VSL will be a consultative Core with components in each of the five DF/HCC hospitals. We have established a web-based network of autonomous, distributed, searchable databases, which contain de-identified, coded, pathologic information on post-diagnostic, excess human materials (including frozen or paraffin-embedded tissues and bodily fluids).  Standardized specimen core dataset includes age, gender, anatomic location, tissue type, and diagnoses. Access to the VSL is through the password-protected Harvard eCommons. Two types of generic VSL uses are envisioned: (1) Center members with eCommons accounts can quickly retrieve aggregated tissue availability information to determine the feasibility of a proposed study. (2) Approved investigators can discover and review materials from suitable, de-identified and coded cases online and then request the samples they want.

The initial VSL participants include the pathology departments of BIDMC, BWH, CH, and MGH, and therefore, currently only paraffin-embedded tissues are listed in the VSL. Once the network stability is verified, other tumor banks will be added. Each participating repository controls its own information and specimens, and the guidelines governing specimen access are published on the VSL website. Guardians of each bank will abide by the general rules established by the VSL
Oversight Committee regarding access.

Personnel/Contact Information:

Leadership and Staff

Core Directors:
Issac Kohane, M.D., Ph.D. (CHB)
Christopher Fletcher, M.D., FRCPath (BWH)

Core Pathologists:
Bruce Beckwith, M.D. (BIDMC)
Frank Kuo, MD Ph.D. (BWH)
Antonio Perez-Atayde, M.D. (CHB)
Ulysses Balis, M.D. (MGH)

Core Developer/Programmer: Andrew McMurry (CHB)

Core Adminstrator: Connie Gee, PhD (DFCI)

https://querytool.med.harvard.edu/querybuilder/search

(eCommons login needed)