Clinical Research Biospecimen Core

Services

The Clinical Research Biospecimen Core will perform all of the basic activities necessary to process and ship clinical research specimens for Penn State College of Medicine investigators.

Sample processing services will include separation, extraction and short-term storage (refrigeration and/or freezing) of the samples prior to distribution. Services and expertise will be available to provide complex processing as well.

This core also serves as a central location for all researchers to ship samples to outside central laboratories for extramurally sponsored trials and investigator-sponsored research.

Goals

Penn State College of Medicine's Clinical Research Biospecimen Core has two goals:

• First, by providing a centralized core service dedicated solely to this purpose, the core will help internal Penn State investigators to more effectively and efficiently conduct their human subject research efforts, and to budget for such efforts.
• Additionally, by providing a centralized service for clinical research sample handling, the core seeks to attract more external collaborators and extramural research sponsors thanks to more favorable study contract pricing.

Contact Us

For details on the Clinical Research Biospecimen Core, email Susan George, Research Technologist, at sgeorge4@pennstatehealth.psu.edu or call 717-531-0003, ext. 286309.

Molecular and Histopathology Core

Services

• Routine Histology (processing, embedding, sectioning and hematoxylin and eosin staining)
• Histochemical Stains
• Immunohistochemical Stains
• In Situ Hybridization
• Tissue Microarray
• Photomicroscopy
• Laser Capture Microdissection (LCM)
• Archival FFPE Human Tissue Samples

Contact Us

For details on the Molecular and Histopathology Core, email Neil Christensen, PhD, Director, at nchristensen@pennstatehealth.psu.edu or call 717-531-6185.

Pathology Core Reference Laboratory

Services

The Pathology Core Reference Laboratory provides support for both clinical diagnostic testing as well as for clinical research studies at Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center. In addition, the lab extends its testing support to a number of clinical investigators at other universities, including the University of Connecticut Health Sciences Center, Ohio State University Clinical Research Center and the Population Council at Rockefeller University in New York.

The lab also carries out an educational mission through its weekly conferences, at which test results are reviewed and discussed with medical house staff, residents and medical students.

The Pathology Core Reference Laboratory's extramural support also includes contracts with pharmaceutical houses and diagnostic companies to support clinical drug trials and evaluations of reagents and instruments.

Contact Us

For details on the Pathology Core Reference Laboratory, email Michael Creer, MD, Director, at mcreer@pennstatehealth.psu.edu or call 717-531-8317.

Other Services

Penn State College of Medicine offers a variety of other pathology and specimen-processing services to internal and external investigators.

Cell Line Authentication

While any cell line authentication service or valid internal method can be used for this purpose, Penn State College of Medicine has secured discounted rates for Penn State researchers from any campus for human cell line authentication with Genetica, a commercial company.

Complete information about how to submit cell-line samples to Genetica is available to all Penn State investigators here.

Animal Pathology

Services available include gross necropsy, histopathology (including semi-quantitative or quantitative analysis), immunohistochemistry, phenotyping, development/implementation of analysis techniques, manuscript review, and clinical pathology.

For details on the comparative pathology service, email Nannette Kirst in the Department of Comparative Medicine at nkirst@pennstatehealth.psu.edu.