PROJECT SUMMARY: Tissue Analysis and Molecular Imaging Core (Biomedical Research Core) The Tissue Analysis and Molecular Imaging (TAMI) Core of the Texas Medical Center (TMC) Digestive Diseases Center (DDC) was established with the broad objective to integrate histopathology services (histology and pathology training, support, consultation, embedding, and staining) with state-of-the-art microscopy and imaging services. The TAMI Core user community includes over 50 digestive disease researchers at the three DDC institutions (Baylor College of Medicine, University of Texas Health Science Center, and MD Anderson Cancer Center). TAMI Core has two Specific Aims: 1) To provide fundamental, reliable, tissue processing and histopathology services regularly used by most DDC members; 2) To provide cutting-edge tissue analysis and molecular imaging services and foster their use to meet the dynamic, evolving research needs of DDC members. TAMI has two interdependent Components that drive its two specific aims. First, TAMI Core helps users characterize pathological features in human and animal tissues related to gastrointestinal health by providing access to antibody titration services, electron microscopy, and tissue preparation techniques, such as microtomy, histochemistry, staining, laser capture and microdissection, embedding, and sample processing. Second, TAMI Core provides its users with access to instruments capable of imaging tissues down to the level of organelle ultrastructure to identify gastrointestinal phenotypes. This instrumentation includes confocal microscopy, super- resolution microscopy, long-term live-cell imaging, and quantitative high-throughput imaging, in addition to other approaches and the use of related software for performing complex image analysis. The TAMI Core Director is Jason Mills, MD, PhD, with Deborah Schady, MD, serving as Co-Director of the Tissue Analysis Component and Michael Mancini, PhD, as Co-Director of the Molecular Imaging component. Both co- Directors oversee a staff of scientists and technicians that can consult and assist users with experimental design, data acquisition and interpretation, and the production of publication-quality images. The Co-Directors and staff provide technical training and assistance to users and conduct regular research forums, symposia, and group meetings that promote interaction among DDC members and facilitate the exchange of new data, methods, and expertise. The Director and co-Directors work together to ensure a seamless interface between the two TAMI Core components for users at all three participating institutions and the other DDC Cores. With its highly utilized services (53 members, over half total Center membership have used the Core in the current cycle resulting in ≥140 publications), TAMI Core plays an essential role in the overall mission of the DDC, which is to facilitate cutting-edge digestive diseases research that is relevant to human health, promote collaborative tran...