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Who contributes to the BioResource? What tissues are held by the BioResource? What are the benefits of using the BioResource? What is the procedure for obtaining tissues from the BioResource? Are Tissue Micro-Arrays available? Is there any cost to obtaining tissues from the BioResource? Where can I get additional information? _____________________________________________________________________ What is the BioResource?The Prostate Cancer BioResource is a “virtual tissue bank” comprising 4 physically separate tissue collection nodes, each with its own database for collection of tissue-associated clinical and pathological data, which will be linked by a web-based central database, containing minimum clinical and pathological datasets downloaded by the individual nodes and which can be interrogated to assemble specific research cohorts. Phase I of the development of the BioResource as outlined in the About us section has essentially been completed, with profiles of the prostate cancer research groups across Australia showcased in the Research section. Tissue microarrays (phase II) have been constructed from existing pathology archives, and prospective collection of fresh frozen tissues (phase III) is now ongoing.Who contributes to the BioResource?Currently, tissue collection nodes exist in: Adelaide (Hanson Institute of Medical Research), Brisbane (Queensland University of Technology), Melbourne (Monash Institute of Medical Research), and Sydney (Garvan Institute of Medical Research). The BioResource collects and stores prostate tissue from surgical procedures and derived blood products, with associated clinical and pathological data, from consenting patients at hospitals across Australia. This collaboration has come together as a result of the efforts of the Translational Research Working Group of the Australian Prostate Cancer Collaboration (APCC) Inc. What tissues are held by the BioResource?The tissue collection being progressively assembled by the BioResource nodes comprises prospectively collected fresh frozen prostate tissue, blood plasma, serum and white blood cells (as buffy coat). The BioResource is also able to assist researchers gain collaborative access to prostate cancer tissue collections predating the establishment of the BioResource, and to collections of ejaculates and post ejaculatory urines for biomarker discovery and isolation of metastatic cells. Genomic DNA, RNA and laser capture microdissected cells will eventually be available from the BioResource. Various targeted Tissue Micro-Arrays (TMAs) are in the process of being periodically released from late 2006 through 2008, being constructed from existing pathology archives. What are the benefits of using the BioResource?The BioResource was designed to overcome the problems inherent to small decentralised tissue banks, and the impact of access to small tissue cohorts only on research outcomes. With constant communication across participating institutions, the BioResource facilitates efficient access to samples that were previously unobtainable or prohibitively expensive to acquire. In addition, to conserve limited tissue resources the BioResource encourages collaboration between researchers, which also enhances research productivity. Who can obtain specimens?The BioResource welcomes requests for prostate cancer tissues from all Australian researchers. Tissues will only be released, however, to researchers who can provide a statement of ethics approval for their project from the Clinical Investigation / Human Research Ethics Committee of their host institution. This applies to researchers who request even a single sample for testing, in order to safeguard patient rights. Specimens will not be provided to commercial bodies during the initial 5 year period (2006-2010) to permit acquisition of sufficient material with extended clinical follow up. This policy will be reviewed in 2010. What is the procedure for obtaining tissues from the BioResource?The BioResource has a Tissue Access Policy, Letter of Intent, Application Form and a Material Transfer Agreement, which researchers can download from this site or obtain by email from the Project Manager. Tissue access is subject to a number of conditions as outlined in the access document, and is via application to the Tissue Access Committee (TAC). There will only be limited access to fresh frozen tissue (50% of the available tissue for any single patient) during the first 5 years of prospective collection in order to retain sufficient material with extended clinical outcome data. A small proportion of tissue is reserved for priority access by tissue-contributory groups, details can be obtained from the Project Manager. Specific Tissue Micro-Arrays are available on application. Researchers requiring access to fresh frozen tissues/DNA/RNA may be able to gain collaborative access to additional samples via collections held outside of the BioResource by the research institutions associated with the BioResource. In any event, researchers seeking tissues/biomaterials should complete the Letter of Intent and forward it to the National Project Manager. The Project Manager will ascertain if suitable tissues are available either via the BioResource or the individual institutions. The outcome of this Letter of Intent will be conveyed to the applicant by the National Project Manager. Are Tissue Micro-Arrays available?A program of specific Tissue Micro-Array (TMA) construction has been implemented. As indicated in the About us and BioResource web pages, TMAs of human clinical material, animal models of prostate cancer, and human prostate cancer cell line culture will be progressively released from late 2006 through 2008. Researchers will be required to provide the BioResource with results obtained (e.g. expression of a particular gene/protein). This information will then be stored in the tissue database, and will be used only for future collaborative research undertaken by the BioResource. The researchers contributing data will be involved in this analysis, automatically becoming authors on ensuing research manuscripts. Is there any cost to obtaining tissues from the BioResource?A User Cost Recovery Program has been implimented to alleviate the financial impact on the BioResource. The fee structure of this program is presented on the BioResource page. Charges may apply to the user for the provision of collaborative samples by individual institutions. These costs (eg sample preparation and shipping) will be kept to a minimum and will vary from site to site. Further details can be obtained from the National Project Manager. How can I become part of the BioResource network and/or get my institution to begin collecting for the BioResource?If you would like to become part of the broad network of prostate cancer researchers associated with the BioResource or would like your institution to begin collecting for the BioResource, please contact the National Project Manager. The Project Manager will ask you to provide a profile of your research team and facilities, which will be posted on this site, and if appropriate will gather details from you on a possible mechanism for tissue collection. The BioResource provides the following guidelines to researchers considering implementing a tissue collection facility at their institution:
Where can I get additional information?To find out more about
the BioResource you can contact the National
Project Manager,
Associate Professor David Horsfall |
