Our biobank

About our biobank

The Breast Cancer Now Biobank gives scientists access to the tissue, cells, and blood samples they need to perform world-class research.

By collecting samples from people affected by breast cancer and making them available to researchers, our biobank accelerates progress toward faster diagnosis and better treatments.

When we asked leading scientists about the greatest challenges faced in breast cancer research, they told us that a lack of access to high-quality tissue to study the disease was a major problem. Determined to solve this, we opened the Breast Cancer Now Biobank in 2012.  

Now, the biobank allows scientists worldwide to study breast tissue samples, breast cells and blood from patients to understand how breast cancer acts, grows and spreads. 

Since it was established over 10 years ago, our biobank has allocated over 12,000 samples to research projects. And we’re already seeing the impact.

How does the biobank work

We have 4 dedicated Biobank Centres, licensed by the Human Tissue Authority, who routinely collect, process and store samples from people with breast cancer and those without the disease. Our Biobank Centres are based in London, Aberdeen, Sheffield and Wales.

Scientists from across the globe can apply to access samples from the Breast Cancer Now Biobank for their research. Each sample is linked to anonymised data specifying tumour type and grade, any treatment the patient received, and in some cases, the course of the disease.

All applications are assessed by our Access Committee. It helps to ensure that every sample contributes to research which will advance our knowledge of the disease.

The Breast Cancer Now Biobank is generously supported by funding from Asda Tickled Pink and the Garfield Weston Foundation. We would also like to acknowledge the past support of Walk the Walk, a founding partner of the biobank alongside Asda Tickled Pink.