# Tissue Acquisition And Cellular/Molecular Analysis Shared Resource (TACMASR)

> **NIH NIH P30** · UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA · 2023 · $237,191

## Abstract

TISSUE ACQUISITION & CELLULAR/MOLECULAR ANALYSIS: ABSTRACT
Personalized treatment of cancer is rapidly becoming a standard practice. Several factors contribute to the
uniqueness of a patient, including the individual’s genome, the genome and epigenome of the cancer, disease
presentation, gender, exposures, lifestyle, microbiome, and other comorbidities. The identification of specific
biomarkers, signaling pathways, immune cell signatures and genetic mutations within tumors underlies
molecular targeted therapies and new insights into cancer treatment. Projects require tissue samples of human
tumors, which may be implanted in mouse models or used for the generation of organotypic cultures that
duplicate the human disease progression and response to treatment. New drug treatments will first be tested in
these preclinical models using patient samples before developed therapeutic approaches reach clinical trials.
In addition, deciphering genetic alterations and aberrant and tumor-related genes are used for biomarkers for
targeted therapies that is unique to that patient. The overall goal of the Tissue Acquisition & Cellular/Molecular
Analysis Shared Resource (TACMASR) is to foster individualized approaches for the early detection and
therapy of cancers utilizing a new dimension of research pathology for biomarker/drug discovery, digital and
spatial imaging, and innovative morphological analysis of 3D cultures. Through continued emphasis on
advancing clinical and translational research and increasing collaborations among basic and clinical
investigators, TACMASR serves as a centralized resource, providing University of Arizona Cancer Center
(UACC) Members with access to clinically annotated, high-quality human specimens. TACMASR offers a
comprehensive biorepository coupled with advanced human and animal tissue analysis using state-of-the art
microscopy, 3D organotypic cultures, and expert analysis and interpretation of results by well trained staff. The
Specific Aims of TACMASR are to: (1) provide biospecimens with a seamless process for the collection,
processing, banking, and distribution of human tissues; (2) support a full service research histology laboratory
that offers routine and specialized paraffin embedding, sectioning, automated hematoxylin and eosin staining,
frozen sectioning, and a large selection of special stains; and (3) develop new protocols and state-of-the-art
technologies to meet the special needs of requesting investigators and foster individualized approaches for the
early detection and therapy of cancers. In CY20, TACMASR provided services to 81 unique users (53% UACC
Members). Services since 2016 have contributed to 47 publications by UACC Members and 29 grants.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10676928
- **Project number:** 5P30CA023074-42
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA
- **Principal Investigator:** Yana Zavros
- **Activity code:** P30 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2023
- **Award amount:** $237,191
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 1997-07-01 → 2027-07-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10676928

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10676928, Tissue Acquisition And Cellular/Molecular Analysis Shared Resource (TACMASR) (5P30CA023074-42). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-27 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10676928. Licensed CC0.

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