The Wales Cancer Bank (WCB)

Abstract

The Wales Cancer Bank (WCB) was established in 2004 and consents patients in Wales, UK with a known or suspected cancer diagnosis to donate biosamples for future research. The resource is open access to all researchers working in cancer research, regardless of geographic location or employment sector. To December 2017, just over 13,500 patients have donated samples across a variety of tumour types. Tumour and adjacent normal tissue and blood samples are routinely collected, stored and processed to standardised protocols. Bespoke collections for unique samples such as urine or ascites are also available. Pathology data, clinical data including treatment and outcome data and selected molecular data is also available. Funding statement: The WCB is currently funded as part of the Wales Cancer Research Centre by Health and Care Research Wales. Funding is also received from Velindre Charitable funds and Cancer Research UK’s Stratified Medicine Programme. Previous funding has also been received from Cancer Research Wales.