Since 1983, Gundersen Health System has saved tissue and blood samples from over 8,000 cancer patients. These samples are frozen and stored in the Gundersen Foundation BioBank. Researchers at Gundersen and around the world study these samples. Their goal is to better understand how cancer develops and how it can be cured.
The purpose of a BioBank is to collect and store tissue and/or blood from patients to make them available for ongoing and future medical research into what causes cancer, how to prevent it, and how to cure it. Such research may look for genetic causes and signs of disease.
The results from research done with your tissue and/or blood will not be given to you or your doctor, and will not be put in your medical record. The research will not have any effect on your medical care. The biological specimens will be stored in the Gundersen Foundation BioBank. In accordance with HIPAA confidentiality, patient information is stored in a secured database and will not be on specimens.
A treasure trove of material exists within the BioBank that is being used by researchers at Gundersen and around the world, to better understand how cancer develops and how it can be cured.
The BioBank allows Gundersen to collaborate with other cancer researchers worldwide and opens up the opportunity for more clinical trials. This gives patients access to more investigational therapies and research.
The BioBank is part of the National Cancer Institute’s (NCI) Community Cancer Centers Program (NCCCP). This community-based cancer network supports research that addresses full-spectrum cancer care.
Gundersen is the only local provider of cancer services involved in this type of cancer research.
Brochure for Patients
Brochure for Professionals
Consent Form for Solid Tumors
Application Form for Biospecimens
Data Transfer Agreement (DTA)
Material Use Agreement (MUA)