Biomaterials are now available for issue to researchers involved in cancer research

The Wales Cancer Bank is collecting tumour and normal tissue, frozen and paraffin embedded, EDTA and serum samples from patients in Wales who have undergone surgery where cancer is a possible diagnosis. EDTA samples are also being collected from a partner/friend as an environmental control.

Biomaterials are available, in a variety of formats, to researchers worldwide, in academia or industry for projects concerned with cancer research. Samples will be supplied with a basic minimum data set, age at operation, sex and diagnosis and will be subject to a contribution to cost recovery fee.

The Wales Cancer Bank has approval from the Wales MREC to issue samples to researchers for cancer research related work. Samples sourced from WCB will have deemed ethical approval and, as long as you don't require data beyond the basic data set (see data page), you will not require specific ethics approval or an HTA licence to use and store the samples.

WCB will report each year to the Wales MREC with a list of supplied projects, the principal investigator, a brief outline of the project (lay summary in application form) and the number and type of samples supplied.

What happens next?

If you are interested in sourcing material from WCB:

• Check WCB collects the tumour type of interest
• Email wcbresearchapplications@cf.ac.uk outlining the number and type of samples required giving an outline of proposed project
• The WCB will check the proposed project falls within the remit of the ethics approval of the bank and that the requested samples are available
• Researcher will then be invited to submit a full application via the NEW WCB application form found here. The mechanism of approval notes can also be accessed for information. The amount of material requested must be fully justified in the application.
• Applications will be reviewed by an external Scientific Review Panel for scientific merit.
• Researchers will be notified of the outcome of the review and, where relevant, arrangements will be made for sample transport, at the researcher's cost.

All movement of samples outside WCB will be subject to a Material Transfer agreement.

Click below for more information on sample types and data and to access application form: