Insulators' Tissue Bank, Mt Siani Hospital

The aim of the Insulators’ Tissue Bank (ITB) at Mt. Sinai Hospital in New York City is to establish a tissue bank of high quality, asbestos-related-tumor tissue specimens and fluid samples, in order to support research that either aims to better understand the mechanisms of asbestos-induced cancer, or aims to develop interventions and cures for asbestos-related cancers.

 Anyone who suspects or knows they have been exposed to asbestos is welcome to participate.

 In brief, if a participant ever goes for a procedure for an asbestos-related condition, and if tissue is taken as part of that procedure, then any spare tissue will be sent to the tissue bank instead of being discarded. In other words, no tissue is ever taken solely for the purposes of the ITB; we are simply trying to stop the waste of tissue being trashed.

 For a more complete description of the ITB, we have both a research participant information sheet       (U.S. English, U.S. Spanish)          

and a PowerPoint presentation    (U.S. English, U.S. Spanish)

 If you would like to participate, first, thank you! Second, you will need to complete the following –

  1. Contact information sheet   (U.S. English, U.S. Spanish, Canadian English, Canadian French ) 
  2. Consent form                            (U.S. English, U.S. Spanish, Canadian English, Canadian French)

Click on the appropriate link below to obtain instructions for completing the consent form:     ( U.S. English, U.S. Spanish, Canadian English, Canadian French)

Consent forms and contact info sheets should be emailed to andy.todd@mssm.edu or mailed to:

Andrew C. Todd, Ph.D.

Director, Insulators’ Tissue Bank

Mount Sinai Medical Center

17 E. 102nd St., W. Tower, 2nd floor, room 133

New York, NY 10029

 For more general information on the importance of tissue banking to medical research, please view the following documents:

  • National Cancer Institute’s brochure  ‘Providing Your Tissue for Research: What You Need To Know: Click here to view.
  • Research Advocacy Network’s brochure  ‘Why is it important for me to consider donating my tissue for research? A booklet for prospective donors’: Click here to view.

 Dr. Andrew Todd can be reached by phone at 212-824-7053 or email at andy.todd@mssm.edu.

The ITB is supported by the International Association of Heat & Frost Insulators and Allied Workers and by donations from Locals and individuals.

None at this time.

Medical Information