Cooperative Human Tissue Network
Mid-Atlantic Division

How to Request TMA Slides

How to Request TMA Slides

CHTN TMA Policies and Information

The CHTN distributes TMAs of its own design and from allied organizations. TMAs listed with the “CDP” designation were designed by the Cancer Diagnosis Program of the National Cancer Institute. The application process is slightly different for CDP TMAs than for CHTN TMAs, and the fees are more significant to reflect the larger number of cases, the greater degree of annotated data and the statistical design process associated with these resources.

The Principal Investigator (PI) responsible for overseeing the project and controlling the laboratory and personnel who will receive, use and process the requested specimens should submit the application form using the appropriate instructions.

The "Agreement for Use of Tissue Microarray (TMA) Slides" requires the signatures of both the Principal Investigator and an authorized Institutional Official. This document functions in place of a Material Transfer Agreement.

There is a processing fee for each TMA slide, and shipping charges are billed to the investigator. Institutional Purchase Order or credit card payments are accepted. POs will be invoiced when the TMA slides are shipped. If paying by credit card, the CHTN will contact the listed billing contact prior to shipment to obtain this information. Descriptions of available TMA slides and the associated processing fees are available here.

An investigator may request a maximum of 10 slides from any particular TMA design at one time. High resolution digital pathology files of H&E stained sections are available to investigators that purchase TMA slides.

By obtaining TMA slides from the CHTN, the investigator agrees to and understands the following:

  1. For CHTN TMA Slides: The recipient agrees to acknowledge the contributions of the Cooperative Human Tissue Network in all publications resulting from the use of these TMA slides. Recommended wording for the methods or acknowledgement section is as follows: “Tissue samples were provided by the Cooperative Human Tissue Network (CHTN) which is funded by the National Cancer Institute. Other investigators may have received specimens from the same subjects.”
  2. For CDP TMA Slides: The recipient agrees to acknowledge the contributions of the Cooperative Human Tissue Network and the NCI Cancer Diagnosis Program in all publications resulting from the use of these TMA slides. Recommended wording for the methods or acknowledgement section is as follows: “Tissue samples were provided by the Cooperative Human Tissue Network (CHTN) and the Cancer Diagnosis Program which are funded by the National Cancer Institute. Other investigators may have received specimens from the same subjects.”
  3. The tissue microarrays are provided to the requesting investigator only for research purposes and not for diagnostic purposes. Please note that the tissue samples are anonymized and no further clinical information is available other than the data that accompany the arrays. Chart review for additional clinical data or recontact of subjects participating in the TMA resources is not possible.
  4. The investigator agrees not to distribute these microarray slides to a third party without prior written permission from the CHTN.

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Requesting CHTN TMAs: Current CHTN Investigators and previous CHTN TMA Recipients

If you are an Investigator who has been previously approved to receive specimens from the CHTN and have an active project or wish to request TMA slides under a new project, you generally do not need to submit a separate application to receive TMA slides. The same is usually the case for recent CHTN TMA recipients. Please contact the CHTN Mid-Atlantic Division for assistance with setting up a new request. Cancer Diagnosis Program (CDP) TMA slides require a dedicated submission, regardless of investigator status. See below for details.

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Requesting CHTN TMAs: Investigators New to the CHTN

If you are an Investigator who has does not have current approval to receive specimens from the CHTN, requesting TMA slides is a 1-step process.

  • Please download CHTN: Application for Tissue Microarray Slides (Microsoft Word document). The information requested in this form is necessary in order to correctly document your request. Fill out the application form on your computer. All sections of the application should be completed to ensure that your request is correctly prioritized and to minimize processing delays. The "Agreement for Use of Tissue Microarray (TMA) Slides" requires the signatures of both the Principal Investigator and an authorized Institutional Official. This document functions as a Material Transfer Agreement.
  • Submit the completed and signed application form by to the CHTM Mid-Atlantic Division by e-mail (preferred), fax or mail.
  • The CHTN will review the application for completeness upon receipt. If we have questions about the application we will contact you directly (via e-mail or telephone) to discuss them. The CHTN will issue a formal Approval Letter notfying the applicant that the application has been accepted.

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Requesting Cancer Diagnosis Program (CDP) TMAs: All Investigators

Requesting CDP TMA slides is a 2-step process for all Investigators. For Step One, the investigator must submit an application to the CHTN for scientific review which describes the proposed use of the TMA slides, including a detailed description of the assays and statistical methods to be employed. Successful applicants will be notified and asked to proceed to Step Two. This step consistes of a second supplemental application and agreements package finalizing the request. Shipment will be scheduled once the supplemental application and agreements have been accepted.

Step One, Application for Scientific Review

  • Please download Cancer Diagnosis Program Tissue Microarray Slides Part 1: Application For Scientific Review (Microsoft Word document). The information requested in this form is necessary in order to correctly document your request for CDP tissue microarray (TMA) slides from the Cooperative Human Tissue Network (CHTN).
  • Fill out the application form as completely as possible. In addition to the application, the applicant must submit a current Curriculum Vitae (CV).
  • Submit the completed application form and CV by to the CHTN Mid-Atlantic Division by e-mail (preferred), fax or mail.
  • If requesting TMAs from more than one specific anatomic site or disease, please submit separate applications.
  • The CHTN will review the application as quickly as possible upon receipt and forward it for scientific review if it is complete. Investigators should anticipate that it may take several weeks for the review to be completed. If we have questions about the application during this process we will contact you directly (via e-mail or telephone) to discuss them.
  • Upon completion of the review, the CHTN will notify the applicant of its decision and provide a formal Approval Letter, if applicable.

Step Two, Supplemental Application and Agreements (do not complete this step until instructed to do so by the CHTN)

  1. Please download Cancer Diagnosis Program Tissue Microarray Slides Part 2: Supplemental Information And Agreements (Microsoft Word document). The information requested in this form is necessary in order arrange scheduling, shipping, and billing for your TMA slides. The "Agreement for Use of Tissue Microarray (TMA) Slides" requires the signatures of both the Principal Investigator and an authorized Institutional Official. This document functions as a Material Transfer Agreement.
  2. You will be contacted by a CHTN staff member upon receipt of the completed Part 2 package regarding scheduling of your shipment.
  3. Please note that it is the CHTN’s practice to batch approved TMA requests and ship at approximately monthly intervals. TMA sections are cut in batches immediately prior to shipment in order to conserve the material and provide the best quality sections. Please allow sufficient time for your TMA application to be reviewed and processed.
  4. Approval may be granted to receive TMA slides for projects which funding is being sought or is not yet awarded. CDP TMA sections are not reserved and are a finite resource. The CHTN's approval letter may be utilized to support a funding application, but the CHTN does not guarantee that sufficient sections will be available at a later date.

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Submitting Your CHTN or CDP TMA Application

Please email (preferred), fax or mail the completed application form to:

Email: [email protected]

CHTN, Mid-Atlantic Division
University of Virginia
Dept. of Pathology
PO Box 800904
Charlottesville, VA 22908

Phone: (434) 924-9879

FAX: (434) 924-9438

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