The Human Biorepository Tissue Bank was established in January 2015 and has a team of laboratory assistants who cover tissue collection 24/7 and create protocols in place to aid in sharing tissue with collaborators. We collect discarded tissue from elective cardiac cases, including valve leaflets, atrial tissue, aortic tissue, and more. We also collect, dissect, and store samples from explanted hearts and lungs from transplants. Commonly collected tissue includes but is not limited to:

• Patient consent, photo & video footage (when requested)
• Valve leaflets
• Aortic valve
• Mitral valve
• Pulmonary valve
• Tricuspid valve
• Aorta/aortic root
• Coronary arteries (LAD, RCA, LCX)
• Left and right ventricle
• Left and right atria
• Septum
• Bronchi and tissue from all lobes of the lungs
• Blood

If you are interested in any samples, simply contact us and include the IRB number of your project, a brief description of your study, and what you are looking for. We require all collaborators to have their IRB before requesting our sample collection.

After a sample is collected, we can store it in a media of your choice, including PBS on ice, snap frozen in liquid nitrogen, afixed in a cryomold with OCT, or other uncommon or unique media. Once we have your samples prepared, we will coordinate a pick-up or drop-off time and location that is convenient for you.

A human biorepository tissue bank is a facility that collects, stores, and distributes human tissue samples for research purposes. To ensure that the tissues are collected and stored ethically and legally, there is a consent process that must be followed.

Our physicians and providers (APPs, residents, fellows, clinical instructors) and lab research assistants are able to consent patients who are interested in being a part of our human biorepository tissue bank, the following steps are typically involved:

1. Our Stanford Human Biorepository Tissue Bank is approved through the Institutional Review Board (IRB): We have maintained IRB protocol and consent approval since 2015, via Stanford IRB. The IRB is responsible for ensuring that the collection and storage of human tissues are conducted in accordance with ethical principles and regulations.

2. Obtain Informed Consent: Patients who are willing to donate their tissue samples must provide informed consent. This means that they must be fully informed about the purpose of the tissue collection, how the tissues will be used, and the risks and benefits associated with the donation.  This consent is maintained via HIPPA compliance EMR and consents are stored long term in HPI facilities. 

3. Collect Tissue Samples: Once the patient has provided informed consent, the tissue samples can be collected. The samples may be collected during surgery, biopsy, or other medical procedures. 

4. Store Tissue Samples: The tissue samples are then stored in the biorepository tissue bank under appropriate conditions to ensure their integrity.

5. Distribute Tissue Samples: Researchers who are interested in using the tissue samples for research purposes can request access to the samples. The biorepository tissue bank will distribute the samples after reviewing the research proposal and ensuring that all appropriate ethical and legal requirements have been met.

Providers can find supporting files in the “BOX Tissue Bank Folder” including:

1. Current IRB consent form
   

2. Patient/Provider Q & A Document

3. Short supplemental video of Q & A from our tissue bank research team