Biobanking Case Study: PathXL chosen for Northern Ireland Biobank

Cancer Research UK together with The Health and Social Care Research and Development Division of the Public Health Agency (HSC R&D Division) and The Friends of the Cancer Centre (FOCC) have provided funding for the Northern Ireland Biobank and virtual tissue archive.

The Northern Ireland Biobank will establish a collection of high quality tumour tissues and bloods from consented patients treated for cancer in the Belfast Health and Social Care Trust. This bank of tumour samples will complement both the Experimental Cancer Medicine Centre (ECMC) and the CR-UK Centre initiatives within The Centre for Cancer Research and Cell Biology (CCRCB) by promoting translational cancer research.

Following pathology analysis the slides are then digitally scanned using a bank of digital slide scanners, and stored centrally by PathXL's biobanking software. In a pioneering development for NIBiobank, PathXL has designed a Tissue Bank Management System with fully integrated virtual microscopy.

The virtual slides are managed using the PathXL platform. Researchers worldwide can apply for authorisation to access the NIBiobank database. Once granted, they can search the database for suitable research samples and choose to view them online using PathXL Biobank or to request delivery of the physical slides.

Northern Ireland Biobank Scientific Lead, Dr Jackie James comments,

“We integrated PathXL BioBank with our NI Biobank database to enable researchers to view our catalogue of samples online, from anywhere in the world. When a sample is added to the NI Biobank it immediately appears in our online catalogue.

Researchers will then be able to select and order samples from the NI Biobank in full confidence that all the samples they receive will be useable in their research”

Integrated virtual microscopy supports greater collaboration between geographically-dispersed research groups, and the facility for researchers to pre-screen’ samples online before requesting physical delivery enables much more efficient use to be made of NIBiobank resources.

More information is available on our PathXL BioBank product page.

Brochure : PathXL™ BioBank