Tissue Acquisition And Analysis Core

Director, Jennifer McNiff, M.D.

The purpose of the Tissue Acquisition and Analysis Core (TAAC) of this YSDRC proposal is to stimulate and facilitate cutaneous research by providing highly efficient and cost-effective services, facilities, and expert assistance in the acquisition and analysis of samples of normal and diseased skin. The TAAC facilitates the preparation and analysis of tissue sections derived from experimental tissues provided by investigators, or from archival tissue accessible to the TAAC facility. Sample sources in hand consist of ~400,000 biopsy specimen archive of diseased skin and serum samples that were submitted to the Yale Dermatopathology Service, and which are cross-referenced by diagnosis in a relational database. Tissue sections and nucleic acids extracted from multiple cases of common and rare diseases can be provided to researchers from this tissue bank, in accordance with Yale Human Investigation Committee guidelines and HIPAA regulations.

The expertise and volume of samples associated with this unique combination allows the proficient delivery of the following specific services, including but not limited to:

1. preparation of unstained tissue sections and histochemical stained sections;
2. immunohistochemical and immunofluorescence staining of tissue sections;
3. dual-color flow cytometric analysis and sample preparation, including the isolation and staining of fresh leukocytes and cultured cells, as well as cells isolated from fresh epidermis;
4. expert assistance in the morphologic analysis of tissue sections, including histochemical and immunohistochemical studies;
5. training of investigators in a variety of techniques used in the routine processing of skin, the performance of special staining techniques such as immunoperoxidase and immunofluorescence;
6. access to fresh-frozen banked skin and related tissues through active collaboration between this Core and several modules of the Critical Technologies unit of the Department of Pathology; and
7. preparation of tissue for and performance of tissue microarrays.