In this issue:



• Announcements
• 2026 Models of Excellence Program Award Recipients
• S10 LOIs due May 15
• On-site Pipette Service May 19-21
• Promega Talk on Target Engagement May 20
• Cores Day 2026 - RSVP by June 15
• PSOM Core Funding Opportunity – Applications due August 31

• Core Facilities Spotlight
• Clinical Research Collaboration Unit
• Comparative Pathology Core Facility
• OCRC Tumor BioTrust
• Rodent Cardiovascular Phenotyping Core

Announcements: 2026 Models of Excellence Program Award Recipients

We are pleased to share the 2026 Models of Excellence Program Award recipients, which recognize Penn staff and teams who have demonstrated exceptional innovation, service, leadership, and impact across the University community.

This year’s honorees include individuals and collaborative teams whose work has strengthened research infrastructure, advanced teaching/learning, and enhanced operational excellence across multiple schools and centers. Their efforts reflect the creativity, dedication, and collaborative spirit that drive Penn’s mission forward.

We want to congratulate our own Rebecca Ly and Jem Palma of the Molecular Pathology & Imaging Core (MPIC) who were recognized with an award for their outstanding initiative, technical expertise, and exemplary support of complex research projects across the Penn community.

Please visit the link below to view the full list of awardees and descriptions of their contributions.

https://www.hr.upenn.edu/docs/default-source/awards-and-appreciation/moe-2026-program-award-honorees.pdf?sfvrsn=c2f19f56_3 

Announcements: S10 LOIs due May 15

Following the NIH pause, we’ve learned that the S10 Shared Instrumentation and High-End Instrumentation Grant programs are moving forward as planned, and our previously paused call for Letters of Intent (LOIs) has now reopened. These programs support the purchase of major research equipment ranging from $50,000 to $2 million, with full applications due June 1, 2026.

Faculty interested in applying must submit an LOI (co-signed by their Department Chair) to April Weakley by May 15, 2026, to help coordinate institutional submissions and avoid duplication. 

Please find full details here.

Announcements: On-site Pipette Service May 19-21

We are pleased to partner with Fisher Scientific and offer on-site pipette calibration on May 19-21^st from 8a-5pm. This on-site calibration saves 15-30% in costs and avoids the significant downtime associated with shipping pipettes off-site. On May 19th & 20^th, Fisher Scientific will be in the KRB Lounge (14th Floor), whereas on May 21^st, it will be in the RRB Auditorium lobby. 

Email ehammond@gilson.com to get a quote and schedule a time. Your BA will be able to take the quote and generate a purchase order.  Contact Rick Graham or Michael Talley with questions.

Please see the below flyer for more details.

Announcements: Promega Talk on Target Engagement May 20

Announcements: Cores Day 2026 - RSVP by June 15

We’re excited to invite you to Cores Day 2026, taking place on Wednesday, September 23, 2026, from 10 AM–1 PM in the Smilow lobby. All core facilities are encouraged to participate. Please note the event will run in a single shift from 10AM-1PM.

Space is limited! To secure your spot, all cores (Penn/CHOP/Wistar) must RSVP by 6/15/26 at the link below:

https://hosting.med.upenn.edu/forms/evdresearch/view.php?id=27401

We look forward to your participation!

The annual Cores Day event is a joint venture with CHOP, PSOM, Penn Vet, and Wistar aimed at showcasing the many outstanding biomedical research resources and services available throughout our campus. This event is an opportunity for students, faculty, and staff to interface with a multitude of research core facilities via informational tables staffed by core facility personnel.  

Please feel free to contact April Weakley (aweakley@pennmedicine.upenn.edu) or Lori Delspechio-Irvin (irvin@chop.edu) with any questions or concerns. 

Announcements: PSOM Core Funding Opportunity – Applications due August 31

The Core Committee has received funds to support the growth of core facilities. As these funds are limited, requests will be limited to $20-30k per application. Please note the committee is not able to fund all applications. The committee is particularly interested in proposals related to the purchase of equipment/upgrades that push the boundaries of core technology and its ability to expand discovery. There will be multiple calls for applications, with the first deadline being 8/31 COB.

Please submit your application using this form, and contact Dr. Yale Cohen (ycohen@pennmedicine.upenn.edu)with any questions or concerns. 

Core Facilities Spotlight: Clinical Research Collaboration Unit - RRID:SCR_022404

21 CFR Part 11 Compliance Data Management Support

When secure complaint data systems are required for FDA‑regulated trials, investigational product research, or regulatory submissions, the CRCU is the solution.

What We Offer

Veeva Electronic Data Capture (EDC)

•21 CFR part 11 compliant data capture system

•Suitable for complex or multi-site trials

•Velos EDC is an alternative compliant option for small, single-site studies

Custom Database Development

•Study-specific builds

•Role-based access & audit trails

•Standardized/SDTM ready CRFs

Validation & Documentation

•User requirements specifications, test scripts, reports


SOPs & Regulatory Support

•Audit readinesse (benefit)? What do I want them to do (call-to-action)?

