Brain Tumour Ireland Biobank (BTB) was founded in 2016 by the Department of Physiology and Medical Physics, RCSI (Prof Jochen Prehn), the Neuropathology Department, Beaumont Hospital (Dr Alan Beausang, Dr Jane Cryan and Dr Francesca Brett), and the Neurosurgery Department, Beaumont Hospital (Mr Stephen McNally), with additional financial support of Brain Tumour Ireland (BTI; main funder) and the Irish Institute of Clinical Neuroscience (IICN, equipment support funder)
Context including Goals:
With the support from Brain Tumour Ireland, the RCSI Department of Physiology and Medical Physics, and the RCSI Centre for Systems Medicine (CSM) along with the Departments of Neurosurgery and Neuropathology in Beaumont Hospital established a brain tumour biobank in RCSI and Beaumont Hospital to develop novel biomarkers and treatments for brain tumour patients. Patients undergoing brain tumour surgery have been given the opportunity to consent to have their tissue included in the biobank. This collaboration will enable RCSI and Beaumont Hospital investigators, as well as other national and international investigators to research brain tumours, develop novel biomarker and develop novel therapies for the treatment of brain tumours.
This collaboration will enable the CSM RCSI Principal Investigators, Prof. Brona Murphy, Prof Annette Byrne, and Prof. Jochen Prehn and their teams to analyse and develop novel therapies for the treatment of brain tumors. Brain Tumour Ireland is delighted to support RCSI (Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland) in the establishment of its brain tumour biobank, which will encourage research aimed at individualised treatments and increasing survival rates for brain tumour patients.By collecting brain tumour cells from patients, the biobank will enable new and targeted therapies for brain tumours to be examined in the lab using these cells. Only patients who consent can have their tissue used in the biobank, and only tissue surplus to diagnostic requirements can be biobanked.
Process of Tissue Collection: Tissue samples of fresh / frozen brain tumour samples are banked at the RCSI Education & Research Centre (ERC). Formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded brain tumour samples are stored in the Beaumont Hospital Neuropathology Department. Blood which is separated into Serum and Plasma is also collected from corresponding patients as well as an overnight first 100mL voided sample.
Database: Central to the bio-collection is the FreezerWorks software which accommodates the collection and tracking of samples and integration of clinical information. This allows investigators to identify what samples are available and where they are located, as well as linking to the relevant clinical and follow up data.
links to Projects linked to the Brain Tumour Biobank
Glioblastoma (GBM) is the most common and aggressive form of adult primary brain cancer, for which there is currently no cure. Sadly, 85% of patients diagnosed with this cancer die within two years, even with aggressive treatment. GBM is particularly difficult to treat due to how fast it grows, the way the cells penetrate brain tissue, gene mutations and other challenges.
Training the next-generation of European GLIOblastoma (translational) researchers, to RESOLVE precision targeting of the brain tumour microenvironment
for more information on Glio resolve and Gliotrain success stories click here
https://www.gliotrain.eu/content/work-package-1-gliotreat
https://www.precisioncancermedicinegroup.com/glioblastoma-1
https://www.precisioncancermedicinegroup.com/currently-funded-projects
https://www.precisioncancermedicinegroup.com/previously-awarded-projects
https://braintumourireland.com/brain-tumour-biobank
Application Procedures:
If you are interested in submitting an application to participate in the Brain Tumor Bio-bank as a Principal Investigator, please read the information Booklet below on the Procedures involved in submitting an Application.
Please contact Ms Rosamund O’Halloran– BTI Co-ordinator for more infromation @ rockyohalloran@rcsi.ie
more information in the link below:
Please see link below for the Application form
BTB Management Team
Prof Jochen Prehn (Department of Physiology & Medical Physics, RCSI)
Dr Alan Beausang (Neuropathology, Beaumont Hospital)
Mr Stephen McNally (Neurosurgery, Beaumont Hospital)
Ms Eilis Griffin (BTI Representative)
Prof David Smyth, RCSI (Ethics advisor)
Ms Rosamund O’Halloran- BTI Co-ordinator
contact rockyohalloran@rcsi.ie