Based on Your Reading:
Get a Mesothelioma Treatment Guide
Find a Top Mesothelioma Doctor
Access Help Paying for Treatment
National Mesothelioma Virtual Bank
Table Of Contents
The National Mesothelioma Virtual Bank (NMVB) supports research by collecting and distributing biospecimens donated by mesothelioma patients. Without organizations like the NMVB, many researchers would never have the opportunity to directly study this rare disease.
Reading Time: 3 mins
Last Edited On: 07/13/2023
Written by Karen Selby, RN • Edited By Walter Pacheco • Scientifically Reviewed By Yvonne Waterman
Fact Checked
Our fact-checking process begins with a thorough review of all sources to ensure they are high quality. Then we cross-check the facts with original medical or scientific reports published by those sources, or we validate the facts with reputable news organizations, medical and scientific experts and other health experts. Each page includes all sources for full transparency.
Reviewed
Asbestos.com is the nation’s most trusted mesothelioma resource
The Mesothelioma Center at Asbestos.com has provided patients and their loved ones the most updated and reliable information on mesothelioma and asbestos exposure since 2006.
Our team of Patient Advocates includes a medical doctor, a registered nurse, health services administrators, veterans, VA-accredited Claims Agents, an oncology patient navigator and hospice care expert. Their combined expertise means we help any mesothelioma patient or loved one through every step of their cancer journey.
More than 30 contributors, including mesothelioma doctors, survivors, health care professionals and other experts, have peer-reviewed our website and written unique research-driven articles to ensure you get the highest-quality medical and health information.
About The Mesothelioma Center at Asbestos.com
- Assisting mesothelioma patients and their loved ones since 2006.
- Helps more than 50% of mesothelioma patients diagnosed annually in the U.S.
- A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau.
- 5-star reviewed mesothelioma and support organization.
Testimonials
My family has only the highest compliment for the assistance and support that we received from The Mesothelioma Center. This is a staff of compassionate and knowledgeable individuals who respect what your family is experiencing and who go the extra mile to make an unfortunate diagnosis less stressful. Information and assistance were provided by The Mesothelioma Center at no cost to our family.LashawnMesothelioma patient’s daughter
How to Cite Asbestos.com’s Article
APA
Selby, K. (2023, July 13). National Mesothelioma Virtual Bank. Asbestos.com. Retrieved December 5, 2023, from https://www.asbestos.com/treatment/tissue-bank/
MLA
Selby, Karen. "National Mesothelioma Virtual Bank." Asbestos.com, 13 Jul 2023, https://www.asbestos.com/treatment/tissue-bank/.
Chicago
Selby, Karen. "National Mesothelioma Virtual Bank." Asbestos.com. Last modified July 13, 2023. https://www.asbestos.com/treatment/tissue-bank/.
What is the National Mesothelioma Virtual Bank?
The University of Pittsburgh founded the National Mesothelioma Virtual Bank in 2006. A grant from the Centers for Disease Control helped the Pittsburg School of Medicine open it. The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health also played a role.
Since then, the bank has added more than 1,400 annotated cases to its database. Its inventory has grown to more than 1,700 biospecimens.
The NMVB’s goal is to support research that will benefit mesothelioma patients and treatment specialists. It aids the discovery of new preventative measures, helping uncover therapeutic interventions. Their work helps move science closer to a cure for mesothelioma. It does this by linking data associated with specimens collected and stored at five different institutions.
Academic Health Centers Partnered with the National Mesothelioma Virtual Bank
Advances in research depend on the ability of all researchers to access high-quality samples. Meaningful and well-characterized, annotated data matters. The founders of the virtual tissue bank understood this well.
Pittsburgh’s Biomedical Informatics Department already had expertise in cancer research. It is a leader in research for prostate, colorectal and pancreatic cancers.
The NMVB’s funding was renewed in 2011 and again in 2016, which has allowed it to plan for the long-term future.
Our goal is to provide the most comprehensive resource we can to go after this dreaded disease. We’re proud to share the work. We want to be a national model and a tissue-banking leader.Dr. Mike BecichDirector of the Biomedical Informatics Department at the Pittsburgh School of Medicine
How the Mesothelioma Tissue Bank Works
Researchers can look at the virtual bank’s database online to see what is available and determine if it has the specimens needed for a particular research study. The inventory is organized by specimen availability, demographics, staging and vital status.
The National Mesothelioma Virtual Bank’s biospecimens include:
- Paraffin-embedded tissue
- Fresh frozen tissue
- Tissue microarrays (TMAs)
- Blood samples
- Genomic DNA
There is a set of 132 common data elements to maintain consistency between samples regardless of where they are stored or where they were originally obtained. Search fields include histopathologic grade and type, stage of disease, availability of normal tissue, treatment received and metastasis and recurrence information.
The NMVB’s hope is to appeal to researchers at every level and from every discipline. From the high-powered scientist to the graduate student doing his thesis paper. They believe that the next great breakthrough could come from anywhere.
A 2021 study called SPaRTAN investigated the potential of a computational framework for linking cell-surface receptors to transcriptional regulators. The researchers used fresh tissue samples and tumor specimens from the NMVB, without which, the study would not have been possible.
We provide enough information for investigators to peruse the field so their imaginations take over. Our hope is that students, scientists, PhD candidates can all look at the information, and say ‘I wonder….’ What we have could become a springboard. We’re looking for the next ‘Ah-Ha!’ moment.Nancy WhelanProject manager of the virtual bank
The bank’s resources are available to academic researchers and commercial organizations conducting evaluations of prognostic or diagnostic studies. To request access to biospecimens and associated datasets, a research team must submit a letter of intent to the NVMB research evaluation panel.
Get Free Recipes for Mesothelioma Patients
Mesothelioma Trust Funds
Find Active Mesothelioma Clinical Trials
