Expert Group on Cancer Biobanking
- Prof. Bernadette Herrity (Chair), Prof. Emeritus of Public Health & Epidemiology at UCD (Ministerial nominee)
- Dr. Anne Cody, Head of Research Infrastructure and Special Initiatives Unit, Health Research Board (HRB nominee)
- Dr. Carolyn Compton, Director, Office of Biorepositories and Biospecimen Research (NCI nominee)
- Dr. Davida de la Harpe, Assistant National Director, Health Intelligence, HSE (HSE nominee)
- Prof. Eoin Gaffney, Consultant Histopathologist, St. James’s Hospital, Dublin (ICS nominee)
- Dr. Pierre Hainaut, Head of the Molecular Carcinogenesis and Biomarkers Group, International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC nominee)
- Dr. Joe Harford, Director, Office of International Affairs, National Cancer Institute (NCI nominee)
- Dr. Tony Holohan, Deputy CMO, Department of Health & Children (Ministerial nominee)
- Dr. Jackie James, Senior Lecturer and Consultant Pathologist, Centre for Cancer Research and Cell Biology, Queen’s University Belfast & Royal Victoria Hospital, Belfast (DHSSPS nominee)
- Prof. Elaine Kay, Consultant Histopathologist, Beaumont Hospital, Dublin (ICS nominee)
- Prof. Mark Lawler, Consultant Clinical Geneticist, Cancer Molecular Lab, St. James’s Hospital, Dublin (ICS nominee)
- Mr. John McCormack, CEO, Irish Cancer Society (ICS nominee)
- Mr. Brian Moulton, CEO, Irish Co-operative Oncology Research Group (ICORG nominee)
- Dr. Kate Williamson, Senior Lecturer, Centre for Cancer Research and Cell Biology, Queen’s University Belfast & Royal Victoria Hospital, Belfast (DHSSPS nominee)
Terms of Reference:
Develop proposals for a National Cancer Biobank, including the following:
1. The research and healthcare benefits achievable in the immediate, short and long term
2. Assessment of workable, quality assured and cost effective models of delivery (to include centralised or distributed models) and a recommendation on the preferred model
3. Governance, structure and organisation of the preferred model
4. The operation and costings of a Biobank to include:
- Information governance, including security and confidentiality
- An information technology platform and associated integrated infrastructure for the implementation and maintenance of the network
- ICT requirements including hardware and software integration with existing systems
- Protocols for access to information and specimens
- Human resource requirements
- Funding requirements, both capital and revenue
- Appropriate funding sources
5. Standards and quality assurance arrangements in line with best international practice for:
- Data coding, classification, storage and protection
- Specimen collection, handling and storage
- Security and appropriate backup
6. Ethical issues, including patient consent and confidentiality
7. The appropriate relationships which could be developed:
- Academic-industry partnerships
- Incorporation of existing Irish cancer biobanks
- Linkage with other Irish biobanks
- Linkage with existing international cancer biobanks
8. Appropriate linkages with research programmes and potential for collaborative initiatives, including cancer clinical trials
9. Patient education and awareness
10. Recommendations on North/South collaboration and potential for an all island biobank
11. Recommendations on collaboration with the National Cancer Institute under the Consortium.
The National Cancer Biobank Group completed its work in 2009. The publication of the report of the Expert Group on a National Cancer Biobank was announced by Minister for Health and Children Mary Harney TD in May 2009.
The report is available on the Health Research Board website - http://www.hrb.ie/publications/hrb-publication/publications//453/l
