# Biospecimen Acquisition, Processing, and Classification Unit

> **NIH NIH U2C** · WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY · 2020 · $266,600

## Abstract

Project Summary/Abstract: Biospecimen Unit
The over-arching goal of the Biospecimen Unit for the Washington University Human Tumor Atlas Research
Center (WU-HTARC) is to collect human tumor biospecimens for use by the Characterization and Data
Analysis Units to construct the proposed tumor atlases. Our Biospecimen Unit will procure and bank
longitudinal biopsies and excised tumors from 300-375 patients (selected from ~750 recruited patients) with a
goal toward studying the transition from primary malignancy to recurrence and metastasis in conjunction with
the development of therapeutic resistance in triple negative breast cancer (TNBC), glioblastoma (GBM), and
pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). Each of the three tumors chosen for this study poses unique
challenges for both clinicians and researchers. From their often late onset of diagnosis, highly metastatic
nature, challenges in achieving complete surgical resection, and primary and acquired resistance to treatment,
each of these tumors represents an opportunity identified by the NCI Cancer Moonshot Initiative (CMI) to
significantly advance our understanding of cancer and how to intervene on its initiation and progression. To
support the overall mission of WU-HTARC, the Biospecimen Unit will perform the following: (1) identification of
eligible patients at WU with TNBC, GBM, and PDAC; (2) rigorous and systemic collection of tumors, including
longitudinal collection of all patients throughout their treatment course; (3) complete collection of associated
clinical data and metadata; and (4) storage and processing of all samples with current and future experimental
and analytical pipelines. The Biospecimen Unit will work closely with other Units within WU-HTARC to develop
standard operating procedures and to make adjustments in line with the changing technologies.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9999540
- **Project number:** 5U2CCA233303-03
- **Recipient organization:** WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY
- **Principal Investigator:** Ryan C Fields
- **Activity code:** U2C (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $266,600
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2018-09-30 → 2023-08-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9999540

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9999540, Biospecimen Acquisition, Processing, and Classification Unit (5U2CCA233303-03). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-21 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9999540. Licensed CC0.

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