CEPA Biobank Newcastle has officially been launched on Friday, January 19^th in the Royal Victoria Infirmary, in Newcastle.

The CEPA Biobank has been created as a Trust initiative in response to requests from Commercial Companies and Researchers for access to a supply of good quality tissue for Quality Control/Assurance and Research purposes.

The creation of the CEPA Biobank will address any concerns by embedding in its structure the safeguards and monitoring required the Trust, giving it the reassurance it needed on the appropriateness of the collection and release of tissue to commercial companies and researchers.

Discussions were held with patients and the public and from these meetings, the overall conclusion was a positive outcome to go forward with this proposal and that being open and transparent was the way to accomplish this.

From discussion with patients and Trust staff, it was repeated that tissue should be provided to researchers and/or commercial companies on a cost recovery basis. The tissue itself is a gift and no charge can be made for it and donors will not be recompensed. The Biobank will charge to fully recover the costs of collecting, processing, storing and transporting these samples, investing in the running of the Biobank and supporting research.

The reputation, professionalism of staff at all levels along with the high standards of the Trust, will make this Biobank an invaluable resource. The commercial and research collaborations will benefit the healthcare of patients, research and companies.

 

Author Jeremy Domis & CEPA Biobank