# Core 1: Biospecimen and Translational Pathology Core

> **NIH NIH P50** · UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH AT PITTSBURGH · 2022 · $278,515

## Abstract

Abstract: Core 1 
Core 1 has the responsibility for the procurement, flow and delivery to the SPORE investigators of biological 
specimens (tissues, tumor cells, tumor-infiltrating immune cells and cells in the peripheral circulation) and for 
providing clinicopathological annotation for all subjects enrolled in the clinical trials. This is a critical 
responsibility that requires diverse expertise in specimen handling, pathology and data base operation. For this 
reason, the Core will be co-directed by Dr. Whiteside, who will lead the specimen biorepository efforts and Dr. 
Lucas, a pathologist, who will lead the annotation efforts. The two Co-Directors will be assisted by two Co- 
Investigators: Dr. Hartman with expertise in clinical informatics systems, and Dr. Karunamurthy, a 
dermatophatologist with expertise in melanoma and skin cancers. The Biorepository and Pathology Core is 
embedded in the Immunological Monitoring and Cell Products Laboratory (IMCPL), a shared core facility at the 
Hillman Cancer Center (HCC) with a history of distinguished service to the previous Melanoma and Skin 
Cancer SPORE and to cancer immunotherapy studies at the Pittsburgh Cancer Institute (now Hillman Cancer 
Center, HCC) over the past 33 years. In its role as Core 1 for the MSCP SPORE, the IMCPL will support the 
biotherapy-based research of all projects by performing project-specific serial accrual of specimens prior to, 
during and post therapeutic interventions. Core 1 will procure and process all body fluids and tissues harvested 
from melanoma patients enrolled in SPORE studies and provide immunopathological tissue evaluations, 
including multispectral analysis of tumor-infiltrating immune cells using Vectra Polaris multispectral 
immunofluorescence imaging and NanoString GeoMx Digital Spatial Profiling (DSP). Core 1 will also assist the 
SPORE investigators in implementing assays necessary for evaluation of immunologic responses to immune 
therapies. Core 1 will ensure that all samples it collects are accompanied by annotations that will permit linking 
laboratory analyses with clinical results. Data and annotations will be stored in the MSCP SPORE research 
database and will be updated and retrieved for research projects following established HIPAA protocols. We 
have a long history of collaboration with the MSCP SPORE investigators, and in the context of this SPORE 
Program, will be entirely dedicated to the support of the clinical and translational research in patients with 
melanoma or squamous cell carcinoma.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10469633
- **Project number:** 5P50CA254865-02
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH AT PITTSBURGH
- **Principal Investigator:** Theresa L. Whiteside
- **Activity code:** P50 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2022
- **Award amount:** $278,515
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2021-08-15 → 2026-06-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10469633

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10469633, Core 1: Biospecimen and Translational Pathology Core (5P50CA254865-02). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10469633. Licensed CC0.

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