A study collecting and storing samples of cancers that are usually only found in children and young people (VIVO Biobank)
Cancer type:
Status:
Phase:
VIVO Biobank is a national UK biobank of samples from children and young people with cancer. The biobank stores samples of tissue, blood and 
. Researchers can ask to use these samples to do research into cancer and its treatment.
Cancer Research UK supports the VIVO Biobank.
More about this trial
Please note, we use the term ‘you’ in this summary, but of course if you are a parent of a child with cancer, we are referring to your child.
An important area of research is looking at samples donated by children and young people with cancer. To help this type of research, Cancer Research UK has set up a collection of these samples. It is called the VIVO Biobank, based in Newcastle. A committee approves the biobank’s activities to make sure it is run properly. This is called an ethics committee.
All children and young people with a diagnosis of cancer can contribute to the VIVO Biobank if they want to. Your doctor or nurse will talk to you about VIVO Biobank and explain more about it. Your doctor will take samples when you have samples taken for routine care. Or they use leftover tissue after any tests you have.
The aim of the VIVO Biobank is to provide samples to researchers. This will help them understand more about cancer and its treatment.
You will not get any direct benefit from giving to this biobank. The samples will be used to help people in the future.
Who can enter
The following bullet points are a summary of the entry conditions to store samples at the VIVO Biobank. Talk to your doctor or the research team if you are unsure about any of these. They will be able to advise you.
Who can take part
You may be able to have your samples stored at the VIVO Biobank if all of the following apply. You:
- are a child or young person with cancer
- live in the United Kingdom or Ireland
- give consent to have the VIVO Biobank store your samples for research
Trial design
You may have samples taken as part of your diagnosis and treatment. These can be blood samples, tissue samples () or a . Your doctors or nurses may ask your permission for a small sample of this to store in the VIVO Biobank. The sample they take will be about the size of a grape, or about a teaspoonful of blood or bone marrow. It is unlikely that you will need to have any extra procedures done to provide a tissue sample or a bone marrow sample. Your healthcare team will always try to use any extra tissue or bone marrow taken during your treatment.
may be separated from your blood samples and stored for research purposes. This may include genetic testing to see what type of cancer you have. These results will not be sent to you or your medical team.
The VIVO Biobank will also collect information from your medical notes. This will be about your diagnosis, treatment and how you are getting on. This can help research into which treatments work on different types of cancer. They will treat all this information anonymously, so no one will be able to link it or your samples to you.
How can researchers use the VIVO Biobank samples?
A researcher can ask for permission from a committee to use samples from this tissue bank. The committee includes experts such as scientists and doctors. Patients and their families are also included in the committee. This committee makes sure that it is good and ethical research. And the samples are used in the best possible way. Researchers may also ask for information from your medical records. All samples and information have a special number attached. So the researchers cannot identify you.
Hospital visits
You should not have to make any extra hospital visits if you take part.
Side effects
There are no side effects if you decide to donate your samples to the VIVO Biobank.
Location
Recruitment start:
Recruitment end:
How to join a clinical trial
Please note: In order to join a trial you will need to discuss it with your doctor, unless otherwise specified.
Chief Investigator
Professor Deborah Tweddle
Supported by
Cancer Research UK
Blood Cancer UK
Other information
For more information please see our website https://vivobiobank.org/.
If you have questions about the trial please contact our cancer information nurses
Freephone 0808 800 4040
