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onCore UK is a national initiative created to help address one of the major problems for cancer research in the 21st century - the limited availability of carefully collected, high-quality human biosamples with clinical data about the donor. Scientists have identified this problem as the leading barrier to post-genomics cancer research.
In addition to sample shortage, both the quality of the sample itself and the quality of the data associated with it are important, as is the extent to which the ethical, legal, and policy issues that govern its use in research have been addressed. In addition, there are well-recognised complexities surrounding sample collection, processing, storage and distribution, and the research that may be conducted using the samples.
To overcome these challenges and facilitate a supportive environment for future cancer research involving human biosamples, onCore UK takes a multidisciplinary approach working closely with donors, researchers, research funders, regulators and biobanks. We were actively involved in the development of the recommendations of the NCRI Pathology & Research Task Force Report Fostering the Role of Pathology in Research 2009. For further information on onCore UK’s current activities in helping to enable pathology research in the UK click here.
onCore UK studies scientific advances and best practices to ensure that we can support researchers and biobanks in the collection and storage of samples of high and consistent quality. We work with other biobanks in our role as the secretariat to the Confederation of Cancer Biobanks and through participation in the Marble Arch International Working Group to share knowledge and promote excellence in biobanking both nationally and internationally.
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