The proposal to set up the Wales Cancer Bank was submitted by Professors Malcolm Mason, Julian Sampson and David Wynford-Thomas from the (then) University of Wales College of Medicine to Ann Lloyd (Director, NHS Wales) in June 2002. Funding was secured from the Welsh Assembly Government NHS funds and commenced on 1 April 2003.

This venture marks the recognition of the Health Minister and the Welsh Assembly Government of the importance of translational cancer research in Wales. The WCB is a collaborative project involving Higher Education establishments, various NHS Trusts in Wales and the Wales Assembly Government Office of Research and Development.

It will be the first population based collection of tumour and control tissue samples in the UK and will be closely allied with similar initiatives in England, Europe and worldwide.