Biospecimen Core Laboratories (BCL)
The mission of the BCL is to collect high quality samples of normal and diseased human material (e.g., whole blood, cellular blood components, bone marrow, plasma, serum, urine, benign and tumor tissue) with appropriate pathological and demographic data and to make this material available to qualified researchers at the LCRC while ensuring ethical informed consent, safety, donor anonymity, and all regulatory safeguards are in place. The BCL Co- Directors, Dr. Krzysztof Moroz and Dr. Arnold Zea, oversee this facility, with day-to-day procurement coordination and staff supervision provided by the BCL Assistant-Director, Dr. Melyssa Bratton.
The BCL is a part of the Louisiana Cancer Research Center (LCRC) infrastructure with mission to collect high quality samples of normal and diseased human material (e.g., whole blood, cellular blood components, bone marrow, plasma, serum, urine, benign and malignant tissue) with appropriate pathological data. The material collected is available to qualified researchers at the LCRC while ensuring ethical informed consent, safety, donor anonymity, and all regulatory safeguards are in place. We will also provide access to the unique clinical samples to support translational aspects of the research programs that are crucial to investigate how molecular and cellular pathways identified in vitro or in experimental animals correlate with human disease. Since its creation in 2008, the BCL has become a vital resource for researchers from LSUHSC, Tulane, Xavier and Dillard Universities conducting cancer research. Our core provides leadership, tools and resources to investigators, to enable translational research and precision medicine for patients.
CO-DIRECTOR
Arnold H. Zea, Ph.D.
azea@lsuhsc.edu
504.599.0906
THERMO CRYOPLUS SERIES LIQUID NITROGEN STORAGE SYSTEM
The CryoPlus Liquid Nitrogen Storage system has a storage capacity of 13,000 vials (2.0 ml) and features a vacuum insulated storage tank with stainless steel interior. The counterbalanced lid with 100% clearance incorporates high density, foamed-in-place urethane insulation with dedicated vent (patent pending). Two independent flexible gaskets reduce the migration of moisture into the chamber to reduce icing. For maximum product security, both series provide front-mounted key lock, rear mounted, recessed power switch and remove alarm contacts. Both series are UL listed, CSA Certified, bear the CE mark and meet the requirements IEC 1010
CRYOSTAT
The Leica CM 1860 cryostat is used for sectioning frozen tissues at sub-zero temperatures as a QA/QC.
TISSUE PROCUREMENT
This includes general procurement and specific investigator-directed procurement of fresh frozen, formalin-fixed paraffin embedded malignant and non-malignant tissue (including tumor tissue and adjacent or distant non-tumor tissue from the same surgery).
BLOOD PROCUREMENT
This includes general procurement of blood and plasma samples from patients bearing tumors and from normal controls.
QUALITY ASSURANCE/HISTOPATHOLOGIC REVIEW
Histopathologic verification of collected tissue samples will be performed in the Histopathology Laboratory of the Department of Pathology at Tulane University School of Medicine. The BCL pathologist, Dr. Moroz, verifies each collected sample for their representation of a pathologic process. The use of a clinical histology lab assures the highest standard in tissue processing and compliance with federal and state regulations (CAP, CLIA).
BIOSPECIMEN STORAGE
Samples can be stored in the liquid nitrogen storage system for a fee for investigators choosing to do so. Biospecimens collected for specific studies will be kept in distinctly separated locations so as to keep them separate from the general TB.
The Biospecimen Core is located on the 8th floor (Room 828) of the Louisiana Cancer Research Center. All tissue and blood samples are processed in the 8th floor laboratory and half of all specimens are stored there. The remaining samples are stored in Baton Rouge at the Pennington Biomedical Research Center as a disaster preparedness precaution.