The Laboratory of Pathology's (LP's) Tissue Procurement and Processing Facility (TPPF) and Tissue Resource Committee (TRC) support the clinical and research missions of the LP and Center for Cancer Research (CCR) of the National Cancer Institute (NCI). The TPPF expands support to clinical and basic researchers of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) by collecting and distributing high-quality tissue samples through procurement and biobanking. This page describes the variety of biospecimen resources available to NIH researchers through the LP TPPF, and how to request biomaterial from the LP.

Contact Information 

TRC REQUISITION FORM 

-----------------------------

Laboratory of Pathology Biorepository
10 Center Drive (Bldg 10), Room 3N238
NCI-Bethesda, Maryland 20289-1500

TPPF Medical Director
Dr. David E. Kleiner, MD, PhD

Program Director
Dr. Joseph Chinquee, DHSc, MBA, MT(ASCP)DLM
Phone: 301-480-7177 

TRC Program Requests:
Ms. Silke Williams
Phone: 301-480-7189  

TPPF Fresh Tissue Requests:
Ms. Sarah Young, PA
Phone: 301-480-7182 

---------------------------

Clinical Archives- Tissue Resource Committee - (TRC) Requests

Human Biological Materials (e.g. fresh tissue sections, FFPE tissue blocks, tissue scrapings or slides) for Research are provided to clinical and basic investigators through the Tissue Resource Committee (TRC) process. This material includes paraffin-embedded or formalin-fixed biomaterial provided to clinical investigators through their linked clinical cases, as well as anonymized and unlinked paraffin-embedded, formalin-fixed or fresh frozen biomaterial waste tissues. All requests for biospecimens through the TRC program must be supported by an existing IRB-approved protocol for linked material, or exemption from the requirement for IRB review for anonymized and control biomaterial. Biological material from autopsy cases or deceased patients is also available and do not require IRB approval or exemption. 

Excess Surgical Tissue - Formalin Fixed Paraffin Embedded (FFPE) Samples

Excess tumor and normal tissue from surgical and autopsy cases are collected and cataloged into the Laboratory of Pathology’s FFPE Tissue Bank. The samples are de-identified and given a generic accession number, XX- for surgical specimens and XA- for autopsy. The information provided for each sample includes: tissue type, age, sex, race, primary diagnosis, and time in formalin and time in alcohol, if known, as well as the H&E stained slides. Autopsy samples do not have to be de-identified and any information can be provided with proper documentation from IRB. 

Normal (non-tumor) Frozen Tissue Bank

Normal (non-tumor) tissues not needed for diagnosis are collected for current and future research projects. Two types of samples are collected: either placed in a nunc tube and frozen in liquid nitrogen or embedded in OCT and frozen. All samples are stored long term in a -80 C freezer. Samples are de-identified and logged into Lab Matrix to produce a generic Lab Matrix code. The information provided for each sample includes: tissue type, age, sex, race, and primary diagnosis. These samples are unlinkable and the pathology report, including final diagnosis, cannot be obtained.  

NCI / Walter Reed Murtha Cancer Center Shared Tissue Resource

Through an interagency collaborative agreement between the NCI and Walter Reed National Military Medical Center (WRNMMC), the Laboratory of Pathology receives excess surgical tissues, normal and tumor, from the WRNMMC and LP makes these tissue sections available to NIH investigators through the TRC program. Samples are received with a unique identified from WRNMMC with associated non-PHI clinical data and demographics. Samples are logged into Lab Matrix specimen tracker and receive a unique unlinked identifier.  Types of samples from WRNMMC include paraffin embedded blocks, fresh frozen OCT blocks, fresh frozen tissues in nunc tubes, and H&E slides. 

We also facilitate collection of fresh tissue samples from Walter Reed with an approved TRC request. The NIH research collaborators are responsible for the coordination of transfers of fresh tissues from WRNMMC to NIH. LP staff will accession the fresh tissue into the Specimen Tracker LIS System and the samples will go directly to the investigator’s laboratory.  

WRNMMC / NIH Collaboration Requisition

 This WRNMMC NIH Protocol Matching Form is to be completed when an NIH investigator is requesting a prospective collaboration with WRNMMC pathology or biorepository.

Resources

Inventory

Accreditation and Certification

The Laboratory of Pathology's clinical sections and biorepository are accredited by the College of American Pathologists (CAP).  LP is certified pursuant to the Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments (CLIA) by the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), and adheres to any federal, state or local laws that have jurisdiction on LP’s functions. LP adheres to statutes that govern the Department of Health and Human Services, the National Institutes of Health, and the Clinical Center. Documentation is available to anyone who requests the information.

Related Sites and Information
Last updated by Lumelski, Victoria (NIH/NCI) [E] on May 30, 2023