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Patients are PARTners in cancer research

At UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, patients are a PART of bringing new discoveries from the laboratory to the clinic by donating their tissue to research to help improve the lives of all cancer patients.

Patients and Researchers Together - Partners in Cancer Research. Illustration showing collaboration between patients and researchers.

PART-Tissue and Sample Donation Program

A couple looking and smiling at each other

PART-Tissue is a PARTnership between patients, advocates, researchers and other key stakeholders to motivate patients to donate the biospecimens that researchers need to create new and meaningful treatments for cancer.

UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, one of the leading cancer centers in the nation, conducts research that spans from the laboratory to the bedside to the community.

By choosing to donate your tissue, you have a chance to help researchers learn more about cancer and discover new and better ways to prevent, diagnose, and treat cancer. You can be a part of the research team to help improve the lives of all cancer patients.

 

Samples and tissues

Samples and tissues include materials from your body such as tumor or normal tissue, blood, skin, hair, saliva and urine.

Donating samples is your choice

Before you decide whether to donate, it is important you understand what donation is, how it works, and how you can play a role by agreeing to take part in the program.

Samples used in research

Researchers use your samples, along with those from thousands of other patients, to look for ways to prevent, find, or treat health problems like cancer.

Many people like knowing their sample donations will help researchers advance medicine and improve the treatment of others.

Patients who can donate

Patients from all backgrounds are encouraged to donate samples. Ask your doctor for more information.

 


Presentations

The PART team presented two scientific posters at the 2021 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium.

Poster title: Patients and Researchers Together (PART); a patient-centered tumor tissue collection PARTnership between patients and researchers to increase tissue donations for breast cancer research

View PDF of poster


Poster title: Assessing the engagement related needs of researchers and patient advocates at the UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center

View PDF of poster


Woman with her family

From a patient

“Knowing that my tissue sample could help researchers find a better treatment, or a cure, gives me much needed hope.  I’m thankful to be a partner in this process.”
— Missy Van Lokeren


 

Learn how to be a part of research at UNC

Please complete the form below, and a member of the PART team will contact you with more information about the program.