# Core A: Ultrastructural Assessment & Human Tissue

> **NIH NIH P01** · UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LOS ANGELES · 2024 · $332,894

## Abstract

SUMMARY/ABSTRACT – Scientific Core - Structure
The goal of the Ultrastructural Assessment and Human Tissue Core is to maximize the scientific progress and
productivity of the PPG investigators by providing essential services. The primary function of Core A is to serve
human and porcine myocardial and stellate ganglion tissue needs across all projects and Core B. Given
significant regulatory and logistical hurdles needed to procure and study human heart and stellate ganglion
tissues, it is ideal for this to be handled by a central core. The core will perform three key functions for the
study: 1) tissue clearing and ultrastructural imaging; 2) procurement of normal (or near normal) and diseased
human tissues, specifically hearts and stellate ganglia; and 3) molecular biology. All 3 projects of this PPG with
utilize at least two of these services, and there will be tight links between this core and Core B, the Functional
Assessment and Instrumentation Core. Over the past 15 months, we have built a pipeline to obtain diseased
hearts from patients undergoing orthotopic heart transplantation, and normal or near normal hearts rejected for
organ transplant. Our infrastructure for obtained stellate ganglia from patients with cardiomyopathy undergoing
stellectomy, and stellate ganglia from patients without cardiopulmonary disease at the time of heart and/or lung
donation has existed for 5 years. Given the unpredictable times at which these tissues become available,
centralizing the tissue procurement activities within this core will benefit the PPG by streamlining protocols and
approvals, minimizing cost, and boosting productivity. The Core will also streamline the 4-week process of
tissue clearing from pigs and humans by batching tissues to minimize error, tissue clearing involves numerous
steps and chemicals. Finally, it is most ideal that tissues are cleared and imaged in high resolution in close
coordination with study team members from Projects 1-3 in this Core whether or not the tissues are cleared.
For the duration of the PPG, the core is poised – with experience, robust protocols, and experienced personnel
– to provide critical services that ensure the success of this PPG.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10904655
- **Project number:** 5P01HL164311-02
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LOS ANGELES
- **Principal Investigator:** Olujimi A Ajijola
- **Activity code:** P01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $332,894
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2023-08-10 → 2028-07-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10904655

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10904655, Core A: Ultrastructural Assessment & Human Tissue (5P01HL164311-02). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-26 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10904655. Licensed CC0.

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