The mission of the Tissue Resource Core (TRC) of the Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center’s
(RHLCCC) is to provide tissue for breast cancer research and to support and foster collaborate research
in the Breast Cancer program and other research programs. The Tissue Resource Core is a multiinstitutional
facility: Northwestern Memorial Hospital, (NMH), and the University of Illinois Medical
Center (UIC), which is positioned at Northwestern University. Because our institutions serve large
numbers of new breast cancer patients, including minority and economically disadvantaged patients
each year for surgical treatment (>1300), collection and distribution of patient derived tissues for
research is excellent.
To achieve our mission, the TRC collaborates with:
1. Core facilities within in the parent institutions as well as those of the RHLCCC to facilitate
collecting, processing, storing, and distributing samples of breast cancer and breast tissue
suitable for RNA, molecular, biochemical and immunohistochemical analysis;
2. Develop with the Biostatistics/Bioinformatics (BIBS) Core in an information-rich sample database
that will link diagnostic and research test results to each sample utilized by researchers;
3. Collaborate with the research core facilities of RHLCCC to provide expertise in the development
and interpretation of tissue based testing;
4. Engage and assist investigators in planning, execution, and interpretation of their research
testing;
5. Give patients the option to be contacted in the future to participate in more research.
In achieving our mission, we hope to provide the means to move breast cancer research from diagnosis
and treatment into the arena of eradication and prevention.

• IRB Process: IRB approval or exemption must be obtained prior to release of data or specimens. The request form will ask you input your IRB number or declare your IRB exemption.
• Scientific Justification: The request form will ask you to attach a 'Methods/Justifications' document that should contain a scientific explanation jutifying the disburment of the clincial data and/or clinical speicmens.
• Questions:
  • For all other questions about the specimen request process, please contact:
    • Jeremy Mathews
      Research Project Mananger
      jmathews@northwestern.edu

                                 312.503-3753

• To discuss your specimen needs, please contact PI:
  • Jian-Jun Wei, MD
    Breast Program Principal Investigator
    jianjun-wei@northwestern.edu
    312.926.1815