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Translational Technologies and Resources (TTR) The Delaware Valley Unit for Translational Technologies and Resources (TTR) is a coordinated network of shared core technologies. TTR provides cross-institutional oversight through management, training and evaluation expertise, in support of clinical and translational research and education. TTR offers state-of-the art research instrumentation, with a resident expert available at each center. The Unit also supports new developments from the Novel Clinical and Translational Methodologies (NCTM) activities, and will manage the core facilities that are planned for the Delaware Valley Institute for Clinical and Translational Science (DVICTS) community. Given the rising costs to acquire technology, and the increasing importance of shared-use, fee-for-service facilities, the TTR core will play a critical role in facilitating and accelerating the translation of research discoveries to both the bedside and the community. For example, biomarker validation and translation may require the application of different technologies. This may involve assays on a mass spectrometer or the development of monoclonal antibodies for immunoassays, to demonstrate reliable utility of the marker before it is made available to the broad community. Molecular biomarker studies are based on the analysis of clinical samples which rely on access to "omic" measurements (e.g., proteomics). The analysis of these datasets relies on the study design as well as on bioinformatics, to produce useful biological information. The TTR plays an essential role in facilitating the discovery and translational process: from biostatistics services, through the Delaware Valley Unit for Biostatistics, Epidemiology, and Research Design (BERD); to aid in study design through tissue procurement and preparation services; to access to omic technologies to bioinformatics services through the Delaware Valley Unit for Biomedical Informatics (BMI); to new technologies for validation and testing. The importance of the TTR infrastructure is not unique to DVICTS, but is part of the advancement of modern clinical and translational research throughout the nation. The Unit forms a seamless infrastructure to support all DVICTS investigators, by maintaining current technology, and developing new paradigms for core facility management. Within this framework, TTR will pursue the following three specific aims:
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