# Clinical and Biorepository Core

> **NIH NIH P50** · UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH AT PITTSBURGH · 2022 · $270,300

## Abstract

ABSTRACT
Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is the most lethal of the autoimmune diseases. The primary causes of SSc-related
mortality are the complications of interstitial lung disease (ILD) and pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH), with
skin disease being a significant contributor to morbidity. Using the complimentary and existing strengths of
multiple divisions and Schools within the University of Pittsburgh, Core B is crucial to providing the resources,
expertise and support to help the overall program goal of synergistic research projects studying SSc and its
important complications of ILD, PAH and skin thickening in the proposed translational research program. In
order to accomplish this, Core B has the following four Specific Aims: Aim 1: To provide a clinical data repository
of longitudinally-followed SSc patients to accompany the blood and skin biologic specimens to support Projects
#1, #2, and #3. This will use the longstanding and recognized University of Pittsburgh observational SSc cohort
clinical and matching serum databank. This 40-year observational cohort will facilitate the linking of both cross-
sectional and longitudinal clinical data with biospecimens for mechanistic studies and statistical modeling. Aim
2: To enrich our current repository of lung and skin tissue, cells, precision cut slices, and serum procured from
normal individuals and individuals with SSc for application in Projects #1, #2, and #3. In this Aim skin from
patients with diffuse SSc, explanted lung tissue from SSc patients undergoing lung transplant and skin and lung
healthy controls/donors will undergo state-of the art molecular biological analysis, especially single cell analysis,
histopathological characterization, and cell and tissue model generation which will be used to support all three
scientific projects. Aim 3: To assist program investigators from Projects #1, #2, and #3 in the design and
implementation of experiments using biological specimens and models from the Biobank. Core B will provide
expertise in the development and standardization of new protocols and technique for cell and tissue-based ex
vivo models, implement proper setups to ensure the successful evaluation of mechanistic pathways and
therapeutic interventions for SSc, and perform gold standard SSc-specific serum autoantibody testing to be
included in statistical analysis. Aim 4: To provide the investigators in Projects #1, #2 and #3 with the statistical
support required to successfully complete the analyses and linking of clinical data.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10404141
- **Project number:** 1P50AR080612-01
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH AT PITTSBURGH
- **Principal Investigator:** Robyn Therese Domsic
- **Activity code:** P50 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2022
- **Award amount:** $270,300
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2022-09-20 → 2027-08-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10404141

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10404141, Clinical and Biorepository Core (1P50AR080612-01). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10404141. Licensed CC0.

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