Overview
The Tissue and Research Pathology Services (TARPS) serves as the central support for UPCI research programs needing tissue materials from patients seen at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC). The main objectives of TARPS are: (1) to provide a mechanism to simplify and streamline the process of research tissue accrual and disbursement, and (2) to provide efficient research pathology support services.
The tissue accrual and disbursement function of TARPS has been in existence since 1991, when the service focused on genitourinary cancers. The resource has substantially expanded in the last five years and now procures and disburses tissue materials from patients with a diverse array of cancers. TARPS also provides support to major research projects such as the Lung Specialized Program Of Research Excellence (SPORE), Early Disease Research Network (EDRN)-related research efforts, and several other cancer research programs.
Services provided by TARPS include
- tissue and biological specimen procurement services,
- research histology services,
- annotated clinical data, and
- Tissue Microarray (TMA) services.
Future efforts include development of procedures to molecularly profile tumors on a real time basis. TARPS' existing infrastructure supports all common malignancies. The facility provides fresh/ frozen/ paraffin embedded tissues from these tumor types.