We are looking for breastmilk donations for two different studies:
Study #1: Participants must have 1) 25 years old or younger and nursing, or 2) had a child in their mid-20's, and now be in their mid-30's or older and nursing. Please note that we are currently only able to collect samples within a 50 mile radius of Amherst Massachusetts for this study.
How to participate: Contact us through the information below. If you qualify to participate in the study you will be asked to complete a consent form and a questionnaire, and to donate a breastmilk sample from each breast. We will arrange to pick up the sample from your home.
Study #2: Participants must 1) have had a biopsy in the past, or be expecting to have one soon, and 2) be nursing or pumping. We are able to collect samples from anywhere in the U.S. for this study.
How to participate: Contact us through the information below. If you qualify to participate in the study you will be asked to complete a consent form and a questionnaire, and to donate a breastmilk sample from each breast. FedEx will pick up the mailing container with the milk and questionnaires and ship it to our laboratory. If you have a breast biopsy we will ask you to provide a copy of the biopsy report. Approximately 1 year after receiving the milk sample we will contact you about any breast problems you have had during the year.
How your privacy is protected: Every effort will be made to protect your privacy. Your name will not be used in any of the research reports or publications prepared with results obtained from this study. All information obtained in this study that identifies who you are will be recorded with a code number. This study has been approved by the Institutional Review Board of the University of Massachusetts.
Benefits of this research: Currently there is no good way to assess a woman's risk of getting breast cancer. For example, although family history is an important risk factor for developing breast cancer, most women who develop cancer have no family history, and most women with a family history do not develop breast cancer.
Our hope is that by examining molecular changes in cells found in breastmilk associated with various breast problems, we will be able to develop a specific, individualized tool for assessing an individual woman's risk of contracting this disease.
Knowledge of the molecular changes in the breast cells that occur may be helpful in developing preventative and theraputic strategies for all women.
Contact information for study #1: For more information about this study, and to participate, call Eva or Kristin at (413) 545-0813, or email.
Contact information for study #2: For more information about this study, and to participate, contact Dr. Sarah Lenington, Recruitment Coordinator, at (413) 545-1037, or by email.
Download documents for study #2:
