# Core B: TCP: Translational Pathology Core

> **NIH NIH P50** · UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH AT PITTSBURGH · 2024 · $322,900

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY – TRANSLATIONAL PATHOLOGY CORE
The high case-fatality of ovarian cancer makes translational studies essential for advancing treatment and
improving outcomes. The Hillman Cancer Center (HCC) Ovarian Cancer (OvCa) SPORE Translational
Pathology Core (TPC) will provide four key services to facilitate innovative translational studies: (1) procuring
quality-controlled, pathology-reviewed, and clinically-annotated biospecimens, (2) extracting, processing, and
storing de-identified clinical data that can be easily integrated with other data types (e.g., genotype, omics,
metadata), (3) securely sharing biospecimens and data, and (4) developing patient-derived tumor models for
therapeutic and mechanistic studies. The TPC provides these critical services to HCC OvCa SPORE
investigators, other NCI-funded OvCa SPOREs, and the greater OvCa research community. A strength of the
TPC is the OvCa SPORE Biorepository, established as a part of a previous P50 award to support the
translational needs of OvCa researchers. The biorepository enables all persons seen at HCC gynecologic
cancer clinics in southwestern PA to donate samples. Consented individuals provide tumor, ascites, pelvic
washes, blood, stool, and/or tissue samples for fresh or preserved disbursement. Specimens are longitudinally
collected to include samples prior to treatment, throughout the course of clinical care, and at project-specific
timepoints. All specimens undergo central pathology review. A novel aspect of the TPC is using primary patient
tissues to generate preclinical models to facilitate basic science and preclinical studies. TPC banks single live
cell tumor suspensions, isolates and expands primary patient tumor-derived cancer-associated mesenchymal
stem cells, and creates mixed cell culture tumor organoids. Primary tumor is also used to generate patient-
derived tumor xenografts (PDX) including a new humanized stroma PDX (HS-PDX). HS-PDX can be
generated in mice with humanized bone marrow to include a human immune system. TPC will ensure that all
samples it collects are accompanied by annotations that will permit linking laboratory analyses with clinical
results. Data and annotations will be stored in the OvCa SPORE database and will be updated and retrieved
for research projects following established HIPAA protocols. The TPC draws on resources already available
through HCC, including the Cancer Center Support Grant (CCSG) cores and the Magee-Womens Research
Institute and Foundation (MWRI). As such it efficiently and effectively provides and facilitates the testing of
clinically derived data and biospecimens to support OvCa SPORE investigators, and the greater ovarian
cancer research community, ultimately improving the lives of patients suffering from this devastating disease.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10925291
- **Project number:** 5P50CA272218-02
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH AT PITTSBURGH
- **Principal Investigator:** FRANCESMARY MODUGNO
- **Activity code:** P50 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $322,900
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2023-09-01 → 2028-08-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10925291

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10925291, Core B: TCP: Translational Pathology Core (5P50CA272218-02). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-26 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10925291. Licensed CC0.

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