Siric > Platforms > Biological Ressources

Biological resources are valuable tools for researchers to study the molecular and genetic characteristics of tumours. Supporting and facilitating access to biological resources is at the heart of the Montpellier SIRIC strategy that aims to increase the cancer research capacity and contribute significantly to the development of personalised medicine.

Biological Resources Centres (BRCs)

Location ICM and CHU

Description (expertise, activity and resources)

CHU Montpellier - Dr Sylvain Lehmann

The BRC of the University Hospital of Montpellier is a platform of human biological resources management that is positioned at the interface between research and health care. The general purpose is to organize and unite the biological collections of the University Hospital of Montpellier, pooling tools and skills for the management, processing, preservation and provision of resources. All of its activities are carried out for the benefit of academic and / or industrial research.

Since its creation in 2006, the BRC is structured around seven distinct thematics that can make available tissues (frozen, fresh, paraffin …), biological fluids and cells, but also derivatives such as DNA, RNA. Two clinical themes are emblematic among BRC collections: oncology (cerebral tumours, lung cancer, hematology) and neurological degenerative disease (dementia).

The BRC is certified under the NFS quality norm 96-900 since June 2015.

ICM – Dr Jean-Pierre Bleuse

The oncology BRC at ICM allows direct access to specific biological materials from clinically-well defined cohorts of cancer patients, for an efficient link between bioresources and associated clinical data. The BRC is made up of two cryopreservation units:

• A tissue bank for the management of tumour and no tumour tissue samples (approximately 65% and 20% of the collection are breast and gastrointestinal tumours, respectively) and derived products (DNA, RNA, tissue chips) (Dr MC. Chateau).
• A biobank for the conservation of blood products (serum, plasma, constitutional DNA) as well as other biological fluids (urine, drain liquids …)

The BRC is certified under the NFS quality norm 96-900 since 2014.

The BRC is involved in ancillary studies associated to European and national clinical trials: e.g. i) REQUITE   programme aimed at validating predictive models and biomarkers of radiotherapy toxicity in breast cancer, ii) NIPOX programme whose purpose is an improvement intraperitoneal carcinomatosis management. The BRC works in close collaboration with the ICM Translational Research Unit and other academic groups. In addition, BRC has industrial partnerships for biomarker discovery and implements collections with special specimens (e.g. ascites).

 

Colon-LR Collection

Under the research program dedicated to colorectal cancer, the Montpellier SIRIC coordinates a regional network for the collection of pre-neoplastic and neoplastic colonic tissue. The constitution of the Colon-LR clinico-biological base aims to facilitate access to colonic tissue samples associated with clinical, biological and epidemiological data for the scientific and medical community. The target is to accelerate the development of preclinical and translational projects that will ultimately lead to a better understanding of colonic tumorigenesis and metastasis dissemination mechanisms.

How to get samples?

The BCB Colon-LR data and biological material transfer occurs after validation of a research project by the Coordinating Committee of the Colorectal Cancer Program of the SIRIC and the scientific committees of the Biological Resource Centres at the ICM or the University Hospital in Montpellier.

 

More information: karine.saget@icm.unicancer.fr