onCoreUK - Access to Biosamples

Tools for Facilitating Access to Biosamples

Samples and Data for Research: A Template for Access Policy Development

The development of an access policy and associated material transfer agreements can be difficult challenges for biobanks or custodians of biosample collections.

onCore UK working with the National Cancer Research Institute (NCRI), the National Cancer Intelligence Network (NCIN) and Cancer Researtch UK, has developed a practical tool for the development of biosample and data access policies and material transfer agreements.

This “template” document has been published and is available for download, along with information about the consultation that took place to inform the development of the template and the press release that announced the publication of the template.

The template can be used - adopted or adapted - by many organisations and is designed to be flexible to suit various circumstances. Developed with the assistance of several UK based regulators and with patient groups, organisations that develop their policies using this template can be reassured that their policy is built on a sound regulatory footing, has the support of patients and the public and has been informed by an extensive consultation with stakeholders.

Share the Biosample Resources you hold via our On-line Directories

Managers of tissue banks and custodians of clinical trials and other types of collections can upload information about the resources they manage into new on-line Cancer Biosample Directories.

The aim of these directories is for the majority of cancer biosample collections to be included to help researchers find the samples they need for their research and to help biobanks find the users that they need.

To view the existing entries on the on-line directories, click here. Scroll down the centre panel and select one or both of the cancer biosample directories, enter a search term and click search. The results of your search will be displayed and more information about a single resource can be seen by clicking on the "show additional info" link.

Submitting information to the directories is simple and easy, using the links below. Simply click on the relevant link below and complete the on-line questionnaire:

Clinical Trial Sample Collection Questionnaire

Non-Clinical Trial Sample Collection Questionnaire

Looking for cancer biosamples for your research?

Visit the NCRI's new on-line Cancer Biosample Directories

onCore UK, in partnership with Cancer Research UK, the National Cancer Research Network (NCRN), the National Cancer Research Institute (NCRI) and the NCRI Informatics Initiative, has developed and launched an on-line directory of cancer biosample resources.

These directories include information about how access may be possible and how to contact custodians.

The directory can be searched for cancer biosamples held in either general biobank collections and in collections associated with specific clinical trials.

Click here to access the on-line directory

Help with searching:

Scroll down the centre panel and select one or both of the cancer biosample directories, enter a search term and click search. The results of your search will be displayed and more information about a single resource can be seen by clicking on the "show additional info" link.