Liver Tissue Bank

The KU Liver Center Tissue Bank is a human liver tissue depository and supplier for biomedical research at the University of Kansas Medical Center. This important resource was established in 2008 as a fundamental component of the University of Kansas quest for excellence in medical research. The KULCTB serves as a meeting point between basic research and medical care, building the foundation for our emphasis in hepatic translational research at the KU Liver Center.

Tissue Banking

The KULCTB serves the University of Kansas Medical Center by providing channels for the procurement, storage, distribution, and study of human liver tissue. It currently receives support from the University of Kansas Medical Center and the University of Kansas Hospital. Current activities and services include collecting and banking freshly-frozen tissue specimens from excess surgical material in liver transplants, resections and biopsies, processing and banking blood, serum and urine, maintaining a sample database with extensive clinical and pathological data, and coordinating patient consent. Isolated RNA, DNA and protein may also be available upon request. The KULCTB can provide a variety of tissue types including but not limited to:

• Normal
• Liver Cancer
• Viral Hepatitis
• Bile Duct Diseases
• Fatty Liver/NASH
• Alcoholic Liver Disease
• Autoimmune Hepatitis

Biospecimen Requests

Investigators are encouraged to contact the KULCTB (livertissuebank@kumc.edu) to assess the general options, feasibility, and availability of tissue samples. We are committed to the protection of patient confidentiality.

• All Requests:
  • Return a completed Formal Request Form and signed Research Agreement
  • On all materials received from the KULCTB, there must an approval from the Human Subjects Committee (or equivalent). Ethical guidelines relating to the use of human tissue must be followed during research.
• Internal (KUMC) Requests:
  • Upon approval of your request, you must obtain a Non-Human Determination Letter from the KU Human Subjects Committee office. The KULCTB will provide two documents to be completed by the researcher:
    1. Request for Determination of Non-Human Subjects Research
    2. Code Keeping letter to the Human Subjects Committee
  • Further details can be found on the Human Subjects Committee web page.
• External Requests:
  • Upon approval of your request, you must complete a UBMTA or MTA before the KULCTB completes an exchange of research materials. Please complete the following form and we will initiate a contract with your institution's office of Technology Transfer or its equivalent.

Request Forms

To ensure expedited processing of your request, all new requesters should complete the following request forms and electronically submit them to the KULCTB.

• All Requests
  • Formal Request Form (PDF)
  • Research Agreement (PDF)
  • Data Use Agreement (PDF)

Contact Information

Benjamin Roberts, Research Coordinator for the KULCTB, personally handles all biospecimen requests. Each request is reviewed by the KU Liver Tissue Bank Director, Steven Weinman, M.D., Ph.D.,  to ensure appropriate and equitable distribution of resources.

Please submit all request forms to the KULCTB at livertissuebank@kumc.edu