# Biomarkers Shared Resource

> **NIH NIH P30** · COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY HEALTH SCIENCES · 2020 · $151,601

## Abstract

BIOMARKERS SHARED RESOURCE: PROJECT SUMMARY
The Biomarkers Shared Resource (BSR) is a joint resource of the Herbert Irving Comprehensive Cancer Center
(HICCC) and Columbia’s National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences Center for Environmental Health.
Directed by Regina Santella, PhD, the BSR provides a centralized, efficient, and cost-effective resource for
receiving, processing, storing, inventorying and shipping human samples that are collected as part of research
studies in molecular epidemiology and clinical cancer-related research. In addition, the BSR carries out
biomarker profiling across multiple nucleic acid-based and protein-based assay platforms. Services provided
include: (1) consultation on sample collection and processing, (2) preparation of kits for biospecimen collection,
(3) processing and storage of blood components including cells and plasma, (4) storage of other body fluids, (5)
isolation of DNA/RNA with quality controls; (6) maintenance of a sample inventory that tracks each vial and its
contents, and (7) analysis of samples for a wide array of biomarkers using nucleic acid-based (DNA single
nucleotide polymorphism [SNP] genotyping, DNA methylation profiling, and microRNA and mRNA expression)
and protein-based (ELISA) assay platforms. The readily accessible, high-quality, affordable and high value
services make the BSR a broadly used and highly cost-effective facility. Consultation is provided on all aspects
of sample collection and processing for specific studies including sample collection, shipment methods, standard
operating procedures for separation of specific blood fractions and aliquoting. In addition, the BSR stores tissue
sections from tumor/adjacent tissues on microscope slides processed in collaboration by the Molecular
Pathology Shared Resource. Coded samples are received by the facility and processed into appropriate fractions
(e.g., serum, plasma, mononuclear cells, granulocytes, total white blood cells and red blood cells) and frozen in
multiple aliquots distributing them into multiple freezers. A web-based database of the sample inventory is
maintained and samples are retrieved following specific governing protocols as required by individual studies.
Analytical services include genotyping for SNPs in candidate genes, analysis of DNA methylation and gene and
microRNA expression. The BSR also supports quantitative testing of a wide number of biomarkers analyzed by
ELISA. Samples from over 70,000 subjects participating in 145 different studies (of which 110 cancer relevant)
are currently stored. The BSR will continue to provide state-of-the-art sample processing, storage, and analysis
enabling HICCC members in the conduct of cutting-edge research. During the current project period (2014-
2019), the BSR was utilized by 56 HICCC members, (33% of entire membership), supported key data for 102
peer-reviewed publications including 12 papers in high impact journals (impact factor >10) and publications in
refer...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10022764
- **Project number:** 2P30CA013696-45
- **Recipient organization:** COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY HEALTH SCIENCES
- **Principal Investigator:** Regina M Santella
- **Activity code:** P30 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $151,601
- **Award type:** 2
- **Project period:** 1997-07-04 → 2025-06-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10022764

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10022764, Biomarkers Shared Resource (2P30CA013696-45). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10022764. Licensed CC0.

---

*[NIH grants dataset](/datasets/nih-grants) · CC0 1.0*