The Translational Research Laboratory is designed to support research studies done by faculty investigators individually or in collaboration with academic/industry partners to take full advantage of the potential for research on human biological material at Boston Medical Center to generate research-based knowledge aiming at understanding hematology & oncology diseases.
The biospecimen repository provides long-term storage of human biological research material including blood, nasal and buccal swabs, saliva, stool, tissue, and etc. in -80° C and liquid nitrogen freezers for research purposes.
Services Offered:
- Consenting and enrolling subjects to translational research studies
- Processing of biological specimens
- Shipping biological specimens
- Coordinating with other laboratories and CROs (contract research organizations) for specimen testing and analysis according to the study protocol
- Short and long-term liquid nitrogen and -80°C storage of specimens in monitored freezer
- Creating and maintaining clinical databases
- Writing and submitting IRB application
- Assisting with IRB application maintenance (amendments and annual report)
- Assisting with research protocol development and proposals writing
- Assisting with paper writing and publication
- Providing research budget estimation
Current Projects:
- Prospective collection of microbiome and associated biologic samples in patients with malignancies and hematologic diseases. PI: Dr. Matthew Kulke
- Multidimensional IO markers of response and resistance to checkpoint inhibition. PI: Dr. Matthew Kulke
- Determination of genomic alterations in circulating cell-free DNA (cfDNA) associated with resistance to androgen-directed therapies in African American men with metastatic castration-resistant Prostate Cancer (mCRPC). PI: Dr. Gretchen Gignac, Dr. Josh Campbell
- Barriers to breast cancer care: A survey study. PI: Dr. Naomi Ko
- Assessing the serotonin metabolism pathway in intra/extrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma and gallbladder cancer. PI: Dr. Matthew Kulke
- Single cell RNA Sequensing of solid tumors. PI: Dr. Matthew Kulke, Dr. George Murphy
- Qualitative interviews to understand trauma history and resilience in a population of breast cancer patients at Boston Medical Center. PI: Dr. Naomi Ko
Contact:
Principal Investigator: Matthew Kulke, MD
Program Manager: Kiana Mahdaviani, PhD
Kiana.mahdaviani@bmc.org
617-638-7599
Research Assistants:
Casey Lu Simon-Plumb
CaseyLu.Simon-Plumb@bmc.org
617-638-7587
David Li
David.Li@bmc.org
617-638-7511