QUAlity biobank iNvesTigating Urological Malignancies (QUANTUM)

The QUANTUM Biobank supports research into urological cancers by making surgical specimens (tissue), blood, urine and metastatic samples available for application by the research and clinical community.

The Biobank will support research applications for both prospectively collected and archival tissue samples. Prospective collections will focus on the targeted sampling of tissue, fresh blood, blood derivatives and urine from patients presenting one of four distinct urological malignancies; prostate, urothelial, kidney, testicular + penile (each referred to as a QUANTUM ‘module’ from here on). Archival samples will also be established and made available for application as the biobank matures, although for prostate modules there are already a huge library of stored samples available from the ProMPT Study, legacy collection (see FAQs for further detail).

Each module will be supported by clinical and bio-banking expertise so that high quality, well annotated research samples and data can be made available.  

The QUANTUM Biobank team based at the University of Oxford encourage researchers from around the world to apply to access these samples. We aim to make samples available to researchers (including commercial collaborators) whose goal is a better understanding of the disease pathogenesis of urological malignancies by identifying and monitoring these diseases, whilst developing new ways to diagnose, prevent, treat and cure urological cancers to improve the use of existing treatments and to develop new treatments for these conditions.

For more specific details on who should apply, how to apply and other useful information for researchers, please click on the related links below.