Clatterbridge to house biobank for NHS researchers in Liverpool

Posted 19th January 2024

The Clatterbridge Cancer Centre’s Biobank will become the central facility for the storage of biological material used in research for the Liverpool Clinical Research Facility (CRF).

The National Institute for Health Research Liverpool CRF is a partnership between The Clatterbridge Cancer Centre (CCC), Liverpool University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (LUHFT) and Liverpool Heart and Chest NHS Foundation Trust (LHCH). It is designed to heighten the level of clinical research conducted in the city.

The Liverpool CRF Biobank will be a centralised repository storing samples donated by patients at all three sites that can be used to help inform future research. CCC was chosen as the site for it as the Trust already has a Human Tissue Authority licence as well as having the required experience and infrastructure in place through its own CCC Biobank, pictured.

A biobank is a vital component in modern medical research and is used in areas such as disease modelling, genetics and personalised medicine. The CCC Biobank collects samples of tissue, blood, urine and other biological samples from its patients and healthy volunteers, which researchers use in clinical trials and other studies.

Dr Gillian Heap, Director of Research and Innovation Operations at Clatterbridge, said: “The NIHR Liverpool CRF is a unique collaboration and will enable a step-change in integrated research within Liverpool for patient benefit.

“The CRF Biobank, housed at Clatterbridge Cancer Centre – Liverpool, will be a centralised biorepository for samples that can be used for future research and linked to clinical data, which will be a powerful research tool, enhancing research delivery for the CRF and optimising the participation of patients and volunteers taking part in studies.

“Research within the CRF is expanding and the biobank is integral to this. We hope it will become a very valuable resource for researchers across the city and beyond.”

Director of the NIHR Liverpool Clinical Research Facility and a Consultant Physician, Dr Richard Fitzgerald, said: “Collaboration is key to enabling us to continue to deliver high quality research both at the Liverpool Clinical Research Facility and the wider region.

“Therefore, we are delighted to build on the collaboration we have so far with The Clatterbridge Cancer Centre and Liverpool Heart and Chest Hospital, to streamline services and processes by introducing the Liverpool CRF Biobank.

“Having the CRF Biobank based next door to the unit at The Clatterbridge Cancer Centre will allow us to capture data quickly, ensuring processes are efficient and we are able to make the most of the time patients and participants spend on the unit.”

Jenny Crooks, Deputy Director of Research and Innovation at Liverpool Heart and Chest Hospital, said: “We are delighted at the news that the biobank facilities at The Clatterbridge Cancer Centre will now be available to use as part of our ongoing collaboration with the Liverpool CRF.

“This will inform future research and be a fundamental tool in expediting research by having samples and healthcare data ready to use, addressing key research questions around health and disease.

“It’s another example of how we can improve better outcomes for our patient population through collaboration.”