It's easy to find and request the breast tissue samples you need from the KTB. Our free Virtual Tissue Bank database allows researchers to query and filter available samples, and see the number of samples available and the annotations for each.
Search the Virtual Tissue Bank Read the KTB Whitepaper
Find breast tissue samples and submit proposals
Requesting tissue samples
KTB samples are restricted for use for breast cancer research only. Samples of tissues and biomolecules which have been collected by the Komen Tissue Bank may be requested by completing a Tissue Request Proposal Form:
- Do not complete the form on the website. First save the blank form to your computer, THEN complete the form.
- Save your completed form as a PDF file.
- Email the PDF as an attachment to jihenry@iu.edu.
Researcher Spotlights: Sanchita Bhatnagar, PhD
UC Davis Comprehensive Cancer Center
D. Bhatnagar’s lab advances our understanding of the epigenetic regulation of mammalian gene expression. Her team focuses on epigenetic mechanisms that provide an avenue for more effective intervention and treatment strategies.
Proposal review and approval
- Proposals for research using KTB tissue samples are accepted at any time during the year.
- All proposals must first have funding and IRB approval. Each will be reviewed by a panel consisting of one internal (IU) scientist, one external (Komen scholar) scientist, and one patient advocate.
- Approval will be based upon the scientific merit of the proposal, the availability of sufficient samples for the proposed project, and the non-duplication of a project already in progress.
After a proposal is approved
- After the proposal is approved, the researcher must sign a Material Transfer Agreement requiring that all raw data is to be returned to the KTB within a reasonable amount of time after data has been published and intellectual property secured.
- Data must be returned to the KTB even if the study results are negative, i.e., the hypothesis being tested is shown not to be correct.
- All researchers must provide an updated status report about their research to the KTB on an annual basis through the Tissue Recipient Status Update form.
Cost recovery
The KTB endeavors to make this process as efficient and transparent as possible, and we charge minimal cost recovery fees for samples.
I came after applying for an Army of Women study. It is important that we do this for each other. Women have been taking care of each other for millennia, let’s keep taking care of each other.
Nina — Tissue Donor
About the Susan G. Komen Tissue Bank
The Komen Tissue Bank is the only repository in the world for normal breast tissue and matched serum, plasma, and DNA. We are transforming breast cancer research by offering normal, high-quality, richly annotated tissue samples to scientists worldwide.
