Biobank and Pathology

The Biobank and Pathology Core provides a comprehensive resource for human biospecimen-based research that takes advantage of the unique specimen resources available at MSK. The acquisition and banking of human biologic specimens to be used to study causes, detection, prevention, and treatment of cancer have become an indispensable resource for basic and translational cancer researchers throughout MSK. The reliability of molecular data derived from new technology platforms depends on access to an adequate supply of optimally procured, high-quality specimens. The Biobank and Pathology Core provide efficient and cost-effective services to facilitate high-quality biospecimen use and to conduct human biospecimen-based experimentation.

The Core is MSK’s central facility for the collection, processing, storage, and distribution of fresh, frozen, and FFPE-processed human biospecimens (tissues, blood, bone marrow, urine, and other liquid samples) for research use. The Core also serves as a national resource, as evidenced by the several hundred samples from multiple tumor types that have been provided to the Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and NCI’s CPTAC proteogenomic consortium.

The Histology Service within the Core facilitates selection of appropriate specimens for tissue analyses and provides the basic services of cutting, dissecting, and staining of fresh-frozen and formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissues. It includes construction of tissue microarray blocks and laser capture microdissection for isolation of pure cell populations and tumor cell enrichment. The Core’s Immunohistochemistry Service provides immunostaining using optimized antibodies for clinico-pathologic research studies. The service also continuously develops and optimizes protocols for new antibodies. Core research pathologists provide investigators with pathology expertise and assist with interpretation of histological and immunohistochemical stains.