Susan G. Komen Tissue Bank at the IU Simon Cancer Center

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Susan G. Komen Tissue Bank at the IU Simon Cancer Center

The world's only biobank that collects healthy breast tissue for breast cancer research. The donors to this repository are volunteers.

The KTB is a repository bank of whole blood, DNA, plasma, serum and frozen human breast tissue. What sets the KTB apart from all other tissue and blood repositories is that the vast majority of our donors are without evidence of breast cancer. Each sample is annotated with detailed medical information about the donor. Even though donors will not benefit directly from their donation, they are providing an invaluable resource to enable research to maximize its potential today and in generations to come.

11/07/2025

Our tissue collection events are more than just a day of collection; they are a logistical masterpiece built on commitment. To ensure absolute precision, our team dedicates three full months to preparation and organizing every single supply needed.

This intensive prep enables our success: on event day, over 100 dedicated people arrive to transform a clinic space, allowing us to perform approximately 100 essential biopsies. Even more impressive? We set up a full pop-up lab on-site to immediately process every sample, ensuring maximum research quality.

This level of synchronized effort is rare, and it's all powered by our mission to end breast cancer. A massive thank you to our incredible team for making this machine run flawlessly.

We need your help to spread the word! Please SHARE this post to tell others about the incredible work happening at the Komen Tissue Bank.

11/05/2025

Imagine a future free of breast cancer. This future is built on research, and research relies on a unique resource: healthy breast tissue. The Komen Tissue Bank is the world's only biobank of this essential healthy tissue, driving discoveries globally.

Join the network. Spread the word. We are a vital resource that many people don't know about, and we can't grow this essential work without you.

By sharing our mission, you help establish The Komen Tissue Bank: A Global Resource. Let's connect communities, empower scientists, and illuminate the path to prevention.

11/04/2025

Hey November birthdays! It’s your turn to help us help others by completing your medical follow-up! Contact Alison at alisnide@iu.edu or (317)274-2366 if you need assistance.

10/31/2025

Happy Halloween from the witches, scientists, and whole team at the Komen Tissue Bank (KTB)! 🎃🧹

We took a fun break from battling breast cancer to celebrate our monthly team gathering—and clearly, some of us just happen to have a magic touch when it comes to healthy tissue research! 😉

We love building community while working toward our mission: providing the world's only resource of healthy breast tissue and matched samples to accelerate prevention research.

From all of us at the KTB, we hope you have a safe and spooky day!

10/29/2025

Our cryopreserved tissue samples are frozen to preserve living cells from healthy breast tissue.

Researchers use these samples to study how normal cells behave, respond to treatments, and differ from cancer cells.

This post shows how your donation is actively helping scientists understand breast biology in real time.

Share this to show how healthy tissue supports cutting-edge research.

10/28/2025

It’s more than just a month; it’s a movement built on love, resilience, and action. Seeing everyone come together to support breast cancer research has been an unforgettable experience. Thank you for showing up and proving that we are stronger together. Let’s carry this spirit with us all year long!

Share this post to honor all survivors!

10/23/2025

Healthy breast tissue might help explain cancer risk.
New research supported by the Komen Tissue Bank found that tissue from Black women often contains more PZP cells. These cells can encourage breast cells to spread, which is a behavior seen in cancer.

This discovery shows how important it is to study healthy tissue from diverse donors. Your support is helping scientists make real progress.

Follow us to see how your impact drives discoveries!

10/21/2025

To our October babies, Happy Birthday! Don’t forget to complete your medical follow-up this month! Contact Alison at alisnide@iu.edu or (317)274-2366 if you need assistance.

10/16/2025

More young people are being diagnosed with cancer, and breast cancer is part of that trend.

A recent article from The New York Times looks at possible causes, including lifestyle choices, environmental exposures, and hormonal shifts.

The Komen Tissue Bank supports this research by providing healthy breast tissue samples from donors of all ages. These samples help scientists understand what normal tissue looks like and how it changes over time.

Read the article: “Why Are More Young People Getting Cancer?”
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/10/01/well/cancer-young-people.html

10/13/2025

What an incredible day at the More Than Pink Walk 2025! 🎉 We were deeply moved by the outpouring of support from everyone fighting for a future without breast cancer.

Thank you to every walker, volunteer, and supporter who stopped by the Komen Tissue Bank table. Your commitment ensures that vital research continues, driving us toward a cure.

It was wonderful connecting with the community! If you were there, what was your favorite moment from the walk? Share below! 👇

10/10/2025

Research Week Recap! The Komen Tissue Bank plays a critical role in advancing breast cancer research. This week, we celebrated our incredible team for their dedication to collecting, processing, and distributing the highest quality tissue samples—the essential starting point for researchers everywhere. This appreciation week was our way of saying thank you for their commitment to accelerating discovery.

Here is a quick look at the celebrations:
Monday: Kicking off the week with festive decorations!
Tuesday: Sharing smiles over a pancake breakfast.
Wednesday: A little playful stress relief with our "You've Been Ducked" stress ball ducks!
Thursday: Keeping the energy high with plenty of snacks.
Friday: Encouraging focus and fun with fidget toys!

We are so proud of our team and their commitment to breast cancer breakthroughs. Give this post a like if you appreciate the researchers in your life!

10/08/2025

Ever wonder what happens after you donate?

FFPE Tissue is embedded in wax and sliced into thin layers for microscopic analysis.
Researchers use these slides to study healthy breast tissue — so they can better understand how disease begins and what changes to look for.

This post shows how your sample is actively contributing to breast cancer research.

Share this to show how healthy tissue helps science move forward.

Address

550 N University Boulevard
Indianapolis, IN
46202

Telephone

+13172742366

Website

http://www.komentissuebank.iu.edu/

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