CIT: Cluster Identification Tool (CIT) http://www.vai.org/VARI/supplemental/default.asp?content=kyle.furge/default.htm

A program that assists in the analysis of microarray gene expression data by identifying differentially expressed clusters of genes based on pre-defined sample parameters. In order to facilitate compatibility, CIT was designed as a companion to the widely used gene expression analysis software CLUSTER and TREEVIEW.

SPIN: Shared Pathology Informatics Network http://www.sharedpath.org

A project that involves hospitals from West Michigan. The System stores catalogs paraffin blocks that are older than 5 years and ordinarily would be destroyed. Currently the archive holds approximately 150,000 tissue samples/paraffin blocks. They are not linked to any personal identifiers or name and there is limited demographic information available. The demographic information is limited to age, sex, and diagnosis. Samples will be used in cellular and molecular protocols approved by VAI's Internal Review Board (IRB). Publication: Resau JH. Kort EJ. Campbell B.Hudson R. Buckner B. A Shared Pathology Informatics Network. Abstract presented at Experimental Biology, March 31-April 1, 2001.

Tissue Acquistion System (TAS)

Users utilize a web based interface for entering descriptive information and searching for tissue samples that meet specific criteria. The interface has the ability to facilitate online requests for tissues from both internal and external research projects. We have also developed a Pocket PC (handheld) based version of the TAS software named "Frost bite" that enables users to move about more freely and retrieve information regarding tissue location and descriptive data. This information is synchronized each time a user docks the device to a PC. With the use of a barcoding attachment for the pocket PC users can also scan the specimen barcode and instanly retrieve information regarding the tissue.