Core 1: Biospecimen/Pathology Core

ABSTRACT – PATH CORE The Biospecimen/Pathology Core (Path Core) of the Head Neck SPORE (HN SPORE) is dedicated to the collection, processing, preservation, characterization, annotation, and distribution of biospecimens to enhance translational research in head neck cancer (HNC). The theme of this core is to provide SPORE investigators with a reliable, high-quality, and clinically diverse source of HNC biospecimens that are exhaustively annotated with both clinical information as well as tumor specific bioinformatics. This will be achieved by enlarging the size and variety of biospecimens available to investigators, creating innovative resources such as ‘on demand’ patient derived xenografts, and augmenting biospecimen characterization including state of the art characterization of the immune background of HNC biospecimens to facilitate Immuno-oncology. The mission of the Path Core is to provide the type and quality of services that will enable HN SPORE investigators to easily initiate their translational aims and generate reliable, clinically significant findings that will impact patient care. Successful accomplishment of the translational aims for each of the HN SPORE projects is dependent on the Path Core. The specific aims of the Path Core are strategically designed to produce a core service that will directly meet the biospecimen needs of the HN SPORE projects and build a sustainable central organizing force for collaborative translational HNC research in the future. The Specific Aims for the Path Core are: 1. To collect, process, preserve and distribute HNC biospecimens. 2. To provide and maintain a centralized HN SPORE biospecimen bioinformatics database. 3. To provide a full range of expert services for biospecimen characterization. 4. To serve and support HN SPORE investigators and collaborate with other investigators in the HNC research community.