Human Tissue Repository & Tissue Analysis

Dennis J McCance PhD

Research Professor, Pathology

Scientific Director

Oversees all aspects of the Resource

Edgar Fischer MD

Professor, Pathology

Medical Director

Oversees quality control aspects of the Resource

Cathleen Martinez PA

Technical Manager

Oversees the technical aspects of the Resource

Fred Schultz, MA

Informatics Management

Tissue processing and paraffin-embedding and paraffin sectioning, as well as snap-freezing of tissue and frozen sectioning. H&E staining on paraffin and frozen sections.

The laboratory can stain tissue sections with standard antibodies using protocols already in place. Alternatively, the laboratory can work up antibodies using the VENTANA DISCOVERY platform that allows for multiple staining combinations to optimize staining results.

Dual Staining for HER-2 and ER

Tissue microarray design and construction: This entails collecting donor paraffin blocks, selecting the areas of interest to core, and placing the cores in a blank recipient paraffin block. The advantages are in speed and cost, as multiple samples may be assessed on one slide. The typical TMA contains approximately 50 to 200 cores of 0.6mm-2.0 mm diameter. Approximately 50 sections may be obtained from one TMA block.

(At right: E-cadherin)

This usually comprises collection of excess or remnant tissues left over at the time of surgical resection after diagnostic samples have been taken for surgical pathologist microscopic review and enough specimen is retained in paraffin for potential future testing for patient care. HTR-TASR personnel will collect the tissues in the Gross Dissection Room of UNM HSC Surgical Pathology. Currently, the HTR does not perform venipunctures but will bank such specimens as requested by researchers.

HTR-TASR project consultants can collect pathology and clinical data that are stripped of HIPAA identifiers while coded to matching samples.

Contact Cathy Martinez or Sadie LaBauve to schedule.

Open Your Account in iLab:

1. Navigate to the iLabs login page.
2. In the upper right-hand corner of the screen, select sign up
3. Complete the registration form on the sign-up page.
4. Receive a welcome email from from iLab with login credentials and instructions

Requesting Services in iLab:

1. Establish a Purchase Requisition (PR) through your department. Email the PR to Mary Sherman requesting it be added under your lab in the iLab system.
2. Go to the iLabs login page.
3. In the upper right corner of this page, enter your username and password.
4. Under the “Request Services” tab, click “Initiate Request” next to the service of interest (Human Tissue Repository vs Molecular Pathology Services).
5. Complete the form and provide payment information for your request prior to submitting the request to the HTR.
   1. Make sure Project Title and TROC/HRRC/IACUC numbers match those on your approval letters.
   2. Under each category of services, enter the desired number and click on “Add selected services” tab. Services will be added at the bottom of the form.
   3. Use the “Additional Information” box to add any important details, and attach/upload any relevant documents, such as a specimen list or orientation description.
6. Requests will be pending review by the HTR, which will make any necessary changes and submit back for your approval. You will receive an email from iLab regarding your updated project request.

1. Submit your proposal to the Scientific Review Committee (SRC). Contact Cassandra Misenar for guidance in this process.
2. Once the SRC approves your proposal, send the approval letter with your application to the UNM Human Research Review Committee (HRRC) Institutional Review Board (IRB).

To navigate the IRB application process:

1. On the above link, click the “Click IRB” button to the left
2. Click the IRB tab at the top of the screen
3. Click the “Create New Study” button to the left
4. Fill out the form
5. At question #7, click the link to go to the library and select the appropriate protocol for your study
   1. If your study requires only de-identified materials select the Exempt Category 4 Protocol (HRP-582). *Note: De-identified discard tissues may not require consent
   2. If your study does not require obtaining any information about living individuals, select Nonhuman Subject Research (HRP-585)
   3. You may submit for an expedited submission if your study involves only specimens that have been collected solely for non-research purposes (such as medical treatment and diagnosis)
6. Following HRRC approval, submit a tissue request to the HTR through iLab. You will upload your SRC and IRB approval letters, and have an active PR in the system.

1. Contact the HTR-TASR for a planning/feasibility session.
2. Submit your proposal to the Scientific Review Committee (SRC). Contact Cassandra Misenar for guidance on this process.
3. Once the SRC has approved your proposal, send the approval letter with your application to the UNM Human Research Review Committee (HRRC) Institutional Review Board (IRB) (see instructions above).
4. Contact the HTR-TASR for an additional planning session (usually required to clarify details of the process. This meeting includes obtaining approval from the Division Chief of Surgical Pathology to ensure availability of the specimens while maintaining compliance with national laboratory regulations and best patient care.
5. If you have tissue remaining after closure of your investigation, you must return it to the HTR

1. You must obtain approval from the local Human Research Review Committee if any portion of the collected tissue may potentially be used for research.
2. The Division Chief of Surgical Pathology or their designee must approve the method of sample collection to ensure that sufficient representative tissue is retained for clinical care