Donating samples of your tumour can help researchers to find new ways to prevent, diagnose and treat rare forms of cancer. Our Bioresource is set up to help make this happen.
Joining RareCan gives you the ability to donate your tissue samples to our NHS ethics approved BioResource. Signing up does not commit you to donating tissue and you can withdraw at any time.
Approved by London – Fulham Research Ethics Committee, REC reference 21/LO/0469.
Donating samples of your tumour can help researchers to find new ways to prevent, diagnose and treat rare forms of cancer. Our Bioresource is set up to help make this happen.
Joining RareCan gives you the ability to donate your tissue samples to our NHS ethics approved BioResource. Signing up does not commit you to donating tissue and you can withdraw at any time.
Approved by London – Fulham Research Ethics Committee, REC reference 21/LO/0469.
Information about donating cells and tissue for medical research
Our partners
We work with partners who require access to samples to undertake cutting edge research in rare cancers and who provide us with access to specialist laboratory techniques.
Donating samples to the BioResource
How does it work?
1. Create a RareCan account
The first step is to create an account on our secure web portal. This is how you can safely and securely manage your account, share information with us and access tools and information.
2. Read the Donor Information
In your RareCan account you will see the BioResource page. It is really important to read the donor information to make sure you understand and are happy with the details of how the BioResource works. Please contact us if you have any questions.
3. Consent to tissue donation
Your tissue will only be collected and used with your explicit consent. The consent form contains a set of things you must agree to in order to donate your sample, plus a number of preferences about how it us used.
4. Project-related collection
RareCan will not immediately set about collecting your sample from where it is stored in the NHS archive. We will only start this process when we have a specific project that your sample can be helpful for. We will let you know when this process starts.
What is the BioResource?
By RareCan Team
The BioResource is a facility at Newcastle University that stores the tissue samples of rare cancer patients. These samples, which have been collected during surgery and retained by NHS trusts, are accessible to scientists..
FAQ
Some frequently asked questions about the RareCan BioResource.
When you have an operation to remove a tumour there may be some tissue that is not needed for diagnosis. This tissue is potentially useful to researchers. With your agreement we will arrange for excess tissue to be collected, either immediately after your surgery, or from where it has been stored in the hospital. The tissue will then either be sent directly to researchers for immediate use, or be transported to our BioResource at Newcastle University, where it will be stored securely for use in future research projects.
Research teams can apply to our Independent Access Committee to use your tissue for research projects. When you complete the consent form you will be able to express your preferences for how your sample can be used, and you are free to withdraw from the BioResource at any time.
By creating our BioResource, we are aiming to:
- maximise the opportunities for your tissue to be used in research.
- make it easier for researchers to get access to the tissue they need for research projects.
- accelerate research into rare cancers.
To ensure the BioResource is a long-term, sustainable resource we have set RareCan up as a business that will charge research teams to use the BioResource. Revenue will be reinvested in RareCan, but may also be used to pay dividends to investors and incentivise staff.
For more detailed information, please visit the RareCan BioResource Donor Information page.
