IIT-M sets up cancer tissue biobank

The facility will help in carrying out diagnostic tests, creating genetic markers as well as in early detection and prevention. In a move that will eventually lead to creation of targeted drugs for the treatment of cancer, IIT-Madras on Tuesday announced the setting up of a National Cancer Tissue Biobank. Addressing presspersons here on Tuesday, IIT-M director Bhaskar Ramamurthy said the biobank would also help in carrying out diagnostic tests, creating genetic markers, and early detection and prevention of cancer.

Oncologist C. S. Mani said after the cancer genome atlas, which identified mutated genes, there was a need to look at other modifying agents. “It is necessary to create community data,” he said. Oncologist S. G. Ramanan said the tissues were being collected after due consent was received from the patients. However, many patients were apprehensive about research being conducted on their tissues. “We have also obtained the clearance of the ethics committee and confidentiality of patients will be maintained,” he said. S. Mahalingam of the department of biotechnology said the biobank was already functioning.

“The institute will be involved in training, education and research of next-generation biobanking process and once the system and process are standardised, they will be duplicated at nodal stations in peripheral areas,” he said. The biobank will soon be housed in a new building. The department of science and technology has provided Rs 27.81 crore towards the biobank and IIT-M Rs. 3.9 crore, as complementary funding. The biobank will have infrastructure to accommodate 25,000 cancer tissue samples. A super-resolution imaging system, cell sorting facility and sequencing facilities will also be housed in the biobank. The tissues are stored in liquid nitrogen that is maintained at minus 190 degree centigrade. For this, IIT-M has its own liquid nitrogen plant.

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