Research using your samples
Your samples contribute to research that furthers understanding in different diseases and conditions, leading to development of faster diagnosis and more effective treatments.
Sample use
Our samples will be used for scientific or medical research that is for patient benefit. Our samples will be used by members of Cardiff University but will also be accessible to other researchers throughout Wales, the UK, Europe and the rest of the world. This could include commercial companies with an interest in research for patient benefit, such as drug companies.
Keeping samples safe
Our secure facility at the University Hospital of Wales has restricted access to the building for only those that require it, with further restrictions on the sample storage areas.
Once a sample arrives at the Biobank, it is given a unique identifier that only a limited number of approved Biobank staff can trace back to you. It is important that we keep this link, as if you later decide that you don’t want your samples to be stored or used anymore, we can remove and destroy them.
When samples get released to researchers, they will only be given the anonymous ID and some basic/clinical information about you (such as age, sex and diagnosis). No identifiable information will be given to the researcher.
Accessing your samples
When a researcher applies to the Biobank to access your samples, their projects will be reviewed by the Biobank’s Scientific Review Committee based on the scientific rationale, methods, researchers’ track record and likely patient benefits. Only after receiving approvals from the Committee, will the researcher/s then have access to their requested samples.
How your samples could be used
The Biobank supplies samples to projects that are for patient and public benefit. Research using your samples may lead to a better understanding of a specific disease, improvement to treatments or creation of new diagnostic tests.
Samples from healthy volunteers play a very important role as the negative control group in research projects. This enables researchers to compare results between disease positive samples and healthy samples.
Some projects we have supported have contributed to scientific advances including:
- development of a cancer diagnosis tool
- in the study of COVID-19 diagnosis
- evaluation of certain plant-derived saps as treatment for infected skin ulcers
- development of new biochemical biomarkers for childhood lysosomal storage diseases
- investigation of biomarkers for Tuberous Sclerosis Complex
