A New Biobanking Network

As part of her April 2019 update on events at the Children’s cancer Centre, Lousie Ludlow reported on the formation of a new Biobanking Network involving cooperation between researchers in Australia and New Zealand. Here is what Louise wrote.

Paediatric tumour specimens are rare, therefore distribution of samples within Australia to researchers requires collaboration between Tissue Banks.  The ANZCHOG (Australian and New Zealand Children’s Haematology/Oncology Group)-BN (Biobanking Network) was established in 2017 under the initiative of Prof. Jennifer Byrne and Dr Rose Boutros (Children’s Cancer Research Unit, Kids research, The Children’s Hospital at Westmead).  This network includes the Sydney Children’s Tumour Bank Network (The Children’s Hospital at Westmead Tumour Bank and The Children’s Cancer Institute Tumour Bank, NSW), Monash Children’s Cancer Biobank (VIC), Queensland Children’s Tumour Bank (QLD), Telethon Kid’s Institute Brain Tumour Research Program Biobank (WA), Women and Children’s Hospital Tumour Bank (SA), Auckland Regional Tissue Bank and Auckland and Cancer Society Tissue Bank, Christchurch and our Children’s Cancer Centre Tissue Bank.

Establishment of this network was recently published in the journal Biopreservation and Biobanking.  It is predicted that the network will lead to increased awareness of individual banks, improved sample distribution and knowledge sharing.  On the 12^th February 2019 representatives from these biobanks attended a workshop and networking dinner held held at the Hudson Institute of Medical Research funded by The Kids Cancer Project.

We are grateful to Louise for providing us with information on this important initiative in the fight against childhood cancer. Thank you Louise.

You can read more about the network by visiting https://anzchog-bn.org/about-the-network/ where you can also find information for parents and carers.