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Comparative Pathology Services and Tissue Distribution Program

Comparative Pathology Services (CPS) and the Tissue Distribution Program (TDP) are an integration of comparative pathology activities occurring at the Washington National Primate Research Center and those occurring within the UW Department of Comparative Medicine (DCM).

Using this model, Washington National Primate Research Center pathologists provide diagnostic and research pathology support for Washington National Primate Research Center animals and projects, with ancillary support, expertise, and guidance provided by DCM pathologists and mission-dedicated technicians and laboratories.

This organizational structure permits efficient use of pathology expertise, continuity in service, and a critical mass of pathology expertise. CPS also provides an excellent training opportunity for students such as those enrolled in the Department of Comparative Medicine post-doctoral training program, which offers training in laboratory animal medicine and comparative pathology.

A particularly important component of CPS is managing and operating the TDP. The TDP provides a wide variety of nonhuman primate tissues to investigative groups within and outside the WaNPRC. This program is an extremely valuable method of conserving and fully utilizing the nonhuman primate resource. NHP tissues and biological materials are collected in preparation for RNA/DNA isolation, cell culture, immunohistochemistry/histology, anatomic dissection, and cell sorting. Capabilities of the TDP and CPS include, but are not limited to flash frozen preservation, sterile preparation, perfusion, technical surgical dissections, and OCT embedding, histopathological analysis by Board Certified Veterinary Pathologists, other histology services including special stains and immunohistochemistry, protocol development and consultation, and grant and manuscript writing.

In conjunction with the Histology and Imaging core of the University of Washington DCM, additional capabilities post-collection include In situ hybridization, confocal and fluorescent microscopy, live cell imaging (DeltaVision), and whole slide scanning with image analysis (Visiopharm, Nikon Elements, and Image Pro).

Please email nprcinfo@uw.edu for questions or information about the Tissue Distribution Program (TDP).  Upon receipt of your email, a member of our center will get in touch with you.