Histology/Imaging Core C

HISTOLOGY/IMAGING CORE C PROJECT SUMMARY The overall objective of the Histology/Imaging Core of the Cleveland DDRCC is to provide high-quality morphologic analyses of digestive and liver systems in experimental animal models and human digestive and liver inflammatory pathologies. In addition, a major goal of the Histology/Imaging Core is to support new and established investigators at Case Western Reserve University (CWRU) and the Cleveland Clinic Foundation (CCF) who do not have a direct focus on digestive or liver disease research to enter this exciting field of investigation and to encourage collaborations among DDRCC members working in the areas of digestive and liver inflammation. The Histology/Imaging Core continues to be committed to provide basic and fundamental histology, with pathology interpretation and semi-quantitative scoring, as well as immunohistochemical (IHC) and immunofluorescence (IF) methodologies essential to digestive and liver research, while at the same time implementing state-of-the-art technologies, such as digital pathology and tissue-specific spatial profiling, as well as human and small animal imaging for preclinical and clinical studies. Importantly, Histology/Imaging Core personnel provide valuable expert consultation and facilitate the training and transfer of Core technologies to DDRCC investigators and their lab members to enhance digestive and liver research programs at CWRU and the CCF. The specific aims for the DDRCC Histology/Imaging Core are: 1) Provide histological analysis and scoring of digestive & liver diseases; 2) Provide immunohistochemistry (IHC) and immunofluorescence (IF) staining; 3) Provide human and small animal imaging; 4) Provide digital pathology, image analysis, and photodocumentation; 5) Provide DSP technology to evaluate spatial transcriptomics; and 6) Provide consultation, education, training, and provision of archival tissues. Through these aims, the Cleveland DDRCC Histology/Imaging Core will facilitate the production of high-quality research in digestive and liver diseases in a cost-effective and time-efficient manner, and enhance the rate, depth, and breadth of research in Digestive and Liver Inflammation throughout CWRU and the CCF, leading to advancement of scientific discoveries in this important field of investigation.