Brain Tumour Biobank

A vital resource of patient-linked tumour samples, blood samples, health information, and genetic data

Electron microscope image of a spheroid group of live and dead cells coloured red and green

Brain Tumour Biobank

A vital resource of patient-linked tumour samples, blood samples, health information, and genetic data

Title: The Brain Tumour Biobank: Building world-class resources

Funded by: Brain Tumour Research

Dates: Ongoing

University of Plymouth PI:

Professor David Parkinson

University of Plymouth staff: Dr Claire Adams , Dr Emanuela Ercolano , Natalia Easton

Developed in close collaboration with clinicians and patients, the Brain Tumour Biobank offers researchers a vital resource of patient-linked tumour samples, blood samples, health information, and genetic data – enabling world-class research and accelerating the development of treatments that could transform lives.

From 2020–2025, we recruited approximately 500 patients into the Biobank; we are very grateful for the participation and support of the patients and their families. We also acknowledge the collaboration and assistance of clinical teams in both Derriford and Bristol Southmead Hospitals.

We have also invested in the development of improved models and assays to enhance the study of low-grade brain tumours and comparison to higher grade tumours, such as 3D low-grade tumour cell cultures, developing ex-vivo organotypic tumour tissue slices, patient-derived xenograft systems and high-throughput screening for biomarkers and candidate tumour targets.

Samples from the Biobank (most with matched blood samples) are available to researchers via an application process to the biobank operational committee. Please contact braintumourbank@plymouth.ac.uk for an informal discussion and potential sample availability.

The Plymouth Brain Tumour Biobank is an excellent example of a cross-organisational initiative supporting development of scientists and healthcare professionals in the South West. Research nurses, neurosurgeons, oncologists and pathologists collaborate with academics to advance the international, supportive research culture.

The Biobank has supported the success of both the University of Plymouth Brain Tumour Research Centre and the University Hospitals Plymouth prestigious Tessa Jowell Centre of Excellence status, leading to numerous new collaborations and leadership opportunities.

Dr Claire Adams
Brain Tumour Biobank manager

The development of the Brain Tumour Biobank has been key to much of the research that we do. We recognise the kindness of patients who donate their tumour tissue that helps drive our research.

Professor David Parkinson
Professor of Neuroscience and Director of BTRC

Brain Tumour Research Centre

The internationally renowned Brain Tumour Research Centre (BTRC) focuses on low-grade tumours and investigates new mechanisms underlying brain tumourigenesis, including tumour initiation.

We work truly from bedside to bench and back. We have a large biobank of stratified tumour samples and are using a variety of complementary tumour models. The BTRC encompasses research groups working closely together and complementing each other with both shared approaches and shared in vitro and in vivo models.

Find out more about research at the BTRC