diff --git a/pydatalab/schemas/sample.json b/pydatalab/schemas/sample.json
index 602a990a9..0f22f2936 100644
--- a/pydatalab/schemas/sample.json
+++ b/pydatalab/schemas/sample.json
@@ -614,4 +614,4 @@
       ]
     }
   }
-}
\ No newline at end of file
+}
diff --git a/pydatalab/src/pydatalab/routes/v0_1/items.py b/pydatalab/src/pydatalab/routes/v0_1/items.py
index 169f27139..28d7a5e41 100644
--- a/pydatalab/src/pydatalab/routes/v0_1/items.py
+++ b/pydatalab/src/pydatalab/routes/v0_1/items.py
@@ -14,7 +14,6 @@
 from pydatalab.models import ITEM_MODELS
 from pydatalab.models.items import Item
 from pydatalab.models.people import Person
-from pydatalab.models.relationships import RelationshipType
 from pydatalab.models.utils import generate_unique_refcode
 from pydatalab.mongo import ITEMS_FTS_FIELDS, flask_mongo
 from pydatalab.permissions import PUBLIC_USER_ID, active_users_or_get_only, get_default_permissions
@@ -884,11 +883,7 @@ def get_item_data(
     except IndexError:
         doc = None
 
-    if not doc or (
-        not current_user.is_authenticated
-        and not CONFIG.TESTING
-        and doc["type"] != "starting_materials"
-    ):
+    if not doc:
         return (
             jsonify(
                 {
@@ -903,68 +898,17 @@ def get_item_data(
     try:
         ItemModel = ITEM_MODELS[doc["type"]]
     except KeyError:
-        if "type" in doc:
-            raise KeyError(f"Item {item_id=} has invalid type: {doc['type']}")
-        else:
-            raise KeyError(f"Item {item_id=} has no type field in document.")
+        raise KeyError(f"{item_id=} has invalid type: {doc.get('type')}")
 
+    # Load database document into item model to run all validation and
+    # setting of any missing default values
     doc = ItemModel(**doc)
+
+    # If the request asked to load blocks, loop through `display_order` and
+    # run the block lifecycle routines, eventually returning JSON
     if load_blocks:
         doc.blocks_obj = reserialize_blocks(doc.display_order, doc.blocks_obj)
 
-    # find any documents with relationships that mention this document
-    relationships_query_results = flask_mongo.db.items.find(
-        filter={
-            "$or": [
-                {"relationships.item_id": doc.item_id},
-                {"relationships.refcode": doc.refcode},
-                {"relationships.immutable_id": doc.immutable_id},
-            ]
-        },
-        projection={
-            "item_id": 1,
-            "refcode": 1,
-            "relationships": {
-                "$elemMatch": {
-                    "$or": [
-                        {"item_id": doc.item_id},
-                        {"refcode": doc.refcode},
-                    ],
-                },
-            },
-        },
-    )
-
-    # loop over and collect all 'outer' relationships presented by other items
-    incoming_relationships: dict[RelationshipType, set[str]] = {}
-    for d in relationships_query_results:
-        for k in d["relationships"]:
-            if k["relation"] not in incoming_relationships:
-                incoming_relationships[k["relation"]] = set()
-            incoming_relationships[k["relation"]].add(
-                d["item_id"] or d["refcode"] or d["immutable_id"]
-            )
-
-    # loop over and aggregate all 'inner' relationships presented by this item
-    inlined_relationships: dict[RelationshipType, set[str]] = {}
-    if doc.relationships is not None:
-        inlined_relationships = {
-            relation: {
-                d.item_id or d.refcode or d.immutable_id
-                for d in doc.relationships
-                if d.relation == relation
-            }
-            for relation in RelationshipType
-        }
-
-    # reunite parents and children from both directions of the relationships field
-    parents = incoming_relationships.get(RelationshipType.CHILD, set()).union(
-        inlined_relationships.get(RelationshipType.PARENT, set())
-    )
-    children = incoming_relationships.get(RelationshipType.PARENT, set()).union(
-        inlined_relationships.get(RelationshipType.CHILD, set())
-    )
-
     # Must be exported to JSON first to apply the custom pydantic JSON encoders
     return_dict = json.loads(doc.json(exclude_unset=True))
 
