Fort Wayne Hosts Breast Tissue Collection Event

Vera Bradley Foundation and IU's Susan G. Komen Tissue Bank collected breast tissue samples for cancer research at an IU Health Fort Wayne outpatient center.

Updated on Nov. 14, 2026 in Philanthropy

Fort Wayne Hosts Breast Tissue Collection Event

Live Poll

Would you donate breast tissue to a cancer research study?

About 100 women donated breast tissue at a collection event held Saturday at IU Health Fort Wayne Outpatient Surgery Center, staffed by around 200 volunteers. The samples will be sent to the Susan G. Komen Tissue Bank in Indianapolis.

Why it matters

Fort Wayne residents were able to contribute to breast cancer research locally. Organizers encouraged women under 40 and women of color to take part, aiming for a more diverse sample for researchers.

Roughly 100 women donated breast tissue, staffed by about 200 volunteers, at the Saturday collection event. The source does not report a total donor goal or how the donor count compares to previous events.

The players

Vera Bradley Foundation

The philanthropic arm of the Fort Wayne-based handbag and lifestyle company Vera Bradley, which funds community health and women's wellness initiatives.

Susan G. Komen Tissue Bank at Indiana University

A breast tissue bank operated through Indiana University that supplies samples to researchers studying breast cancer, funded in part by the Susan G. Komen organization.

Michele Cote

Director of the Susan G. Komen Tissue Bank, who oversees the collection and distribution of breast tissue for research.

The details

The Vera Bradley Foundation and Indiana University's Susan G. Komen Tissue Bank held the collection at IU Health Fort Wayne Outpatient Surgery Center on Saturday. Collected samples will be transported to the tissue bank in Indianapolis, where they support translational research.

Saturday, November 14, 2026: breast tissue collection event held at IU Health Fort Wayne Outpatient Surgery Center.

Philanthropy Landscape

The Susan G. Komen Tissue Bank at Indiana University is an active research institution that depends on regional collection drives to build diverse breast tissue samples. This Fort Wayne event extends that model by bringing collection directly to a local outpatient center.

Women who want to contribute to breast cancer research can look for future collection events hosted in the Fort Wayne area. Participation requires only donating tissue at a scheduled event, so the program is accessible to local residents.

The takeaway

Local research drives depend on community participation, and events like this one help build the diverse samples that researchers need. Residents who want to help can watch for future collection events in Fort Wayne.