onCore UK is not accepting donations of samples itself. However, we know that if you are thinking of donating biosamples, you may like to hear more about the donation process before you make your final decision. 

Before any person is asked to donate samples they must give their permission or “consent” for their samples to be used in research. Consent is a process that involves information being provided to the potential donor, usually in a patient information sheet, before the person is asked to give their consent.

An example of the patient information sheet used in the past by onCore UK, ‘Giving Tissue and Blood Samples for Cancer Research’, will show you the sort of information likely to be available to you and explain what is likely to happen if you choose to donate. The actual details may differ slightly depending on where you donate samples and what type of samples you are able to donate. Please note onCore UK is no longer seeking tissue donations.

Specifically trained healthcare professionals will answer any questions that you have about making your donation.  If you are happy to proceed, these healthcare professionals will then take you through a consent form.   This signed form is the usual way of recording the donation that you would like to make (blood and/or tumour tissue and relevant clinical information), and allows the healthcare professionals to collect your donated biosamples and data in a way that is most convenient for you.

Many donors give a one-off blood sample at the time of signing the consent form.   Giving a blood sample is similar to having a blood test, and will always be done by someone who has been trained in taking blood.

You usually do not need to have any extra procedures to donate tumour tissue.  Any tissue removed during your biopsy or operation is routinely sent to the hospital laboratory as part of your care.  Staff in the laboratory receive a copy of your signed consent form and then provide the researcher or tissue bank with any samples of your tumour tissue that are not needed for your ongoing care.  You can ususally sign the consent form before or after your procedure(s).

Where can I donate samples and who do I contact?

At present there is no central place to contact.

You could start by asking your care team (consultant, nurses, GP, etc) if there is a local cancer biobank or specific study underway in your areas that you can donate samples to.

You could look up the list of members of the Confederation of Cancer Biobanks to see if there is a member bank close to where you live and contact them.

If none of these work, please contact us to see if we can help.