Tennessee Valley Human Tissue Network (Vanderbilt)
Tennessee Valley Cooperative Human Tissue Network
This program collects and shares high-quality adult tissue and blood samples to support research that could help people with cancer and other diseases.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Vanderbilt University Medical Center NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Nashville, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11300979 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
From a patient perspective, this program asks adults at Vanderbilt and partner hospitals to donate tissue or blood samples and records clinical information linked to those samples. Staff follow strict ethical rules and a quality management system to protect privacy and ensure samples are handled consistently. They can collect fresh tumor tissue for tumor-infiltrating lymphocyte work and bank rare or preneoplastic lesions for future studies. The network also runs an IT system to match researchers with available samples and works with patient advocacy groups to offer participation opportunities.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Adults (21+) receiving care at Vanderbilt University Medical Center or participating hospitals who are willing to consent to donate tissue or blood and clinical data are the typical donors.
Not a fit: People under 21, those not treated at participating sites, or those expecting direct medical benefit from donating are unlikely to benefit directly from participation.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: By providing reliable, well-annotated human samples, this network can speed research that leads to better diagnostics and treatments.
How similar studies have performed: Biorepositories like the Cooperative Human Tissue Network have a long history of supporting successful biomedical discoveries and enabling many follow-on studies.
Where this research is happening
Nashville, United States
- Vanderbilt University Medical Center — Nashville, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Washington, Mary Kay — Vanderbilt University Medical Center
- Study coordinator: Washington, Mary Kay
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.