# Core C: Comparative Pathology Core

> **NIH NIH P01** · UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA · 2024 · $268,026

## Abstract

Project Summary
The study of the preclinical animal models included in all four Projects plays a critical role to investigate the
overall hypothesis that Proton/Carbon Particle FLASH Radiotherapy is superior to Standard Particle
Radiotherapy in protecting normal tissues while maintaining equipotent malignant growth control. The
extrapolation of robust preclinical data in these experimental settings relies heavily on the unbiased
assessment of specific histopathological parameters to investigate the biological effects of FLASH particle
radiotherapy as compared to Standard particle radiotherapy on designated neoplastic lesions and adjacent
normal tissues. The Comparative Pathology Core (CPC; Core C) will provide its expertise contributing to the
planning, evaluation, and interpretation of the pathology endpoints of the animal experiments included in the
Projects. As a PennVet clinical laboratory, Core C importantly follows standardized working protocols with strict
QA/QC procedures. The histopathology service offered by Core C will ensure accurate collection, proper
preservation, timely processing, and staining of the animal specimens. Core C will provide the necessary
technical support and submissions of tissue samples will follow a prioritized route. In addition to standard
histopathology, Core C will also develop and validate tailored approaches to investigate and quantify tissue
changes specifically associated with RT such as fibrosis, intralesional distribution of inflammatory/immune cell
populations, expression of markers to evaluate epithelial barrier integrity, etc. The board-certified veterinary
pathologists of Core C will deliver expert evaluation and unbiased interpretation of the pathology endpoints.
Objective and reproducible quantification of tissue changes in response to the diverse RT modalities will be
guaranteed by the application of validated scoring systems and the utilization of software-based algorithms
for digital pathology and image analysis. Core pathologists have advanced training in digital imaging pathology
from Leica pathology systems. Moreover, Dr. Assenmacher has collaborated with Leica in the development
of analysis tools, lending him particular experience in the analytic modules of the digital pathology system.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10783016
- **Project number:** 5P01CA257904-03
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA
- **Principal Investigator:** Enrico Radaelli
- **Activity code:** P01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $268,026
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2022-02-15 → 2027-01-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10783016

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10783016, Core C: Comparative Pathology Core (5P01CA257904-03). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10783016. Licensed CC0.

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