Haematology (Blood Cancers) Biobank
The Trinity St James’s Hospital Haematology Biobank collects and stores tissue samples (blood, bone marrow and lymph node samples) and health information (data) donated by patients who may have a blood disorder for use in approved research studies.
Donated samples are important for researchers who want to understand how and why diseases develop, to help increase our understanding of blood disorders including blood cancers, and to develop new tests and treatments.
Governance
The Haematology Biobank is jointly managed by St. James’s Hospital and Trinity College Dublin, who are joint data controllers of the biobank and are responsible for keeping your biomaterial and personal data secure. The Haematology Biobank is governed by a biobank steering committee which is made up of clinical and scientific staff. You can contact us by email at cancerbiobanks@stjames.ie
The Haematology Biobank staff work closely with St James’s Hospital Haematology consultants, clinical staff and scientists in consenting patients for the biobank as well as sample processing and data collection.
The hospital consultants involved in the Haematology Biobank include Dr Niamh Appleby, Prof Larry Bacon, Prof Paul Browne, Dr Eibhlin Conneally, Prof Catherine Flynn, Dr Patrick Hayden, Dr Robert Henderson, Dr Nina Orfali, Prof Nicki Panoskaltsis, Prof Elisabeth Vandenberghe, Dr Carmel Waldron.
Research
The biobank samples and data are used for research carried out in The John Durkan Leukaemia Laboratories based in the Department of Haematology in the Trinity Translational Medicine Institute at St James’s Hospital. Our researchers work closely with collaborators in St James’s Hospital, Trinity College and other hospitals and universities in Ireland and abroad. We also collaborate with commercial pharmaceutical companies and biotechnology companies.
All research projects using biobank samples must have ethical approval from an independent research ethics committee. Researchers who do not work for Trinity College Dublin or St James’s Hospital must sign a legal agreement which includes obligations to keep the information and samples secure. All biobank samples are coded and only biobank personnel will have access to patient identifiers. All samples and patient information in the Haematology Biobank are treated with the highest standards of security and confidentiality, in accordance with data protection law.
In addition to research within Trinity College and St James’s Hospital, biobank samples and related healthcare data may be shared for research projects which we hope will improve the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of blood disorders including blood cancers. We are particularly interested in research related to cancer growth, early detection and diagnosis, and development of new tests and treatments.
Current Funded projects using Biobank samples.
Title: Establishing 3D tumour platforms for validation of pipeline programs.
Lead Researcher: Dr Tony McElligott, Trinity College Dublin
Project description: The objective of this collaborative study is to develop advanced cell culture models of Acute Myeloid Leukaemia and Multiple Myeloma using patient samples in order to evaluate new cellular therapies. This project will also investigate the tumour microenvironment in these patient samples and gain insight into factors which may hinder the efficacy of these therapies.
Funding Body: Enterprise Ireland
Industrial Partner: Legend Biotech
Title: Development of a Bioanalytic Platform to monitor immune reconstitution after Allogeneic Haematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation and CAR T cell therapy
Lead Researcher: Dr Nicola Gardiner, St James’s Hospital
Project description: Allogeneic Haematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation and CAR T cell therapy are successful treatments for certain blood cancers. These therapies work by remodelling the immune system of the patients and understanding this process may allow for better and more predictable patient outcomes.
Funding Body: Irish Blood Transfusion Service.