Biospecimen Blood Drive to benefit KU Cancer Center research

FAIRWAY — Kansas City area residents can help advance cancer research by participating in a Biospecimen Blood Drive from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday, May 1, at the University of Kansas Clinical Research Center, 4350 Shawnee Mission Parkway.

The KU Alumni Association and the Biospecimen Bank of the KU Cancer Center are organizing the event with help from the Alumni Association’s Greater Kansas City Area Network of alumni volunteers.

The event differs from other blood drives in that donors give only a small amount of blood, equivalent to the amount collected for a standard blood test. Researchers will use the confidential blood samples to study the causes, prevention, detection, diagnosis and treatment of cancers and other diseases.

Last year, community members donated more than 50 samples, and organizers hope to surpass that number this year. For more information and event registration, visit kualumni.org/donateblood. Those who cannot participate on May 1 but would like to donate can call the KU Cancer Center to make an appointment at (855) 211-1475.