Biospecimen Processing
The Biospecimen Processing Core (BPC) provides services to WVU Faculty and other members of the WV Clinical and Translational Science Institute by acquiring and processing accurately timed, high quality samples (e.g., blood, urine, bone marrow, etc., but excluding tissue) from patients for translational research in cancer. The sample processing complexity is determined by needs of the investigators and ranges from simple logging and storage to generation of specific subsamples such as mRNA isolation.
Functions of the BPC include: assistance with protocol design of sample times; establishment of handling procedures; determination of sample stability; sample & data acquisition from MBRCC clinics and Ruby/WVU Hospital; serving as an interface between the clinicians and labs; and specimen stabilization/processing, storage/shipping. Depending on the complexity of the study, the Core may also facilitate informed patient consent.
The physical location of the Core (room #1826 Mary Babb Randolph Cancer Center, West Virginia University Health Sciences Center, adjacent to the outpatient infusion center) facilitates sample handling, as it adjoins both the Drug Infusion Area/Outpatient Clinic and the centralized research laboratories. All equipment necessary for sample processing is located in the Core facility and includes centrifuges (refrigerated and non-refrigerated), an automated cell sorter, and continuously monitored freezers (-86 and -20oC).
The Core provides researchers with access to personnel who can link their samples to the Center's OnCore clinical trials management system. In addition, Core personnel have access to WVU Medicine’s electronic medical record system (Epic Systems Corp., Verona, WI) for acquisition of protocol requested patient information, providing a translational link to samples. Core personnel are led by the Director, Dr. William Petros. Project specific costs are provided with budgets based on actual time used for sample collection/processing per patient.
Contact the Core by phone - 304-293-4016 or pager 2197 or email biospeccore@hsc.wvu.edu (Coalina Kalivoda) or on the form below. Someone will return your call as quickly as possible.