Search for de-identified, archived samples for research. Pathology Specimen Locator
At a glance
Key Features
  • Search for and receive pathology specimens with annotated clinical data archived at participating hospitals
Useful for
  • Translational studies requiring access to human specimens and related clinical information
  • Research requiring large sample sizes
Available to
  • Clinical investigators and study staff
Access PSL

What is PSL?

The Pathology Specimen Locator (PSL) is a distributed database developed and maintained by the Dana-Farber/Harvard Cancer Center (DF/HCC) indexing millions of archived benign and malignant human specimens that can be used for translationalSpecimens per age group chart studies such as biomarker discovery and validation. Investigators can use PSL to locate paraffin and frozen specimens available across the Harvard pathology departments. When specimens matching the study criteria are located, investigators can request tissue and pathology services.

Why PSL?

Many scientists are calling for a closer connection between research and routine care delivery. Human specimens are routinely collected yet infrequently shared for research studies such as biomarker discovery and validation. While many reports suggest that access to well-characterized human tissues represents a valuable research resource in the post-genomic era, few studies have access to tissue quantities large enough for high- throughput experimentation. Similarly, the related clinical information remains invaluable yet oftentimes inaccessible to investigators. To address these needs, the Pathology Specimen Locator supports translational research studies that require human specimens and related clinical information.

Who participates in PSL?

Institution
Tissue Type
Massachusetts General Hospital
Paraffin
Boston Children's Hospital
Paraffin
Brigham and Women's Hospital
Paraffin
BWH anonymized tissues
Frozen