The CCB stores human biological biospecimens (samples) obtained with consent from patients diagnosed with a haematologic malignancy (blood cancers), for use in research. The CCB is housed at the Princess Alexandra Hospital, Brisbane.
The following information may be of interest to patients/participants considering taking part in the CCB.
Samples
Funding
The following information may be of interest to our researchers wishing to access samples from the CCB.
The CCB operates within Cancer Services is overseen by the CCB Management Committee—made up of haematologists and interested professionals.
The CCB operations have been reviewed and approved by the Metro South Health HREC. All policies abide by the National Statement.
All available CCB sample holdings are from consented participants who have been diagnosed with a haematological malignancy. Bone marrow and peripheral blood biospecimens are only obtained when a patient/participant undergoes diagnostic and/or follow-up procedures as part of their specific treatment plan.
Wherever possible, a selection of sample types are made from the donated bone marrow and peripheral blood (see the disease/classification table below).
Time points where bone marrow and/or peripheral blood are routinely collected on participants include:
A participant may have one, some or all time points stored, and may be undergoing either standard treatment for their disease or be enrolled on a specific clinical trial.
Bone marrow, peripheral blood, processed into vials to: | By product: | For lab studies, for example: |
---|---|---|
Trizol | RNA | Gene expression |
Cell pellet | DNA | Genomic studies |
Plasma aliquot and/or serum | Plasma or serum | Cytokines, proteomics |
Cryopreserved cells | Viable cells | Cell culture, in vitro drug effects |
Other sample types held: | By product: | For lab studies, for example: |
---|---|---|
Lymph nodes | DNA | Genomic studies |
Other tissue (site) biopsies | DNA | Genomic studies |
The above details may require refinement or clarification by direct communication with CCB staff. Please contact the CCB Manager directly to discuss further.
CCB Manager
Name: Megan Ellis Phone: (07) 3176 5835 | Principal investigator
Name: Paula Marlton Phone: (07) 3176 2390 |
Step 1: Contact CCB staff to discuss samples contained within the CCB and ascertain that the CCB can fulfil the requirements of the proposed research. Please note that a cost recovery/offset charge will apply and a preliminary quote can be provided at this stage.
Step 2: Obtain institutional support and ethical clearance for the research project. If undertaking research in Metro South Health, please review the ethical clearance and research governance authorisation of research processes.
Step 3: Complete an application for biobank samples form (DOC, 1.06 MB). This will include confirmation of the researcher’s institutional HREC ethical clearance and the status of funding for the proposed research. The CCB will seek partial cost recovery from sample recipients. Quotes will be provided to researchers at the time of application authorisation utilising a fee schedule based on processing and storage costs, which may be scaled according to the source of the request (commercial entity vs academic). The CCB will also provide a Research Data and Materials Agreement which is used prior to dispatch.
Step 4: Lodge the completed application for biobank samples form with the CCB either by email (scanned copy preferred) or by mail. If submitting by email please type in subject line: ‘CCB Researcher Application for Review’. Sample requests will be processed as they are received and finalised as soon as possible.
Step 5: Receive evaluation and recommendations from the CCB Management Committee. It is the intention of the CCB Management Committee to supply all reasonable requests when tissue samples are available to maximise the research yield from these samples.
The applicant may wish to lodge a grievance pertaining to applications for samples which are deemed to be duplication of existing work, or are deemed unfeasible or unsuitable by the CCB Scientific Review Panel and/or the CCB Management Committee. Please contact the CCB Manager to discuss further.
Step 6: Samples are made available for dispatch. The samples may undergo extraction and other quality control processes by CCB staff, once a research project has been endorsed as suitable. After this process they are dispatched without delay by courier at the expense of the end-user. Confirmation of receipt will be requested as well as a quality feedback/assessment report (provided at time of dispatch).