@@ -982,8 +926,6 @@ def get_item_data(
             "item_id": item_id,
             "item_data": return_dict,
             "files_data": files_data,
-            "child_items": sorted(children),
-            "parent_items": sorted(parents),
         }
     )
 
diff --git a/pydatalab/tests/server/test_samples.py b/pydatalab/tests/server/test_samples.py
index cd7017f20..4d8c509f5 100644
--- a/pydatalab/tests/server/test_samples.py
+++ b/pydatalab/tests/server/test_samples.py
@@ -258,12 +258,6 @@ def test_new_sample_with_relationships(client, complicated_sample):
         f"/get-item-data/{complicated_sample.item_id}",
     )
 
-    assert response.json["parent_items"] == [
-        "starting_material_1",
-        "starting_material_2",
-        "starting_material_3",
-    ]
-    assert response.json["child_items"] == []
     assert [d["item_id"] for d in response.json["item_data"]["relationships"]] == [
         "starting_material_1",
         "starting_material_2",
@@ -309,12 +303,6 @@ def test_new_sample_with_relationships(client, complicated_sample):
     )
 
     assert len(response.json["item_data"]["synthesis_constituents"]) == 2
-    assert response.json["parent_items"] == [
-        "starting_material_1",
-        "starting_material_2",
-        # i.e., "starting_material_3", has been removed
-    ]
-    assert response.json["child_items"] == []
     assert [d.get("item_id") for d in response.json["item_data"]["relationships"]] == [
         "starting_material_1",
         "starting_material_2",
@@ -370,12 +358,12 @@ def test_saved_sample_has_new_relationships(client, default_sample_dict, complic
     response = client.get(
         f"/get-item-data/{default_sample_dict['item_id']}",
     )
-    assert complicated_sample.item_id in response.json["parent_items"]
-
     response = client.get(
         f"/get-item-data/{complicated_sample.item_id}",
     )
-    assert sample_dict["item_id"] in response.json["child_items"]
+    assert sample_dict["item_id"] in {
+        d["item"]["item_id"] for d in response.json["item_data"]["synthesis_constituents"]
+    }
 
 
 @pytest.mark.dependency(depends=["test_saved_sample_has_new_relationships"])
@@ -406,12 +394,6 @@ def test_copy_from_sample(client, complicated_sample):
         f"/get-item-data/{copy_doc['item_id']}",
     )
 
-    assert response.json["parent_items"] == [
-        "starting_material_1",
-        "starting_material_2",
-        "starting_material_3",
-    ]
-
 
