Oncology Research Unit (Cancer Research)

Recent Achievements

Tumour Bank - Pathology Support Laboratory

The availability of tumour tissue to cancer scientists from recognized tumour banks has allowed researchers to translate basic understanding of cell biology into knowledge of molecular processes in malignant tissue.

Vital to using human tissue in research applications are the availability of specialised research-oriented histopathology services. The availability of such specialised histopathology services are currently limited with cancer researchers often relying on collaborative relationships and goodwill with hospital pathologists whose time often limited. More recently, new technologies have been developed which are designed to facilitate translational research using human tissue, but require specialized technical expertise.

Within the Children's Hospital at Westmead Tumour Bank we have established a pathology support laboratory (PSL) to support NSW cancer researchers and those working with the Australasian Biospecimens Network - Oncology, to facilitate research through the provision of specialized expertise in research-based tissue handling techniques. The PSL will support cancer researchers accessing tissue stored via the Australasian Biospecimens Network through

• the provision of basic tissue sectioning and standard stains, as well as high through-put immunohistochemistry for known or novel targets.
• the creation of tissue microarrays which will allow for the simultaneous examination of hundred of tissue 'spots' gridded onto a microscope slide.
• the provision of a digital platform for scanning microscope slides which generate high resolution images of tissue sections, which can viewed at remote sites via the internet, facilitating pathology review by experts around the world, and thus enabling researchers access 'virtual' microscopy facilities.

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