Up to 500 women can donate healthy breast tissue to IU Simon Comprehensive Cancer Center’s Komen Tissue Bank on July 12 and 13 

While basketball players take on their opponents this summer during the AT&T WNBA All-Star Game 2025, another group of women will have an opportunity take on an even fiercer opponent: breast cancer. 

Women under age 40 and women of color are especially encouraged to donate, but all women who meet the eligibility criteria below can donate healthy breast tissue to the Indiana University Melvin and Bren Simon Comprehensive Cancer Center’s Susan G. Komen Tissue Bank during the All-Star Cure to be held Saturday, July 12 and Sunday, July 13. The tissue bank is a resource within the Vera Bradley Foundation Center for Breast Cancer Research at the cancer center.

During the donation process, local anesthesia is used before taking a tissue sample from one breast with a needle. About one gram of tissue is taken — about the size of three peas. To donate, participants must: 

• Be 18 or older

• Have the ability to understand and the willingness to sign an informed consent 

• Be willing to give 60 to 90 minutes of their time to complete a questionnaire and a breast biopsy 

• Not be allergic to local anesthetics (numbing medicine) 

• Not be receiving a therapeutic blood thinner (not including aspirin) 

• Not have breast implants  

To register for the All-Star Cure, visit the Komen Tissue Bank website or call 866-763-0047. Donors must have a confirmed appointment time.

To read more, click here.