Background
The Austin Health Tissue Bank (AHTB) is one of 5 consortium sites of the Victorian Cancer Biobank (VCB), based at Austin Health (AH). Located within the Department of Anatomical Pathology (AP), AHTB is uniquely positioned to bridge the gap between VCB, Pathology Clinical Trials and AP. This position enables specialty processing for complex projects that are outside the scope of AH researchers or the Cancer Clinical Trials Centre (CCTC), while ensuring Standard of Care (SOC) testing and core biobanking activities are maintained. AHTB has a two-decade relationship with AP and a 10-year collaborative arrangement with CCTC which supports research and clinical trials at AH.
Method
VCB has developed an efficient workflow where new trials are added to an existing Master Service Agreement. Prior to an application, the CCTC and AH researchers are advised on the allocation of tasks across the department and each group quotes independently for aspects of the project which they will perform. Pathology Clinical Trials and AP manage the SOC testing and AHTB and AP offer bespoke processing.
As a trusted party, AHTB liaises with medical and pathology staff, ensuring that trial requirements for specimens are met. AHTB will deliver specimens to the relevant departments for testing, perform specialty processes, and store or dispatch specimens.
Results
AHTB has successfully maintained a 10-year collaboration with CCTC through the collaborative infrastructure of VCB and AH. Through this relationship, we have assisted with over 50 researcher-led or commercially funded trials, each recruiting 5-40 patients over several years, while continuing routine biobanking. AHTB has the expertise to process PBMC gradient separation, bone marrow aspirates, cerebral spinal fluid, radiological tumour biopsies, and fine needle aspirates, using specialty kits and offering storage, while ensuring that diagnostic tests are performed by AH Pathology.
Conclusion
There are many opportunities for a biobank situated within pathology departments to support research and clinical trials. As a research focused biobank within AP, AHTB can facilitate in-person collections, bespoke processing and direct specimens for diagnosis and testing. The biobank’s ability to co-ordinate between departments allows for complex, long-term studies to be undertaken. Conducting efficient ‘in-house’ research projects and clinical trials strengthens AH’s research pillars and continues to build the research community.