DALLAS — Oct. 9, 2008 — UT Southwestern Medical Center has partnered with Susan G. Komen for the Cure and will be collecting blood samples at the Dallas Komen Race on Oct. 18 at NorthPark Center for use in breast cancer research.
The blood samples will be stored at the Susan G. Komen for the Cure Tissue Bank at Indiana University’s Simon Cancer Center. The specimens allow scientists to study differences between women without breast cancer and those who have had the disease. They are available to researchers nationwide who are seeking to identify breast cancer risk factors and biomarkers by comparing normal and cancerous samples.
Dr. Roshni Rao, a surgical oncologist at UT Southwestern who specializes in breast cancer treatments, is leading the collection efforts locally. Similar blood donation sites will be set up at races nationally.
“This process allows researchers at any institution in the country to have access to a very large tissue bank that can be used to answer some of the fundamental questions on why some women get breast cancer and some do not,” said Dr. Rao.
Women interested in donating a blood sample may do so from 6 a.m. to 10 a.m. on race day at the tissue bank tent located near race headquarters at NorthPark Center, 8687 N. Central Expressway in Dallas.
In addition to collecting a small sample of blood, medical information also will be compiled from participants, including medication history. All information will be kept confidential. The process takes about 20 to 30 minutes.
To learn more about the project or volunteer opportunities, visit: www.komentissuebank.iu.edu.
Visit http://www.utsouthwestern.org/cancercenterto learn more about cancer clinical services at UT Southwestern.
