Tissue analysis is critical to validation and evaluation of animal models of human cancer, and human cancer tissues serve as the "operating system" for translational research. The Specialized Histopathology (SHP) Core, a new entity created by consolidating five histopathology cores into a single unit with two performance sites, supplies consultative and interpretive pathology services that provide high-quality analysis of tissues obtained from experimental systems including rodents, fish and monkeys.

The SHP Core provides professional and technical research pathology services to DF/HCC investigators working in diverse organisms, including man, non-human primates, rodents, and zebrafish. The Core also assists in experimental design and the development and interpretation of tests and their results.

The SHP Core provides a comprehensive set of tissue-based tests and diagnostic services priced at cost for DF/HCC investigators, and pairs investigators with pathologists with subspecialty expertise in specific areas. If projects involve cancers or pathologic states outside of the expertise of Core-associated pathologists, the Core actively seeks out pathologists with such expertise to act as collaborators.