# Tissue/Pathology/Immunology Core

> **NIH NIH P50** · JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY · 2024 · $201,156

## Abstract

Project Summary/Abstract
The overall goal of this Tissue/Pathology/Immunology Core (Core C) is to acquire, preserve, and distribute
clinically-annotated, high-quality human biospecimens related to cervical cancer and HPV disease, and to
provide pathologic and immunologic expertise, support, and in situ analyses for tissue-based analyses for
investigators in the Cervical Cancer SPORE at the Johns Hopkins University, the University of Alabama at
Birmingham, the University of Colorado at Boulder, and Medical University of Vienna as well as external
collaborators. Core C has been in existence since 1998, and has expanded with the support of the Cervical
Cancer SPORE. To date, we have banked blood, cytologic and tissue samples from 4299 subjects and supported
11 clinical trials. All human tissues and biologic fluids are harvested and banked in accordance with the National
Cancer Institute's Best Practice Guidelines for Biorepositories. Core C personnel have been expanded to
strengthen expert pathologic and immunologic consultation to investigators, including guidance for quantitative
digital image analyses of multiparameter molecular studies of tissues, microdissection, preparation of tissue
microrarrays, HPV genotyping, HPV seroepidemiology and HPV Antigen Functional Expansion of Specific T
cells (FEST) via TCR Vβ clonotype sequencing and quantitation. Collection of tissue, cytologic and blood
specimens is supervised by gynecologic pathologists and clinical colleagues in gynecology. Clinical information
for subjects enrolled in our clinical protocols is entered into a password-protected web-based tracking system.
This internal web-based system follows the recommendations of the National Research Council, and includes
user authentication, encryption, audit trails, and disaster recovery. A review mechanism is in place for
prioritization of distribution of requested resources to investigators within and external to the Johns Hopkins
Cervical Cancer SPORE. Biosamples have been shared with collaborators at academic institutions across the
country. This shared resource is pivotal to the success of all four HPV vaccine-based SPORE projects and will
support all four HPV vaccine-based SPORE projects external collaborators, as well as the Developmental
Research Program (DEP) and Career Enhancement Program (CEP) awardees, and external collaborators.
Core C is led by Drs. Andrea Kahn, M.D. (UAB), Rebecca Arend, Ph.D. (UAB), Raphael Viscidi, M.D. (JHU),
and Russell Vang, M.D. (JHU). Co-Investigators that support Core C include Drs. Kellie Smith, Ph.D. (JHU),
Jianqing Zhang, Ph.D. (UAB), Deyin Xing, M.D., Ph.D. (JHU), and Robert Anders, M.D., Ph.D. (JHU).

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10935444
- **Project number:** 2P50CA098252-21
- **Recipient organization:** JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY
- **Principal Investigator:** RAPHAEL Paul VISCIDI
- **Activity code:** P50 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $201,156
- **Award type:** 2
- **Project period:** 2003-09-30 → 2029-08-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10935444

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10935444, Tissue/Pathology/Immunology Core (2P50CA098252-21). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10935444. Licensed CC0.

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