National Cancer Tissue Biobank (NCTB), a state-of-the-art non-profit community based tissue bank, is a joint initiative of Department of Science and Technology (DST), Government of India and Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IITM) in collaboration with Cancer Research and Relief Trust (CRRT). Biobank collects the cancer tissue samples with consent from patients diagnosed with cancer. Informat
ion about the previous medical history and treatment of the donors is also documented with tissue samples. Tissue samples collected following surgery is in excess of what is required for diagnosis and would otherwise be discarded. NCTB is first of its kind facility in India and aiming to provide researchers with high quality of cancer tissues and the patient data in order to facilitate cancer research that will lead to improvements in cancer diagnosis and treatment. A panel of scientists and doctors (Steering committee of the biobank) must approve that the project is scientifically worthwhile and ethics committee must approve the project before bio-specimens are provided to researchers. NCTB is located in the Department of Biotechnology, IITM which has a vibrant academic and technology ecosystem.
