What is the purpose of a tissue microarray?

The purpose of a tissue microarray is to simultaneously analyze multiple tissue samples, which allows researchers and pathologists to conduct high-throughput studies efficiently. By placing numerous small tissue samples onto a single slide, tissue microarrays facilitate the examination of various specimens under identical conditions, enabling comparative analyses across different samples. This approach enhances the ability to study the expression of biomarkers, disease progression, and treatment responses, thereby streamlining research and diagnostics in pathology. The use of tissue microarrays is particularly beneficial in studies involving large cohorts of tissues and diseases, as it conserves resources and time while increasing the statistical power of the analyses performed.