# Tennessee Valley Cooperative Human Tissue Network

> **NIH NIH UM1** · VANDERBILT UNIVERSITY MEDICAL CENTER · 2020 · $912,750

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY
The Cooperative Human Tissue Network (CHTN) has played an important role since 1987 as a source
for human tissues for biomedical research. To this end, the overarching goal of the Western Division of
the CHTN at Vanderbilt University Medical Center (CHTN-VUMC) is to continue to serve the scientific
community by procuring and distributing adult biospecimens, utilizing a stringent quality management
program to maintain a highly efficient and productive biorepository operation. Key aspects of this goal
are the prospective customized collection of high quality solid tissues and biofluids with clinical
annotation and application of a rigorous Quality Management System to all aspects of the program.
Demographic coverage will be expanded by launching two additional satellite sites for collection. New
services, such as single-cell suspensions, isolation of tumor infiltrating lymphocytes and TMA Build On
Demand in response to changing investigator needs are proposed. In addition preneoplastic and rare
lesions will be banked to facilitate research in tumor progression. The CHTN-VUMC will adhere to
rigorous ethical standards for protection of human subjects and patient confidentiality, and will partner
with the VUMC advocacy program to engage patients and provide opportunities for participation in
research. We also propose to serve as the Informatics (IT) trans-network Coordinating Center
responsible for the second version of the “Investigators IT” system, utilizing web services and a strong
modern technologically advanced platform and ensuring adherence to IT security best practices. In its
divisional IT strategy, CHTN-VUMC will develop and integrate new business models and novel
informatics strategies to improve operational efficiency, including partnering with the VUMC BioVu
project to link tissue samples to large clinical datasets. Marketing efforts will include initiatives to
increase awareness of CHTN in the scientific community, including enhanced use of social media, and
CHTN-VUMC will actively contribute to biorepository science and education through leadership in
societies such as the International Society for Biological and Environmental Repositories.
CHTN-VUMC's leadership in network IT development makes the division uniquely qualified to serve as
the central IT site. A robust track record of specimen distribution, with 64,358 specimens shipped to
1011 investigators over the past 6.5 years, highlights the capabilities of the existing CHTN-VUMC
infrastructure. CHTN-VUMC goals in the next funding period include building upon these foundational
achievements to improve efficiency and communication within the network, investigators and scientific
community.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9899210
- **Project number:** 5UM1CA183727-08
- **Recipient organization:** VANDERBILT UNIVERSITY MEDICAL CENTER
- **Principal Investigator:** MARY Kay WASHINGTON
- **Activity code:** UM1 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $912,750
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2014-04-01 → 2024-03-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9899210

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9899210, Tennessee Valley Cooperative Human Tissue Network (5UM1CA183727-08). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-22 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9899210. Licensed CC0.

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