# Core 1: Biospecimen and Pathology Core (BiPC)

> **NIH NIH P50** · UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LOS ANGELES · 2024 · $211,032

## Abstract

SUMMARY/ABSTRACT – Biospecimen and Pathology Core (BiPC)
The Biospecimen and Pathology Core (Core 1), a biorepository and multi-faceted research resource, provides
critical support for the translational and diagnostic/therapeutic studies of the three major SPORE projects, the
Developmental Research projects and Career Enhancement programs of the UCLA SPORE in Brain Cancer.
The SPORE projects and programs have a critical need for high-quality brain tumor biospecimens, associated
clinical and molecular annotations, histology, immunohistochemistry, genomic sequencing, and characterization
of models systems derived from the human biospecimens. The projects also require neuropathology and
biobanking expertise to accomplish their research aims. For Aim 1, the core will optimally collect, store, prioritize
and distribute high-quality brain tumor biospecimens. The core provides detailed annotation of collection and
preservation of biospecimens and tracks them with pertinent data through interfacing with the data management
platform of the Administrative Core (Core A) using Daedealus-BTM. Aim 2 of the core is to molecularly
characterize and analyze SPORE patient-derived tumor tissue and derivative models specific for each SPORE
project, using histologic analysis, immunohistochemistry, and genomic tools. The core provides a variety of
neuropathology services related to the analysis of patient specimens (e.g. in situ hybridization, tissue
microdissection, immunohistochemistry, genomic analysis), as well as services related to the pre-clinical studies
and clinical trial components of the SPORE. The core also works with Core 3, the Biostatistics and Bioinformatics
Core (BBC) to perform integrated comparative analyses of next generation molecular characterization of
samples and models derived from human glioma patients (e.g., germline, whole tumor, purified tumor cells,
gliomaspheres, and xenografts). Aim 3 of the core is to centrally create and provide novel human biospecimen
derivatives, patient-derived orthotopic xenografts (PDOX), and organoids to support SPORE major and
developmental projects. We will use our established protocols to create and characterize patient-derived
gliomaspheres, adherent cultures, and direct-from-patient animal orthotopic xenograft models representing the
molecular diversity of glioblastoma. Our novel gaussia (sGluc-GFP) reporter system will facilitate the analysis
of xenografted tumor models. The core will provide and utilize cerebral organoids and other cellular derivatives
to propagate rare tumor models and to study the tumor microenvironment, invasion, and therapeutic targets. The
core will also collaborate with the Administrative Core (Core A), the Neuro-Imaging Core (NIC, Core 2) and the
Biostatistics & Bioinformatics (BBC, Core 3) to develop an integrated clinical-radiologic-molecular pathological
characterization database and provide this to SPORE investigators, SPORE-associated clinical trials (projects
1-3), and public ...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10906768
- **Project number:** 5P50CA211015-08
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LOS ANGELES
- **Principal Investigator:** Fausto Rodriguez
- **Activity code:** P50 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $211,032
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2017-08-11 → 2027-07-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10906768

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10906768, Core 1: Biospecimen and Pathology Core (BiPC) (5P50CA211015-08). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10906768. Licensed CC0.

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