# Skin Histology and Characterization

> **NIH NIH P30** · UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA · 2020 · $248,111

## Abstract

The Aims of Resource Core A – the Tissue Processing and Histology Core – are to enable and enhance the 
speed and efficiency of skin research and to provide unique expertise and access to tissue and reagents for 
research in cutaneous biology and diseases to those both within and outside the field. In order to accomplish 
these Aims, Core A will provide the following services: (1) Expert service and training in the processing, 
embedding, sectioning, and staining of skin specimens from humans and animals; (2) Expert service and 
training in immunohistochemical/immunofluorescence staining for proteins in skin samples and development of 
staining protocols for new antibodies; (3) Clinical and scientific expertise, administrative support, and service 
for obtaining formalin-fixed sections of normal and diseased human skin; (4) Expert service in laser capture 
microdissection (LCM) of skin sections for molecular and genomic analysis; (5) Expert microscopic 
interpretation and evaluation of animal and human skin histology to ensure accurate correlation between 
human diseases and animal model phenotypes. Tissue processing, histology and immunostaining services 
specific for cutaneous samples are not available elsewhere on Penn's campus. Setting up such services in 
individual labs would be time consuming and expensive, and unlikely to yield the high quality specimens 
produced by this Core. Core A therefore facilitates a broad range of research in animal models and human 
patients. Core A also provides access to a unique archive of human formalin-fixed skin tissue blocks containing 
approximately 1.8 million samples that represent a diverse range of even rare skin disease diagnoses. These 
specimens, coupled with searchable database capability, constitute an outstanding resource for skin disease 
researchers. Using current technology, formalin-fixed tissue samples represent a key resource in defining the 
molecular and genomic features of human skin diseases. Core A provides specific expertise in state-of-the-art 
laser capture microdissection of skin, including using samples from the Core A archive, for genomics analyses 
including exome sequencing, RNA-seq and ChIP-seq. Finally, Core A provides access to consultation with Dr. 
John Seykora, who has unique expertise in the dermatopathology of human and mouse skin tissue, and Dr. 
Elizabeth Maudlin, an expert veterinary dermatopathologist. Together, these services will help SBDRC 
members achieve our overall goals of supporting basic research and promoting its translation to clinical 
practice by providing: (i) analysis of human patient as well as animal model tissue; (ii) access to expertise in 
both human and animal dermatopathology, allowing accurate assessment of the relevance of particular animal 
models to specific human diseases.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10000026
- **Project number:** 5P30AR069589-05
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA
- **Principal Investigator:** John T. Seykora
- **Activity code:** P30 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $248,111
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2016-09-15 → 2021-07-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10000026

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10000026, Skin Histology and Characterization (5P30AR069589-05). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-28 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10000026. Licensed CC0.

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