Project financed by the Ministry of Science and Higher Education under a targeted grant for the implementation of investments related to scientific activity.
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At present, the Łukasiewicz – PORT Biobank is a population-based biobank whose objective is to collect biological material primarily from donors recruited from the general population, and additionally from populations burdened with specific disease entities, within the Lower Silesian Voivodeship. Currently, the PORT Biobank holds a collection of over 170,000 biological samples gathered during population-based studies.
As part of the Biobank’s development plans, we intend to expand the existing collection with oncological tissue resources including: tumor tissues (from the tumor and its surrounding area), tissues from disease-free organs where possible, and, if available, material from sentinel lymph node biopsies. This tissue collection will be created in the form of FFPE blocks, fresh or frozen tissue, stained histopathological slides, as well as unstained sections and imprints of tumor tissue on glass slides. The PORT Biobank will also seek to establish unique collections of normal tissues from non-oncological patients presenting to clinics for mammoplasty or prophylactic mastectomy performed in cases of detected gene mutations (BRCA1 and BRCA2) or significant familial predisposition.
Under the current application, we are seeking financial support for the purchase of an integrated platform for histopathological analyses enabling:
a) automatic protein staining using immunohistochemistry (IHC/IF) and in situ RNA/DNA hybridization (ISH/FISH) in a comprehensive environment of pathological and normal tissues in FFPE form, using an automated staining system (molecular characterization);
b) digitization of stained microscopic slides from the above-mentioned FFPE material and frozen tissues.
The process of digitizing slides stained using IHC, IF, ISH, and FISH methods is achieved through the use of specialized digital scanners that transfer all information from the histopathological specimen to a computer in the form of a digitized image. Automated tissue staining and subsequent digitization of microscopic slides have enabled a breakthrough in histopathology and its broader application in basic research as well as in highly advanced biomedical and translational studies with a direct impact on clinical practice. Automation of tissue staining and digitization of microscopic preparations will also facilitate the development of computer-based image analysis systems in the areas of spatial profiling and identification of histomorphological features that are not detectable through classical microscopic assessment.
All projects carried out at the Łukasiewicz – PORT Biobank that involve work on histopathological collections and require biomarker visualization, molecular characterization, or pathomorphological evaluation of tissue material will be covered by image digitization processes. This will enable extensive collaboration with national and international institutions, as well as the acquisition of the maximum amount of information from valuable tissue material entrusted to us by patients and volunteers.
