The Liverpool University Biobank (LUB) is a multi-discipline research tissue bank that aims to support researchers turn samples into advances in healthcare.

Based in the William Henry Duncan Building, in heart of the city’s Knowledge Quarter, the facility was set up to consolidate the existing collections held within the university and collaborating institutions.

It offers a wide range of biobanking services including sample storage and processing, provision of samples, and sample collection services to facilitate research projects.

A hub for research development, the LUB’s core services include:

• Issuing samples: Quality samples and clinical information is available to researchers with conferred biobank ethics.
• Collecting samples: Staff can arrange for bespoke sample collection for researchers within the biobank ethics.
• Storing samples: Sample storage is available for researchers with their own ethical approval.
• Adopting samples: The biobank can adopt collections from researchers when project specific ethical approval has expired.

The fully licenced biobank features 37 freezers, a large FFPE and slide storage room and 24/7 environmental monitoring for samples.

The biobank has acquired samples from more than 14,000 patients for studies in disease areas including breast, colorectal, pancreas, ocular, head and neck and stomach cancer as well as bone and soft tissue sarcoma and cardiovascular disease.

The team is headed up by Professor Keith Hunter, Academic Lead, and Dr Neil French, Head of Clinical Operations. Dr Victoria Shaw is the Head of Biobanking and GCP Laboratories Oversight, Sue Holden, the Biobank Manger and Dr Frances Greaney-Davies, the Scientific Lead.

Dr French said the aim is to transform the way research is done in Liverpool by providing a hub for science driven data.

He added: “The biobank has a proud history of helping drive transformative research in Liverpool in collaboration with our NHS Trusts. In the past we have worked successfully with researchers from Liverpool University Hospitals Foundation Trust, Liverpool Heart and Chest Hospital, Alder Hey and Liverpool Women’s Hospital. We are keen to nurture further relationships.

“This is a vital facility that can help aid advances in healthcare and we are keen to work closely with our research partners in the city’s hospitals to help new discoveries that will lead to improvements in treatment.

“New researchers are also encouraged to approach us about our services and tissue sample bank. We want to develop our offering as a hub of development.”

As well as having a large collection of tissue samples available to researchers and offering storage facilities for new samples, there are also histology services on offer including tissue processing, FFPE embedding, frozen tissue sectioning, slide scanning and tissue microarray construction (using material sourced either through the biobank, or provided by the researcher).

The staff can also offer services supported by the recently upgraded Achiever Medical LIMS software tool. There is a LIMS Manager and Developer in post to support development and there are plans in place to roll out support to the wider Faculty of Health and Life Sciences community to support sample collection and reporting.

If you want to find out more about Liverpool University Biobank contact: Victoria Shaw Victoria.shaw@liverpool.ac.uk 0151 7958044.