biospecimens and services is tracked and charged back. In CY2015, the TDAAC provided services and/or tissues for 28 MCC members, accounting for 72% of the total users of the resource. The services provided by TDAAC add significant value for MCC-member research by providing access to fresh-frozen specimens with associated annotation, as the specimens are not practically obtained through alternative vendors or would be cost prohibitive when obtained through an alternative vendor.
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