Tumour banks are resources for research centres where samples of tumour tissue from cancer patients are stored under optimal conditions. Generally, this biological material is obtained from surgical interventions and biopsies. These samples are available for researchers to allow them to carry out their research projects.
The Catalan Tumour Bank Network was created in 2007 as an initiative of the Generalitat de Catalunya Cancer Master Plan. Coordinated by IDIBAPS, this network includes tumour banks from eleven Catalan hospitals with the aim of offering a large collection of samples from all pathologies to the scientific community for biomedical research.
The hospitals that form part of the network are: Hospital Clínic Barcelona Research Foundation-August Pi i Sunyer Biomedical Research Institute (FRCB-IDIBAPS); Hospital de Tortosa Verge de la Cinta (HTVC), Hospital del Mar Medical Research Institute (IMIM)–Hospital del Mar; Joan XXIII University Hospital; Bellvitge Biomedical Research Institute (IDIBELL)–Bellvitge University Hospital; Girona Biomedical Research Institute (IDIBGI)–Dr. Josep Trueta University Hospital; Germans Trias i Pujol Research Institute (IGTP)-Germans Trias i Pujol University Hospital; Sant Joan de Déu Research Institute (IRSJD)-Hospital Sant Joan de Déu; Sant Pau Research Institute (IIB Sant Pau)-Hospital Santa Creu i Sant Pau; IRBLleida- Arnau de Vilanova University Hospital; Vall d'Hebron Research Institute (VHIR)-Vall d'Hebron University Hospital and Parc Taulí University Hospital.
The new website is designed to be of use both to the scientific community of public institutions and industry– to whom the XBTC offers biological and tumour samples, and scientific and technical support– and to donors– who will find the information they need to collaborate and help future patients benefiting from the advances in medicine against cancer and other diseases. You can consult the website by clicking here.