# Comparative Pathology Core

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

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY – Comparative Pathology Core
The Comparative Pathology Core (CPC) is an established Shared Resource within the Department of
Pathobiology at the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine (Penn Vet), and a fully integrated
Shared Resource of the Abramson Cancer Center (ACC). The main objective of the CPC is to provide skillful
interpretation of lesions in animals to fulfill the needs of ACC members using animal models of disease. Among
the services provided are a full-service histology, clinical laboratory services for bloodwork and cytology,
immunohistochemistry, digital pathology, comprehensive mouse phenotyping, slide evaluation and
interpretation, study design consultation, necropsy training, and photomicroscopy. The IHC service
(immunohistochemistry) utilizes an automated platform, multiplex immunofluorescence, and in situ
hybridization; the CPC has numerous in-stock optimized antibodies, as well as the ability to work-up novel
antibodies for investigators. The CPC was awarded an NIH Shared Instrumentation Grant (S10) in 2018 for the
Aperio VERSA scanner and eSlide Manager image analysis system. This digital scanner provides brightfield
and fluorescence imaging of tissues and is fully integrated with whole slide imaging software, allowing the CPC
to offer state-of-the-art quantitative analysis. Amy Durham, MS, VMD, Diplomate of the American College of
Veterinary Pathologists and Associate Professor in the Department of Pathobiology at Penn Vet, developed
and directs the CPC. She is a board-certified anatomic veterinary pathologist with considerable experience in
animal models of cancer and has been involved in numerous collaborative research projects with members of
the ACC. Enrico Radaelli, DVM, PhD, Diplomate of the European College of Veterinary Pathology, is the CPC
Technical Director. He has more than a decade of experience in the pathobiology of laboratory animals used in
preclinical/biomedical research with an emphasis on the phenotyping of genetically engineered mouse models.
The CPC developed a fellowship program in 2018 to expand services and usage, and two additional veterinary
pathologists now support the CPC mission. CPC pathologists work with multiple Research Programs, including
Tumor Biology, Cancer Therapeutics, Breast Cancer, Immunobiology, and Radiobiology and Imaging. ACC
members accounted for 61 of 190 investigators (32%) using the Shared Resource during the most recent
reporting period (07/01/18-06/30/19). The CPC is instrumental in providing support for multiple high impact
studies, including the characterization and validation of translational mouse models of glioblastoma multiforme
to study the impact of epidermal growth factor receptor extracellular domain missense mutations at alanine 289
in vivo (Binder et al., Cancer Cell, 2018). Recognition and accurate interpretation of gross and
histopathological lesions in animal models is essential for the success of cancer research. As the use ...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10088760
- **Project number:** 2P30CA016520-45
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA
- **Principal Investigator:** Amy Cleveland Durham
- **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/10088760

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10088760, Comparative Pathology Core (2P30CA016520-45). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10088760. Licensed CC0.

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