Specimen Accessioning Core

The Specimen Accessioning Core (SAC) provides a centralized resource for the collection and processing of blood, bone marrow, and tumor cell samples from patients with malignancies as well as samples from normal volunteer donors.  This Core was initially established in order to facilitate and support the ongoing laboratory and clinical research within the Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center at Johns Hopkins (SKCCC).  In addition, the SAC provides rigorous quality assurance and quality control for the processing and storage of clinical samples.  Thus, the specific aims of this Core are to:

1. Centralize accessioning of patient specimens,
2. Process patient specimens and tissue samples utilizing good laboratory practices (GLP) procedures,   
3. Store specimens in a well-controlled and monitored environment in order to ensure sample integrity,
4. Fairly and equitably distribute accessioned samples to investigators with IRB-approved research questions. 5) Maintain a secure relational data base that includes detailed information on the handling and processing of the samples along with pertinent clinical and demographic data that correlate to the specimen.
5. Provide expertise and support to investigators in the planning of sample collection for the development of correlative biologic tests for clinical trials and for pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic analysis and,
6. Provide a mechanism to ensure that informed consent is provided and subjects are maximally protected when volunteering to donate tissues for ongoing and future research by maintaining an active IRB-approved clinical trial (currently RPN#00-01-27-09, Tissue and Cell Procurement Protocol) that identified the research nature of the bank and assures HIPAA-compliances.

Personnel
Allan Hess, Ph.D., Faculty Director
Anchalee Jiemjit, Facility Manager

Contact: 410-502-0674