Institutional Biospecimen Bank

Among the most valuable resources to our investigators is human tissue for use in basic science, translational, and clinical studies, and clinical trials.

The mission of the UNMC Institutional Biospecimen Bank (IBB) is to procure and coordinate distribution of fresh frozen human tissue in an optimal state of preservation for requesting investigators without impacting diagnostic quality, accuracy and safety in anatomic pathology. The IBB also offers sample management services, clinical trial specimen support and has certified shippers on staff. Additional services offered include biospecimen DNA or RNA extraction, sectioning of frozen tissues, short-term tissue culture, cytogenetic/molecular cytogenetic analysis, and tissue preparation via investigator-driven protocols. Learn more about our instruments and services.

Dr. Kurt Fisher is the director of the facility. A multidisciplinary oversight committee reviews tissue requests to prioritize and ensure equitable usage. The facility requires proper Institutional Review Board approval prior to release of human tissues for research purposes. The facility is staffed by highly skilled technologists with expertise in pathology, cytogenetics, and molecular biology. The facility can provide basic demographic and histopathologic information on samples through a confidential database so that findings from basic research can be correlated with clinical data while maintaining strict patient confidentiality.

Major Services

• FFPE, snap frozen, viably frozen, and direct release tissue biobanking
• Blood, serum, plasma, buffy coat, PBMC, ascites biobanking
• Intraoperative sterile fresh tissue procurement
• Patient consenting
• Research biospecimen acquisition and processing for clinical trials
• Retrieval of archival patient tissue
• DNA, RNA, or protein extraction
• Other services as requested - inventory management, honest broker services, wet lab services, letters of support, feasibility searches

Placing Orders

How to Cite Our Core Facility

Publications resulting from work performed in the Institutional Biospecimen Bank should include the core's Research Identifier (RRID).

"We recognize the use of the University of Nebraska Medical Center - Institutional Biospecimen Bank, RRID:SCR_027222, which receives support from the Buffett Cancer Center Support Grant P30CA03672, the State of Nebraska DHHS LB 595, the UNMC Vice Chancellor of Research, and the UNMC Department of Pathology, Microbiology, and Immunology."

This ensures proper recognition of the IBB's contributions, supports continued funding, and promotes transparency and reproducibility in research. 

Contact Us

For inquiries or assistance, please call us at 402-559-5086.