The Specimen Resource Core will use existing infrastructure to address the broad needs of translationalstudies in two skin cancers that are not met by current specimen acquisition, diagnosis and distributionshared facilities. The core will engage in collecting, storing and distribution of a wide range of specimens andreagents, specimen analysis and reagent verification. In addition, it will develop new approaches formultiplex specimen analysis, DNA and RNA extraction and amplification, comprehensive database systems,and computational analysis. More specifically, the core will: a) build on and extend the current repertoire ofspecimens for translational studies in skin cancers, including normal skin, melanocytic lesions, melanoma,BCC, serum and circulating lymphocytes, ensuring their proper storage, annotation, and timely distribution toSPORE investigators; b) coordinate the construction of nevi/melanoma tissue microarrays and test/cellarrays; c) validate antibodies and TMA results; d) establish and maintain a central database program ofessential pathological, clinical, epidemiological, follow-up information and basic research data that will beintegrated with the bioinformatics/statistics core; e) provide special services such as the analysis ofspecimens for clinical trials, mutations, chromatin modification, and responses to novel drugs; f) maintainand distribute verified reagents (antibodies, oligonucleotides, DNA, RNA, plasmids, proteins) needed fortumor and cell analyses; g) spearhead the development of new approaches for specimen diagnosis, such asmultiplex analysis of markers, isolation and amplification procedures for mRNA and DNA from scarcespecimens; and h) establish links with shared facilities at Yale and similar resources in other institutions,including other SPOREs. This core will interact extensively with the Bioinformatics, Clinical Trial Office,Immunology, Critical Technologies, and Genetics shared facilities of the Yale Comprehensive CancerCenter. The services of the Specimen Resource Core will enhance the efficient operation of the translationalstudies in the SPORE in a cost-effective manner, and expedite the application of discoveries at the bench toclinical practice, and clinical results to basic research.
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