 @pytest.mark.dependency(depends=["test_copy_from_sample"])
 def test_create_multiple_samples(client, complicated_sample):
diff --git a/webapp/src/components/RelationshipVisualization.vue b/webapp/src/components/RelationshipVisualization.vue
deleted file mode 100644
index f15ab795a..000000000
--- a/webapp/src/components/RelationshipVisualization.vue
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,117 +0,0 @@
-<template>
-  <label class="mr-2">Relationships</label>
-  <ul class="nav nav-tabs">
-    <li class="nav-item">
-      <a
-        class="nav-link"
-        :class="{ active: activeTab == 'parents' }"
-        href="#"
-        @click.prevent="activeTab = 'parents'"
-      >
-        Parents
-      </a>
-    </li>
-    <li class="nav-item">
-      <a
-        class="nav-link"
-        :class="{ active: activeTab == 'children' }"
-        href="#"
-        @click.prevent="activeTab = 'children'"
-      >
-        Children
-      </a>
-    </li>
-    <li class="nav-item">
-      <a
-        class="nav-link"
-        :class="{ active: activeTab == 'graph' }"
-        href="#"
-        @click.prevent="activeTab = 'graph'"
-      >
-        Graph
-      </a>
-    </li>
-  </ul>
-
-  <div class="card">
-    <div class="card-body">
-      <ul v-show="activeTab == 'parents'" id="contents-ol">
-        <li v-for="parent in parents" :key="parent" class="contents-item">
-          <span class="contents-blocktitle" @click="openEditPageInNewTab(parent)">{{
-            parent
-          }}</span>
-        </li>
-      </ul>
-      <ul v-show="activeTab == 'children'" id="contents-ol">
-        <li v-for="child in children" :key="child" class="contents-item">
-          <span class="contents-blocktitle" @click="openEditPageInNewTab(child)">{{ child }}</span>
-        </li>
-      </ul>
-      <div v-show="activeTab == 'graph'">
-        <ItemGraph :graph-data="graphData" style="height: 400px" />
-      </div>
-      <!--       <div class="alert alert-info" role="alert" v-show="activeTab == 'graph'">
-        Graph view not yet implemented
-      </div> -->
-    </div>
-  </div>
-</template>
-
-<script>
-// import FormattedItemName from "@/components/FormattedItemName"
-import ItemGraph from "@/components/ItemGraph";
-import { getItemGraph } from "@/server_fetch_utils.js";
-
-export default {
-  components: {
-    // FormattedItemName
-    ItemGraph,
-  },
-  props: {
-    item_id: { type: String, required: true },
-  },
-  data() {
-    return {
-      activeTab: "graph",
-    };
-  },
-  computed: {
-    parents() {
-      return this.$store.state.all_item_parents[this.item_id];
-    },
-    children() {
-      return this.$store.state.all_item_children[this.item_id];
-    },
-    graphData() {
-      return this.$store.state.itemGraphData;
-    },
-  },
-  async mounted() {
-    await getItemGraph({ item_id: this.item_id });
-  },
-  methods: {
-    openEditPageInNewTab(item_id) {
-      window.open(`/edit/${item_id}`, "_blank");
-    },
-  },
-};
-</script>
-
-<style scoped>
-.nav-link {
-  cursor: pointer;
-}
-
-.contents-item {
-  cursor: pointer;
-}
-
-.contents-blocktitle {
-  color: #004175;
-}
-
-#contents-ol {
-  margin-bottom: 0rem;
-  padding-left: 1rem;
-}
-</style>
diff --git a/webapp/src/server_fetch_utils.js b/webapp/src/server_fetch_utils.js
index 4db704618..6ffdf1dc7 100644
--- a/webapp/src/server_fetch_utils.js
+++ b/webapp/src/server_fetch_utils.js
@@ -445,8 +445,6 @@ export async function getItemData(item_id) {
       store.commit("createItemData", {
         item_id: item_id,
         item_data: response_json.item_data,
-        child_items: response_json.child_items,
-        parent_items: response_json.parent_items,
       });
 
       return "success";
@@ -461,8 +459,6 @@ export async function getItemByRefcode(refcode) {
         refcode: refcode,
         item_id: response_json.item_data.item_id,
         item_data: response_json.item_data,
-        child_items: response_json.child_items,
-        parent_items: response_json.parent_items,
       });
       return "success";
     })
diff --git a/webapp/src/store/index.js b/webapp/src/store/index.js
index 54593a42b..abde9ac29 100644
--- a/webapp/src/store/index.js
+++ b/webapp/src/store/index.js
@@ -6,11 +6,8 @@ export default createStore({
   state: {
     all_item_data: {}, // keys: item_ids, vals: objects containing all data
     all_block_data: {},
-    all_item_children: {},
-    all_item_parents: {},
     all_collection_data: {},
     all_collection_children: {},
-    all_collection_parents: {},
     refcode_to_id: {},
     sample_list: null,
     equipment_list: null,
@@ -165,10 +162,8 @@ export default createStore({
     },
     createItemData(state, payload) {
       // payload should have the following fields:
-      // refcode, item_id, item_data, child_items, parent_items
+      // refcode, item_id, item_data
       state.all_item_data[payload.item_id] = payload.item_data;
-      state.all_item_children[payload.item_id] = payload.child_items;
-      state.all_item_parents[payload.item_id] = payload.parent_items;
       state.saved_status_items[payload.item_id] = true;
       state.refcode_to_id[payload.refcode] = payload.item_id;
     },