PwC Foundation Leukaemia and Lymphoma Tissue Bank
One of the researchers at the PwC Foundation Leukaemia and Lymphoma Tissue Bank
The PwC Foundation Leukaemia and Lymphoma Tissue Bank is a joint initiative of the Australian Leukaemia and Lymphoma Group (ALLG) and the Leukaemia Foundation. Australia's first and only haematological Tissue Bank in Australia , it was established in October 2002 with the generous assistance of AMP Foundation.
The Tissue Bank is located in the Princess Alexandra Hospital in Brisbane and is managed by Dr Paula Marlton, founding Director of the Tissue Bank and former Chair of the ALLG Scientific Committee.
In late 2005, PricewaterhouseCoopers Foundation became the naming rights sponsor of the Tissue Bank, continuing its strong support of the Leukaemia Foundation and our vision to finding better treatment and cures.
What is the Tissue Bank?
The PwC Foundation Leukaemia and Lymphoma Tissue Bank is a temperature controlled facility for storing clinical tissue samples to be used in approved research. The samples are human tissue samples collected from the blood, bone marrow and other body organs of patients across Australia with a leukaemia, lymphoma, myeloma or related blood disorder. All the tissues are collected with the informed consent of the patients.
A central secure database has been established and maintained to facilitate rapid tracking of the resources within the Bank and record sample use.
The central repository gives researchers access to accumulated tissue samples of blood disorders and enables research groups to conduct larger scale studies. Prior to the establishment of the Tissue Bank it was difficult for researchers in Australia to access sufficient variety and numbers of tissue samples without an organised collection and storage process.
The Tissue Bank therefore plays a crucial role in research into leukaemia and other blood cancer research which seeks to improve our understanding of:- The biological processes leading to the development of these cancers
- The factors which control variable patient response to current treatments
- More effective therapies for patients
The PwC Foundation Leukaemia and Lymphoma Tissue Bank bridges the gap between the internationally excellent clinical expertise of the ALLG and equally high quality laboratory research being performed in research institutions across Australia.