Why It Matters

•Ensures data integrity

•Supports regulatory acceptance

•Reduces audit risk

Why Work With Us

•End-to-end support

•Scalable solutions

•Research & data management expertise

Contact

•CRCU-Contact@lists.upenn.edu
•https://www.cceb.med.upenn.edu/crcu/contact-us

Core Facilities Spotlight: Comparative Pathology Core Facility: Penn Vet - RRID:SCR_022438

Charles-Antoine Assenmacher, DVM, MSc, DACVP, and Enrico Radaelli, DVM, PhD, DECVP, of Penn Vet’s Comparative Pathology Core guest-edited a special issue of the Veterinary Pathology Journal, focusing on the pathology of humanized mouse models. 

Humanization is routinely performed, especially at Penn, but comes with certain side effects that investigators should be aware of. Multiple manuscripts in this issue cover different aspects of those side effects, and how to detect them and differentiate them from other changes. 

Please click here to read the journal.

Core Facilities Spotlight: OCRC Tumor BioTrust Collection - RRID:SCR_022387

The Ovarian Cancer Research Center Tumor BioTrust Collection collects fresh cancer tissue specimens, as well as plasma, serum, peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC), blood and other biological samples from various cancer cases with a focus on gynecologic cancers. We also house formalin fixed paraffin embedded (FFPE) samples including tissue microarray (TMA) construction and immunohistochemistry. Samples collected through the Penn Legacy Tissue Program (PLTP) (e.g., rapid autopsy) are also available and a quote can be provided upon request.

We would love to work with investigators to prospectively collect specific samples to support their research within the Penn research community as well as outside academic institutions. We will be working with biotech/bio-pharma companies if it is within the confines of a collaboration.

We are offering the following sample types:

• Fresh Tumor Tissue
• Fresh Ascites Fluid
• Frozen Tumor Tissue
• Enzyme Digested Tumor Cells
• Serum & Plasma
• Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells (PBMC)
• OCT
• Formalin Fixed Paraffin Embedded (FFPE)
• Tissue Microarray (TMA)
• Samples from rapid autopsies through our Penn Legacy Tissue Program (PLTP)

More info about the core and pricing can be found at: https://www.med.upenn.edu/OCRCBioTrust/

Representative Publications:

LINE-1 ORF1p expression occurs in clear cell ovarian carcinoma precursors and is a candidate blood biomarker

Pamela R de Santiago, Sho Sato, Stephanie J Zhang, Meaghan C Dougher, Kyle M Devins, Agnes J Bilecz, Sagar Rayamajhi, Gabriel Mingo, Hannah S Rendulich, Yi Feng, Connie Wu, Martin S Taylor, Yelena Zhuravlev, Euihye Jung, Dalia K Omran, Tian-Li Wang, Ie-Ming Shih, Lauren E Schwartz, Sarah Kim, Mark A Morgan, Janos L Tanyi, Kathleen H Burns, Ernst Lengyel, Carlos Parra-Herran, Andrew K Godwin, David R Walt, Ronny Drapkin. PMID: 40050409 PMCID: PMC11885553 DOI: 10.1038/s41698-025-00849-1

Early Detection of Ovarian Cancer Using Cell-Free DNA Fragmentomes and Protein Biomarkers

Jamie E Medina, Akshaya V Annapragada, Pien Lof , Sarah Short, Adrianna L Bartolomucci, Dimitrios Mathios, Shashikant Koul, Noushin Niknafs, Michaël Noë, Zachariah H Foda, Daniel C Bruhm, Carolyn Hruban, Nicholas A Vulpescu, Euihye Jung, Renu Dua, Jenna V Canzoniero, Stephen Cristiano, Vilmos Adleff, Heather Symecko, Daan van den Broek, Lori J Sokoll, Stephen B Baylin, Michael F Press, Dennis J Slamon, Gottfried E Konecny, Christina Therkildsen, Beatriz Carvalho, Gerrit A Meijer, Claus Lindbjerg Andersen, Susan M Domchek, Ronny Drapkin, Robert B Scharpf, Jillian Phallen, Christine A R Lok, Victor E Velculescu 

PMID: 39345137 PMCID: PMC11726017 DOI: 10.1158/2159-8290.CD-24-0393

Early Detection of Ovarian Cancer Using Cell-Free DNA Fragmentomes and Protein Biomarkers - PMC

CHK1 inhibitor SRA737 is active in PARP inhibitor resistant and CCNE1 amplified ovarian cancer

Haineng Xu, Sarah B Gitto, Gwo-Yaw Ho, Sergey Medvedev, Kristy Shield-Artin, Hyoung Kim, Sally Beard, Yasuto Kinose, Xiaolei Wang, Holly E Barker, Gayanie Ratnayake, Wei-Ting Hwang; Australian Ovarian Cancer Study; Ryan J Hansen, Bryan Strouse, Snezana Milutinovic, Christian Hassig, Matthew J Wakefield, Cassandra J Vandenberg, Clare L Scott, Fiona Simpkins 

CD137+ tumor infiltrating lymphocytes predicts ovarian cancer survival.

