# Core B - Tissue acquisition, Processing and Pathology (TAPP) Core

> **NIH NIH P01** · UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA · 2021 · $212,916

## Abstract

Core B. Tissue Acquisition, Processing, and Pathology (TAPP) Core 
In order to successfully achieve the overall goal of this Program Project, that is, moving CAR T cell 
therapy to solid tumors, an integrated approach is needed. A key component will be the analysis of 
the infused CAR T cells and the tumor tissues. The overall goal of Core B is to serve as the entity 
that will collect and process clinical trial specimens provided by Project 1, conduct some of the basic 
biocorrelate studies, and provide a centralized structure for immunohistochemical analysis of tissue 
specimens from the clinical trial and from preclinical studies. The specific tasks of Core B will include: 
1) processing, archiving, and distributing clinical specimens (to Project 3) from ongoing and planned 
clinical trials from Project 1, 2) performing basic CAR T cell biocorrelate assays including blood 
cytokine analysis, measurement of serum tumor biomarkers, and the persistence of CAR T cells in 
peripheral blood and other compartments, 3) Analyzing immune responses against the infused CAR 
T cells, 4) measuring anti-tumor immune responses generated by CAR T cells, 5) reviewing and 
analyzing pathologic specimens from clinical trial patients (Project 1), including expression of 
mesothelin levels, FAP levels, and potentially other tumor antigens, as well as interpretation of tumor 
biopsies, and 6) assisting in the immunohistochemical analyses needed in Projects 2 and 3. Dr. Jos 
Melenhorst will be the Director of the TAPP Core. He will be assisted by Dr. Simon Lacey. Dr. 
Leslie Litzky, a Board-Certified Anatomic Pathologist, will be the other Co-Core Leader and the 
designated reference pathologist who will supervise Aims 5 and 6.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10241982
- **Project number:** 5P01CA217805-04
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA
- **Principal Investigator:** SIMON F LACEY
- **Activity code:** P01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $212,916
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2018-09-14 → 2023-08-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10241982

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10241982, Core B - Tissue acquisition, Processing and Pathology (TAPP) Core (5P01CA217805-04). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-22 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10241982. Licensed CC0.

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