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Tissue Donation Resources

Tissue donation is an important part of cancer research. It can be meaningful to both patients and researchers.

Learn more about tissue donation and your decision to participate in cancer research.

Video Resources

 

Additional Resources

Providing Your Tissue for Research: What You Need To Know by the National Cancer Institute

6 pages —This booklet from NCI describes the tissue donation process, how the tissue is used in research, and how patient privacy is protected.

The Importance of Tissue Samples in Research by the Research Advocacy Network

12 pages — This booklet from the Research Advocacy Network is about tissue donation for cancer research. The booklet describes the tissue donation process and how tissue is used in research.

Count Me In: Patient-Partnered Research

Count Me In is deeply committed to making every patient’s experience count. Through participation, patients are empowered to help shape and propel research toward future changes in the course of cancer.

Susan G. Komen ShareForCures

ShareForCures is a breast cancer research registry by Susan G. Komen, connecting researchers with information from people who have or had breast cancer.

Cancer Precision Medicine Commons

The Cancer Precision Medicine Commons is a place for organization leaders to share information and explore opportunities for cross-tumor collaborations.

Their goal is to increase knowledge about, access to, and appropriate use of the latest oncology precision medicine tools.

Hope for Others

A tissue donation program to study metastatic breast cancer.

Tissue Issues: Moving Towards Patient-Centered Tissue Donation for Cancer Research

Published to the on Oncobites Blog on January 20, 2021

This article describes the challenges and changes in tissue donation. It also talks about using a patient-centered approach to tissue donation.

Donating Biospecimens for Cancer Research: An Expert FAQ

Published to the ASCO Cancer.net Blog on October 12, 2017

Research that involves biospecimens is an important step to finding new and better ways to prevent, treat, and cure cancer now and for future generations. Find out more in these frequently asked questions.

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

Tissue Studies at UNC Lineberger

UNC Lineberger Clinical Trials Office

The UNC Lineberger Clinical Trials Office is the clinical research management team and turns research concepts into operational clinical trials.

Learn more about clinic trials at UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center and find patient resources by visiting the UNC Lineberger Clinical Trials Office website.

Research For Me

Research for Me connects you with research opportunities at UNC-Chapel Hill, UNC Health and across North Carolina.

Search for cancer clinical trials at UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center

Study spotlight: UNC Breast Tumor Donation Program

For many cancer patients and their families, helping others with cancer is an important part of the journey.

Taking part in a research study is one way to leave a lasting legacy. The UNC Breast Tumor Donation Program allows metastatic breast cancer patients donate tissue after death.

Patient and Community Engagement at UNC Lineberger

  • Lineberger Excellence in Advocacy Program (LEAP): Cancer patients, survivors, caregivers and community members are invited to become advocates with our cancer center. Advocates work with staff and researchers to guide our programs and research studies.
  • Patient Advocates for Research Council (PARC): PARC is made up of patients, survivors and caregivers. PARC members work with researchers to make sure studies and projects meet patient’s needs.
  • Patient and Family Advisory Council (PFAC): PFAC is made up of patients and caregivers. The goal of the PFAC is to make sure that patient and caregiver needs are met in all programs and services at UNC Lineberger and the North Carolina Basnight Cancer Hospital. PFAC members do this by sharing the patient or caregiver perspective.
  • Patients And Researchers Together (PART): The PART Program is a partnership between patients, advocates, researchers and other key stakeholders to motivate patients to donate the tissue that researchers need to create new and meaningful treatments for cancer.
  • Community Advisory Board (CAB): Leaders from around North Carolina serve on the CAB. The goal of the CAB is to improve cancer care and reduce the cancer disparities across the state. CAB members work with researchers and staff to make sure cancer research is done to meet community needs.

Ask your doctor how to donate tissue for research