Elizabeth A Tubridy, Monika A Eiva, Fang Liu, Dalia K Omran, Stefan Gysler, Erica G Brown, Allison G Roy, Yuyan Zeng, Jinhee Oh, Quy Cao, Sarah B Gitto, Daniel J Powell Jr PMID: 38290413 DOI: 10.1016/j.ygyno.2024.01.029

CHK1 inhibitor SRA737 is active in PARP inhibitor resistant and CCNE1 amplified ovarian cancer.

Haineng Xu, Sarah B Gitto, Gwo-Yaw Ho, Sergey Medvedev, Kristy Shield-Artin, Hyoung Kim, Sally Beard, Yasuto Kinose, Xiaolei Wang, Holly E Barker, Gayanie Ratnayake, Wei-Ting Hwang, Australian Ovarian Cancer Study; Ryan J Hansen, Bryan Strouse, Snezana Milutinovic, Christian Hassig, Matthew J Wakefield, Cassandra J Vandenberg, Clare L Scott, Fiona Simpkins. PMID: 39021796 PMCID: PMC11253285 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2024.109978

Performance of computational algorithms to deconvolve heterogeneous bulk ovarian tumor tissue depends on experimental factors.

Hippen, A.A., Omran, D.K., Weber, L.M. et al. Performance of computational algorithms to deconvolve heterogeneous bulk ovarian tumor tissue depends on experimental factors. Genome Biol 24, 239 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1186/s13059-023-03077-7

Functional neuronal circuits promote disease progression in cancer.

Restaino AC, Walz A, Vermeer SJ, Barr J, Kovács A, Fettig RR, Vermeer DW, Reavis H, Williamson CS, Lucido CT, Eichwald T, Omran DK, Jung E, Schwartz LE, Bell M, Muirhead DM, Hooper JE, Spanos WC, Drapkin R, Talbot S, Vermeer PD.

Science Advances 2023 May 10;9(19):eade4443. doi: 10.1126/sciadv.ade4443.

Ultrasensitive detection of circulating LINE-1 ORF1p as a specific multi-cancer biomarker.

Taylor MS, Connie W, Fridy PC, Zhang SJ, Senussi Y, Wolters JC, Cheng WC, Heaps J, Miller BD, Mori K, Cohen L, Jiang H, Molloy KR, Norden BL, Chait BT, Goggins M, Bhan I, Franses JW, Yang X, Taplin ME, Wang X, Christiani DC, Johnson BE, Meyerson M, Uppaluri R, Egloff AM, Denault EN, Spring LM, Wang TL, Shih IM, Jung E, Arora KS, Zukerberg LR, Yilmaz OH, Chi G, Matulonis UA, Song Y, Nieman L, Parikh AR, Strickland M, Corcoran RB, Mustelin T, Eng G, Yilmaz ÃH, Skates SJ, Rueda BR, Drapkin R, Klempner SJ, Deshpande V, Ting DT, Rout MP, LaCava J, Walt DR, Burns KH.

BioRxiv 2023 Mar 17:2023.01.25.525462. doi: 10.1101/2023.01.25.525462. Preprint

Folate Receptor Beta as a Direct and Indirect Target for Antibody-Based Cancer Immunotherapy

Allison G. Roy, J. Michael Robinson, Prannda Sharma, Alba Rodriguez-Garcia, Mathilde A. Poussin, Cheryl Nickerson-Nutter, and Daniel J. Powell, Jr.

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34070369

Intra-Tumoral Nerve-Tracing in a Novel Syngeneic Model of High-Grade Serous Ovarian Carcinoma.

Barr JL, Kruse A, Restaino AC, Tulina N, Stuckelberger S, Vermeer SJ, Williamson CS, Vermeer DW, Madeo M, Stamp J, Bell M, Morgan M, Yoon J-Y, Mitchell MA, Budina A, Omran DK, Schwartz LE, Drapkin R, Vermeer PD. Cells. 2021; 10(12):3491.

https://doi.org/10.3390/cells10123491

Contact Us

Ovarian Cancer Research Center Tumor BioTrust Collection

Ehay Jung, Technical Director

Smilow CTR 08-191A

3400 Civic Center Blvd

Philadelphia, PA 19104

Phone: 215-746-5137

E-mail: TBCrequests@pennmedicine.upenn.edu

Core Facilities Spotlight: Rodent Cardiovascular Phenotyping Core - RRID:SCR_022427

Congratulations to Joanna Griffin, MS, RCS, RDCS, FASE, Registered Cardiac Sonographer in the Rodent Cardiovascular Phenotyping Core, on being awarded Fellow of the American Society of Echocardiography (FASE).


The FASE credential recognizes ASE members who have demonstrated an extraordinary commitment to the field of cardiovascular ultrasound through excellence in education, research, leadership, and volunteerism. Fellows of the American Society of Echocardiography are recognized experts and ambassadors for the profession, reflecting the highest standards in cardiovascular ultrasound.

Have you used any core products, services or facilities?

We encourage you to complete a survey to provide us feedback on your experience.

Copyright © 2026 PSOM Biomedical Research Core Facilities, All rights reserved.