Database Use In Cancer Research
The fight against cancer continues. Much of the research involves experimenting with tissue samples of specific malignancies, and very often these samples can involve long waits.
In recent times the cancer research fraternity has put together a systematized methodology to significantly increase the immediate availability of these samples.
When a malignant tumor is removed for biopsy, part of it, with the patient’s consent, is sent to a central tissue repository and its characteristics cataloged in a database. Such repositories have come to be called “biobanks.” One such biobank is at the Westmead Millennium Institute in Australia (there are other biobanks the world over).
The biobank database also tracks when samples enter and leave the repository, as well as the source or destination of their movement.
Using the database, researchers can locate samples almost instantaneously online and put in requests for them. Imagine how long this would take if the biobanks only used paper for keeping track of their tissue inventories!
To learn more about how we can develop a database for you, go here.
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