Babies first. Discovery next.

Your milk can do more.

If you already have stored breast milk beyond your baby’s needs, it may be able to support medical research. We are building a simple participation process with clear consent and compensation for the time and effort involved in eligible research contributions.

Join the interest list Check preliminary eligibility
Simple eligibility. Clear consent. Meaningful impact.
Why it matters

Your milk could help answer important health questions.

Human milk contains more than nutrition. Scientists study its many components to better understand how the body grows, protects itself, and responds to illness.

For example, research in this field may explore milk-derived components relevant to chronic respiratory disorders, gut inflammation, and immune deficiencies. The projects and research recipients supported by the program may change over time; no specific result or treatment is promised. Qualified milk accepted through Purpose Beyond will be supplied for medical research, not infant feeding. Learn about NIH’s human milk research.

A different path forward

Not accepted by a traditional milk bank? Your milk may still have purpose.

Traditional milk banks follow strict requirements because their milk is intended for babies. Purpose Beyond supports medical research, so some milk that does not meet a milk bank’s requirements may still be considered for a meaningful research use. The examples below are just a few reasons a milk bank might not be the right fit. Your effort can still have a purpose you feel proud to support.

Medication history

You used a medication that was not permitted under a traditional milk bank’s donor requirements.

Timing or paperwork

The milk passed a bank’s collection-date window, or the required screening paperwork was not completed in time.

Access barriers

Transportation, scheduling, or another practical barrier made required doctor visits or testing difficult to complete.

Every contribution is reviewed individually. These examples do not guarantee acceptance. Current research needs, milk condition, storage and handling history, and program capacity will determine final eligibility.

Made for real life

A process that respects your time.

1

Know quickly

Complete a short initial eligibility check and receive a decision in minutes—not weeks.

2

Keep it simple

No bloodwork or doctor's forms are planned. A clear consent and health-and-handling attestation replace a lengthy screening process.

3

Be compensated

We are planning compensation for participants’ time and effort at a rate equivalent to approximately $1.20 per accepted ounce. Final terms, including payment timing, will be disclosed before consent.

The simple process

Minutes to know. Three clear steps.

We are designing participation around what busy moms need: a short form, straightforward consent, a quick initial eligibility decision, and clear next steps.

No bloodwork. No doctor's forms. No weeks of waiting for an initial decision.

01
Tell us about your milk

Answer a few questions about storage, pumping practices, and the contribution requirements.

02
Review and consent

Confirm that you understand the research purpose, verify your information, and decide whether participation is right for you.

03
Arrange your research contribution

If eligible, receive simple handling instructions, compensation terms for your time and effort, and details for shipping your qualified milk or arranging pickup in selected areas where representatives are available.

A quick first step

Check preliminary eligibility in minutes.

Answer six short questions about your milk, pumping and storage practices, and relevant health history. This check does not collect your name or contact information and is not final acceptance into the program.

Private preview: Your answers stay on this device and are not sent or saved.
1. Are you at least 18 years old?
2. Is the milk entirely human breast milk, with nothing added? This includes no formula, water, fortifiers, or milk from another person.
3. To the best of your knowledge, has the milk remained refrigerated or frozen since pumping?
4. Was the milk expressed using a clean pumping device and stored in clean containers intended for breast milk?
5. To the best of your knowledge, have you ever been diagnosed with any of the following? HIV, HTLV, hepatitis B, hepatitis C, tuberculosis, malaria, or Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease.
6. Do you understand that qualified milk accepted through the program will support medical research and is not intended for infant consumption?

You may meet the initial requirements.

Your answers indicate that you may be eligible to participate when enrollment opens. Final acceptance will depend on the complete attestation, contribution requirements, available program capacity, milk details, and current logistics.

Your answers need individual review.

This does not necessarily mean you cannot participate. A program representative would need to review the applicable answer and current contribution requirements before determining eligibility.

A few important details

Know what you are choosing.

Current status: Purpose Beyond is finalizing the research participation program. Enrollment is not yet open, but the interest list is open. Planned compensation for participants’ time and effort is approximately $1.20 per accepted ounce. This is an estimate, not a final offer. Final terms, logistics, privacy practices, and contribution requirements will be published before applications begin.
Medical research use is clear.

Qualified milk accepted through this program will support medical research and is not intended for infant consumption.

A short attestation supports eligibility.

Applicants will confirm refrigerated or frozen storage, sanitary pumping practices, and relevant health history to the best of their knowledge.

Compensation is explained first.

The planned rate is equivalent to approximately $1.20 per accepted ounce. Final compensation and payment timing will be confirmed before anyone consents or contributes.

Participation is always your choice.

You may review the information and decide whether this research purpose is right for you.

Babies first. Discovery next.

Babies first. If you have stored milk beyond your baby’s needs, learn how it may support medical research and join the interest list.

Join the interest list