INDIANAPOLIS (January 6, 2009) – The Susan G. Komen for the Cure(R) Tissue Bank at the IU Simon Cancer Center in Indianapolis has partnered with BioStorage Technologies, Inc. (BST) for secure, compliant storage of donated tissue specimens. BST will store a third of the tissue bank’s existing and future biological samples at its Indianapolis-based biorepository, including samples being collected during the tissue bank’s upcoming breast tissue donation event this Saturday, January 10, 2009.
Currently, there are few annotated collections of normal tissue available for scientific discovery in breast cancer. To combat this shortage, the Komen Tissue Bank primarily focuses on banking specimens of healthy breast tissue from women of all ages and making them available for cancer research. By collecting samples from women with and without breast cancer, researchers will be able to determine the differences between these populations, which could lead to a better understanding of the disease. Samples taken from women without the disease are especially helpful because there are few collections of so-called “normal” specimens. The tissue bank will ultimately give researchers valuable and unprecedented research data.
“These tissue donations provide pivotal support to researchers that could potentially lead to lifesaving treatments for women around the world,” said Jill Henry, Komen Tissue Bank’s Chief Operating Officer. “BioStorage‘s expertise in sample management, particularly temperature-controlled storage, will be instrumental in preserving the integrity of these valuable specimens for present and future research initiatives.”
“The Susan G. Komen for the Cure Tissue Bank at the IU Simon Cancer Center will serve as an invaluable resource for the cancer research community,” said Dr. F. John Mills, M.D., Ph.D., chief executive officer of BioStorage Technologies. “We are extremely proud of the role BioStorage will play in helping the fight against breast cancer.”
The tissue collection will be held from 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. on Saturday, January 10, in the Hematology Clinic and Women’s Center at the IU Simon Cancer Center, 1030 W. Michigan St. The tissue donation is obtained from the breast with a biopsy, after the patient has received local anesthesia. The amount of tissue taken during the procedure is about 1 gram - the size of two peas. The acquisition, processing, storage, retrieval and dissemination of all specimens are performed according to best practices, as determined by the National Cancer Institute.
To learn more about the project or the Susan G. Komen for the Cure Tissue Bank at the IU Simon Cancer Center, visit www.komentissuebank.iu.edu.
About BioStorage Technologies, Inc.:
BioStorage Technologies, Inc. is a leader in sample storage, inventory management and cold-chain logistics for the biotechnology and pharmaceutical industries. The company offers secure, temperature-controlled storage; real-time tracking of stored biological samples; and next-day return of biomaterials. BioStorage Technologies, Inc. is privately-held and headquartered in Indianapolis with an additional full-service site near Frankfurt, Germany. For more information, visit www.biostorage.com or call +1 (866) 697-2675 or +49-6155-898-1010.
About Susan G. Komen for the Cure®
Nancy G. Brinker promised her dying sister, Susan G. Komen, she would do everything in her power to end breast cancer forever. In 1982, that promise became Susan G. Komen for the Cure and launched the global breast cancer movement. Today, Komen for the Cure is the world’s largest grassroots network of breast cancer survivors and activists fighting to save lives, empower people, ensure quality care for all and energize science to find the cures. Thanks to events like the Komen Race for the Cure®, we have invested more than $1.2 billion to fulfill our promise, becoming the largest source of nonprofit funds dedicated to the fight against breast cancer in the world.
For more information about Susan G. Komen for the Cure, breast health or breast cancer, visit www.komen.org or call 1-877 GO KOMEN.
