National Health System Support Services
Tumour Bank
Contrats Of Relation With Associated Centres
The contractual relationship with the Associated Centres is a fundamental to the successful operation of the TBN. This relationship must pursue broader goals than the mere provision of tissue. The TBN is key to the promotion of cancer research and serves as a vehicle of cooperation between groups of researchers.
The mutual provision of services will be developed gradually with a broad group of Hospitals drawn from the entire country. Details surrounding contracts with each Centre will be worked out on an individual basis and will be open to periodic revision.
In order for a Hospital Tumour Bank to collaborate with the Tumour Bank Network it must fulfil the following criteria:
- To be accepted as an activity of the entire Hospital, with the essential collaboration of the Hospital Management of the Hospital and of, at least, the Oncology and Pathology Departments.
- To guarantee that the procedural manual of the Network is respected.
- To be able to count on adequate material resources for the correct handling and preservation of the tissue, according to the protocol attached to this document, and with special emphasis placed upon the provision of -80ºC chest freezers with the appropriate security measures.
- A technician working for the Tumour Bank, in charge of the specific activities related to the Bank. In large centres, the appointed technician would work full time for the tumour bank.
- A part-time medical specialist in Pathology.
- Adaptation of the infrastructure and premises provided for these purposes, including computing resources for the functions of maintaining the database and the exchange of data through a specific server and RDSI telephone line.
- The existence of protocols from the surgical area that facilitate the rapid mobilisation of surgical specimens from the surgeons to the Pathology Services.
Acceptance of the coordinating role of the Central Office of the Network, including the facilitation of the development of periodic quality controls.
The CNIO will provide the specially designed software to the Hospital Tumour Banks that fulfil the above conditions.
Other activities to be conducted by the CNIO include:
Provision of services
When required by the Associated Centres the Molecular Pathology Programme of the CNIO will carry out certain services in support of the clinical diagnostic activity through the determination of immunohistochemical or molecular parameters of proven diagnostic and/or prognostic value that are unavailable in the Services and Clinical Units of the Associated Centres. The CNIO will develop various services for each centre, which must be updated periodically.
Specific training for technicians in charge of Tumour Banks
Specific training activities of the CNIO
Professionals of the Services and Clinical Units involved in the collaboration between the CNIO and the Associated Centres enjoy prioritised access to the training activities developed by the Centre, which may include the following:
- Continuos training of researchers through attending seminars, sessions and other open activities organised by the CNIO.
- Training of pre- and post-doctoral researchers, encouraging them to extend their studies within the CNIO, and participate in one of its own research lines.
- Complementary training in Molecular Pathology of medical doctors undergoing specialist training (MIR) of the Pathology Departments of the associated centres and other cancer-related specialities.
- Complementary training of technicians belonging to the Associated Hospitals in the areas of molecular biology, cytogenetics, etc.
Technology Access
Professionals of the Services and Clinical Units involved in the dynamics of collaboration between the CNIO and the Associated Centres will have prioritised access to the use of the various technologies available at the Molecular Pathology Programme.
Other activities of a general technological and scientific nature.
Other activities of a general technological and scientific nature.The number of agreements with Associated Centres and the degree of collaboration will be subject to: 1) the availability and funding of the necessary economic resources to guarantee the maintenance and stability of these activities, and 2) the actual availability/capacity of the Molecular Pathology Programme to carry them out.
