# Penn integrated Human Pancreas procurement and Analysis Program

> **NIH NIH UC4** · UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA · 2020 · $5,569,273

## Abstract

Penn Human Pancreas Procurement and Analysis Program
Abstract
Utilizing our existing infrastructure and scientific collaborations, we have assembled 6 cores with
expertise ranging from pancreas procurement and islet isolation to data integration for a
comprehensive and integrated Human Pancreas Procurement and Analysis Program based at
the University of Pennsylvania. Core A will procure a spectrum of human pancreata and
detailed donor medical history; perform high resolution HLA typing by next generation
sequencing; isolate islets; and distribute islets and tissues to the other Cores for further analysis
or processing. Core B will perform physiological phenotyping on the isolated islets. Core C will
quantify and characterize memory T cell subsets by flow cytometry and single cell qPCR
analysis; characterize suppressive activity of Tregs and the ability of related effector cells to be
suppressed; B cell phenotyping; and generate chromatin accessibility maps of enhancers in
pathogenic cell types. Core D will perform multiple advanced modalities for the molecular
profiling of isolated islets including RNAseq and microRNAseq of sorted islet cell populations;
mass cytometry for single cell quantification of more than 20 cell surface and intracellular
markers; and single cell RNAseq. Core E will process tissues using multiple modalities that will
allow for analysis using advanced technologies such as multiplexed immunoflourescent
staining, combinatorial barcoded FISH (combFISH), whole slide imaging, and quantitative image
analysis of protein markers and immune cell infiltrates. This Core will adapt 2-dimensional
mass cytometry to pancreatic sections utilizing multiplexed ion beam imaging (MIBI) technology.
This Core will also archive tissues as well as DNA and blood, and facilitate sample distribution
to HPPAP approved researchers. Finally, Core F will assemble, annotate and maintain an open
access database for the Program and its member-researchers, and collaborate with the HIRN in
the sharing of data from both programs. The entire Program will be executed by an
Administrative Core consisting of the PIs, with assistance from an Executive Committee
consisting of the core leaders. The Administrative Core will interface with an external committee
to review applications for HPPAP biosample use, and will collaborate with the HIRN. The
Program will also interact with the HPPAP member/PANC DB user community to provide a
richly annotated source of physiologic, genomic and immunologic data on the tissue-based
landscape governing T1D.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10063635
- **Project number:** 3UC4DK112217-01S1
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA
- **Principal Investigator:** Michael R Betts
- **Activity code:** UC4 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $5,569,273
- **Award type:** 3
- **Project period:** 2016-09-20 → 2021-05-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10063635

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10063635, Penn integrated Human Pancreas procurement and Analysis Program (3UC4DK112217-01S1). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-25 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10063635. Licensed CC0.

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