The UF Cancer Tissue Resource Center (CTRC) was established in January 1993 through institutional support in anticipation of designation of the UF Shands Cancer Center as a National Cancer Institute (NCI) Cancer Center. The immediate goal was to procure, store, and distribute tumor and uninvolved human tissues to UF cancer investigators. In 1995, the CTRC became an auxiliary tissue collection site for the Cooperative Human Tissue Network (CHTN) in the NCI. These activities continue today through subcontract funding with the CHTN southeastern headquarters at the University of Alabama (Dr. William Grizzle, PI).

In Nov. 2000, the Molecular Tissue Bank (MTB) was formally established in the Department of Pathology. A Research Opportunity Grant was obtained from the UF Division of Sponsored Research in 2003 and provided additional staffing needed to implement de-identification of all existing sample, standardized operating procedures, and approval of three IRB protocols. In 2006, the MTB was selected for the Organ Procurement and Pathology Core in the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation Network for Pancreatic Organ donors with Diabetes (nPOD).

Goals:

• Procure tumor and matched normal tissue from patients undergoing surgical resection, biopsy, organ donation, or autopsy
• Collect samples by various methods including snap-frozen (with or without RNALater (Ambion)), and as fixed paraffin or fresh frozen OCT blocks. Individualized sample procurement protocols can be established.
• Provide paraffin and frozen block archives for developmental IHC/ISH/FISH
• Construct and section tissue microarrays
• Institute best practice procedures for tissue banking
• Comply with federal and institutional regulations for human tissue banking
• Assist investigators with IRB protocol preparation or grant applications regarding samples and services available for the proposed research
• Foster research collaborations between Pathology faculty and basic scientists

Tissue bank samples are for research purposes by UF faculty only and may not be distributed or sold to third parties. Sample fees are required to offset procurement and handling costs. Priority for sample distribution is given to UF Shands Cancer Center investigators followed by other UF investigators according to inventory and guidelines established by advisory boards.

Director: Michael J. Clare-Salzler, MD

Sr. Biological Scientist: Pat Glenton

Lab Staff: Vivek Rajasekhar

Location: Medical Sciences Building M641A

The MTB is a member of ISBER.