# ACC BioRepository

> **NIH NIH P30** · UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA · 2021 · $2

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY – Abramson Cancer Center BioRepository (ABR)
The Abramson Cancer Center BioRepository (ABR) is a shared core laboratory comprised of four integrated
components that together enable the collection of tumor and normal tissue samples from surgical resections
and radiology guided biopsy (supporting clinical trials), blood collections (buffy coats, serum and plasma), and
liquid biopsy (ctDNA, CTC, soluble proteins and extra-cellular vesicles). This integrated Shared Resource
leverages uniformity of quality across a breadth of biosamples and enhanced efficiencies gained through use
of a universal consent. The tumor tissue, blood collection and liquid biopsy material collections are supported
by a new prospective universal consent allowing for collection of blood and tissue (at time of surgery), patient
re-contact, “omics” study of the collected biosamples, and linkage to electronic health records for outcome-
related translational research. Biosample inventory data are managed through Open Specimen, a commercial
biosample database on the tissue side, and Pumpkin, a home-grown system for blood sample processing –
both well-suited to handle large volume sample collections and archiving. Penn Medicine has a centralized
informatics infrastructure (PennOmics v2) composed of an enterprise DataLake that combines EHR data,
tumor registry data, and genomic data (germline and somatic studies) that links to stored biosample inventories
across our biosample database (Open Specimen and Pumpkin) that allows for cohort exploration and
requesting biosamples from these cohorts. Biosamples are stored in two new freezer farms recently
constructed at the Perelman School of Medicine in either -80 freezers (buffy coats, plasma and serum) or LN2
vapor (tissue or viable cells). Both freezer farms have completely redundant air conditioning, electric and
central monitoring resources including remote monitoring and alarms with O2 security sensors to support LN2
vapor storage. ABR is tightly coupled with a larger institutional biosample repository (Penn Medicine Biobank)
which has grown to >60K patient blood samples, including whole exome sequencing and genotyping on >15K
of these patients. The Penn Medicine Biobank is a broad effort across Penn Medicine that seeks to collect
blood and tissues across a wide range of both normal patients as well as patients with a variety of diseases.
The ABR Shared Resource is directed by Dr. Michael Feldman, who has been leading the tumor tissue and
blood repository since its inception in 2005. Ms. Joellen Weaver, Technical Director, has worked in biobanking
for 20 years. ACC members accounted for 43 of 62 investigators (69%) using this Shared Resource during the
most recent reporting period (07/01/18-06/30/19). ABR has supported high-impact research, e.g. changing the
fundamental understanding of immune suppression in tumors via PDL1-carrying exosomes (Chen et al.,
Nature, 2018). ABR facilitates access to a wide variety and numb...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10088758
- **Project number:** 2P30CA016520-45
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA
- **Principal Investigator:** MICHAEL D FELDMAN
- **Activity code:** P30 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $2
- **Award type:** 2
- **Project period:** 1997-01-15 → 2025-11-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10088758

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10088758, ACC BioRepository (2P30CA016520-45). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10088758. Licensed CC0.

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