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Quality Human Tissue for Biomedical Research

Superior access to high-quality human biospecimens

We work with both academic and corporate investigators worldwide to provide high-quality human tissue and cells to advance biomedical research.

Customized Tissue Requests

NDRI tailors human tissue acquisition to meet the specific needs of approved research projects. NDRI can provide tissue types from:

  • Any human body system & tissue types (see annotated list on sidebar)
    • Birth & Reproductive
    • Cardiovascular
    • Digestive
    • Endocrine
    • Immune
    • Muscular & Skeletal
    • Nervous System/CNS
    • Ocular
    • Respiratory
    • Skin
    • Urinary
  • Diseased and non-diseased donors
  • Whole Human Organs
  • Surgical donors
  • Ocular donors
  • Autopsy donors
  • Low post-mortem interval (PMI) donors

Preservation methods include frozen, fixed, or fresh in media with antibiotics suitable for various analytical techniques.

Your advantage to working with NDRI
  • Commitment to support your project: quality management process provides the highest level of customer support—no matter the size of the project
  • Funded by the NIH over 35 years
  • State-of-the-Art: Multiple tissue types, formats, and preservation methods available
  • Access to diverse donor populations 
  • Timely: 24/7 response to requests and distribution of biospecimens
  • Informed consent/authorization: Utilize best practices for tissue collection and use
  • Consistency: Biospecimens collected and preserved using standardized methods
     

NDRI works directly with Organ Procurement Organizations (OPOs), tissue banks, eye banks, hospitals, pathologists, medical examiners, and recovery specialists across the United States to coordinate the collection of tissues 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Additional Services

NDRI also offers the following services to assist researchers through all phases of project initiation, launch and execution:

  • Delivery of small to large-scale projects with varying degrees of complexity
  • Ability to maintain private donor registries when needed for large-scale projects
  • Management of project life cycle utilizing Project Management best practices

 

About NDRI

Founded in 1980, the National Disease Research Interchange (NDRI), is a non-profit 501(c)(3) that ships thousands of biospecimens annually from our nationwide procurement network to researchers worldwide. NDRI is the nation’s leading source of human tissues, cells and organs for scientific research. The National Institutes of Health (NIH) has provided funding to NDRI since 1987.

NDRI is accredited by the College of American Pathologists (CAP) as a biorepository and a sponsor facility. This biorepository accreditation meets the standards for human biospecimen collection, storage, informatics, and distribution defined by the CAP Biorepository Accreditation Program.

Microscopy - Liver Cells

Microscopy - Liver Cells

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Start the process by completing a Feasibility Application. The NDRI Feasibility Committee will review your application and provide a timely response.

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START THE PROCESS

Step 1: Download, complete and submit a Feasibility Application.

Step 2: The NDRI Feasibility Committee will review your application and provide a timely response.

REQUEST TISSUE
Download Application
The following are some of the human tissue and organs supplied for research projects:
Birth Tissue
  • Cord Blood
  • Foreskin
  • Placenta
  • Uteris Tissue
  • Umbilical Cord
 
Cardiovascular Tissue
  • Aorta
  • Artery
  • Blood
  • Blood Plasma
  • Blood Serum
  • Heart
  • Heart Valves
  • Vein
 
Digestive Tissue
  • Colon
  • Duodenum
  • Esophagus
  • Gallbladder
  • Ileum
  • Bladder tissue
  • Jejunum
  • Large Intestine
  • Liver
  • Oral Tissue
  • Pancreas
  • Rectum
  • Small Intestine
  • Stomach
  • Tongue
 
Endocrine Tissue
  • Adrenal Gland
  • Islet Cells
  • Pituitary Gland
  • Thyroid
 
Immune Tissue
  • Lymph Node
  • Spleen
  • Thymus
  • Tonsil
 
Muscular Tissue
  • Skeletal Muscle
 
Nervous System/CNS Tissue
  • Brain
  • Brain Cortex
  • Brainstem
  • Cerebrospinal Fluid (CSF)
  • Dorsal Root Ganglia
  • Filum Terminale
  • Nerves
  • Spinal Cord tissue
  • Sympathetic Ganglia
 
Ocular Tissue
  • Cornea tissue
  • Ocular Lens
  • Ocular Histological Sections
  • Posterior Pole
  • Retina
  • Vitreous
  • Whole Globe
 
Respiratory Tissue
  • Bronchus
  • Diaphragm
  • Larynx
  • Lung (whole, sections and cells)
  • Nasal Tissue
  • Trachea
 
Reproductive Tissue
  • Breast Tissue
  • Cervix
  • Fallopian Tube
  • Ovary
  • Penis
  • Prostate
  • Testes
  • Uterus
  • Vaginal Tissue
 
Skeletal Tissue
  • Bone
  • Cartilage
  • Knee
  • Spine Section
  • Synovial Fluid
  • Synovial Membrane
 
Skin Tissue
  • Adipose
  • Nails
  • Skin Tissue
 
Urinary Tissue
  • Bladder
  • Kidney
  • Urethra
  • Ureter

NDRI is a Not-For-Profit (501c3) Corporation.