University of Kansas Medical Center Liver Tissue Bank

The KU Liver Tissue Bank is a human liver tissue repository for biomedical research. It was established in 2008 as a fundamental part of The Liver Center at the University of Kansas. It currently receives support from the University of Kansas Hospital. The goal of the KU Liver Tissue Bank is to facilitate biomedical research at KU Medical Center by providing services for the procurement, storage, distribution, and study of liver disease.

Tissue Banking

KU Liver Tissue Bank activities and services include collecting and banking freshly-frozen tissue specimens from excess surgical material from liver transplants, resections and biopsies. Blood and urine samples are also available from consented patients. The KU Liver Tissue Bank maintains a database with extensive clinicopathological data from each donated tissue sample. Isolated RNA and DNA are also available upon request. The KU Liver Tissue Bank can provide a variety of tissue types:

• Normal
• Liver Cancer
• Cirrhosis
• Hepatitis
• Steatosis
• Fibrosis
• Bile Duct Diseases

Searchable Database for Liver Tissue Samples
(currently in development)

Services request

Investigators are encouraged to contact the KU Liver Tissue Bank to assess the general options, feasibility, and availability of tissue samples. All inquiries about liver samples should be sent to: Livertissuebank@kumc.edu

All service requests are reviewed by the KU Liver Tissue Bank Directors, Yu-Jui Yvonne Wan, Ph.D. and Steven Weinman, M.D., Ph.D.  to ensure appropriate and equitable distribution of tissue, blood and urine resources. All Applicants must complete a Service Request Form (to be available online late July). The form along with a signed Research Agreement (to be available online late July) should be sent via fax to (913) 588 7501.

The KU Liver Tissue Bank is committed to the protection of patient confidentiality.