Setting up a multi-centre cancer biobank: key learning points
Year: 2008
Session type: Poster / e-Poster / Silent Theatre session
Manchester Cancer Research Centre, Manchester, UK
Abstract
Background
Research biobanks are a very useful and valuable commodity, not only due to the recent changes in human tissue regulation, but also because of the demand for high quality tissue samples to be used in ground breaking scientific research.
Method
Within the Manchester Cancer Research Centre (MCRC), a biobank has been established. A “six-pack” consisting of frozen tumour and normal tissue, fixed tumour and normal tissue, related blood and urine samples is collected from patients undergoing cancer surgery at five NHS Trusts across the Greater Manchester area. Funding for the MCRC Biobank has been obtained from various sources, both academic and commercial and there is great emphasis on linking each sample “six-pack” to related bioinformatics.
Results
Challenges faced when setting up a large cancer biobank are varied and complex and key learning points have been identified from the MCRC Biobank experience. Things considered include; effective and early communication with collaborating NHS Trusts, timing of staff recruitment, development of SOPs to produce high quality samples and the need for an advanced database system to deal with both sample tracking and related informatics.
Conclusion
Learning points from the development of the MCRC Biobank may assist future cancer biobank developments to ensure a robust infrastructure supporting the collection of large numbers of high quality biological samples, which are easily accessible to researchers.
Background
Research biobanks are a very useful and valuable commodity, not only due to the recent changes in human tissue regulation, but also because of the demand for high quality tissue samples to be used in ground breaking scientific research.
Method
Within the Manchester Cancer Research Centre (MCRC), a biobank has been established. A “six-pack” consisting of frozen tumour and normal tissue, fixed tumour and normal tissue, related blood and urine samples is collected from patients undergoing cancer surgery at five NHS Trusts across the Greater Manchester area. Funding for the MCRC Biobank has been obtained from various sources, both academic and commercial and there is great emphasis on linking each sample “six-pack” to related bioinformatics.
Results
Challenges faced when setting up a large cancer biobank are varied and complex and key learning points have been identified from the MCRC Biobank experience. Things considered include; effective and early communication with collaborating NHS Trusts, timing of staff recruitment, development of SOPs to produce high quality samples and the need for an advanced database system to deal with both sample tracking and related informatics.
Conclusion
Learning points from the development of the MCRC Biobank may assist future cancer biobank developments to ensure a robust infrastructure supporting the collection of large numbers of high quality biological samples, which are easily accessible to researchers.
