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Investigator Testimonial
Dr. Peter E. Clark is the associate professor of urologic surgery, a VICC member and an urologic oncologist at Vanderbilt University Medical Center. He was able to take time out of his extremely busy schedule to participate in this interview, highlighting the importance of CHTN in his research endeavors.
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Investigator Interview
Dr. William E. Grizzle is Professor of Pathology, Head of the Program for Translational Research in Neoplasia, Director of Tissue Procurement and Banking Facility, Director of the Southern Division, Cooperative Human Tissue Network, Senior Scientist of the UAB Comprehensive Cancer Center; Center for Aging; Metabolic Bone Disease Research Center, and Senior Editor of Clinical Cancer Research. Dr. Grizzle was kind enough to participate in the interview, discussing the challenges of biorepositories.
Tissue Microarrays (TMAs)
Why use the CHTN?
The major goal of the CHTN is to facilitate the use of human tissues in biomedical research. The CHTN accomplishes this goal by:
- Consistently supplying high quality human tissues to investigators
- Taking on leadership roles in the development of best practices and guidelines for the operation of tissue repositories
- Aiding in the development of other tissue resources via consultation
- Sharing the CHTN informatics program with other resources at no cost
- Educating national and international leaders in tissue resources through publications, consultations, site visits and/or formal training programs
The CHTN operates on a unique prospective procurement model rather than a banking model.
While a bank collects, processes and stores specimens in a "one-shoe-fits all" approach, the CHTN works with all investigators to tailor the collection, processing, temporary storage and distribution of tissues in order to meet their exact needs and to support their research in a timely manner. All tissues distributed must meet quality assurance/control standards, ensuring investigators a high quality product. The CHTN has pioneered the use of quality assurance/control methods in tissue resources and has trained personnel at other tissue resources in the importance of quality control of tissues used in research.
The CHTN focuses on being user friendly.
The CHTN Coordinator in each division works closely with investigators to find biospecimens to meet their individual needs. A diagnostic pathologist reviews each request and can help investigators select the proper tissues and protocols to support their research.
The CHTN is involved in educating the research community through the following efforts:
- Participating in the International Society for Biological and Environmental Repositories (ISBER)
- Teaching workshops and providing publications on how to develop and operate a tissue repository
- Participating in international meetings and conferences regarding issues that relate to tissue repositories (e.g. human subjects and privacy)
- Assisting in the evaluation of factors that affect the usefulness of human tissues in research and publication of these results
- Involving patient advocates in order to respond to the public need and to increase public awareness of issues related to tissue resources
- Referring investigators to other resources that may provide assistance in meeting investigator needs
The CHTN tries to meet unusual research needs.
The CHTN works directly with investigators to determine the appropriate tissue sources (e.g., surgery, autopsy, transplant) and tailor tissue-processing methods to meet the research needs of an investigator.
The CHTN has a long track record of supplying biospecimens.
The CHTN has been providing investigators with human tissues for research since 1987, making it one of the most long-standing widely available tissue resources.. The CHTN has provided more than 800,000 specimens to more than 2,700 investigators. The CHTN continues to provide biospecimens to aid in the discovery of molecular features of tumors.
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