The Mesothelioma Applied Research Foundation this week announced the launch of the National Mesothelioma Virtual Bank, a project four years in the making. The Bank is a central online database where doctors and researchers across the globe can apply to receive tissue samples for mesothelioma research.

Christopher Hahn, director of MARF, said, "We have long advocated for federal research funding and the creation of a mesothelioma tissue bank. It is an important resource, expected to greatly advance the genetic and protein profiling of the meso cancer cell. This will further the development of mesothelioma treatments and the search for a cure."

The Bank system collects assorted data from various mesothelioma-specimen, and organizes it into a categorized, annotated engine. Researchers can search for tissue based on criteria like Stage of Disease, Treatment Received, and Level of Asbestos Exposure.

The project is a collaborative effort between MARF, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, and the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health. To learn more about the bank, visit mesotissue.org.