What is the history of tumour banking in Canada?
The genesis of tumour banking in Canada emerged from workshops such as the NCIC Terry Fox sponsored workshop in 1991 (on Molecular Biology – Impact on Cancer Etiological and Therapeutic Research). These were followed by the launch of a molecular epidemiology and correlative studies’ program by the NCIC to support Tumour Banks. This led to the establishment of 5 NCIC funded Tumour Banks including the Manitoba Breast Tumour Bank (1993), the Toronto-London Soft Tissue Sarcoma Bank (1993), the London Brain Tumour Bank (1994) and the Montreal Lung Tumour Bank (1994), and the NCIC-CTG breast Tumour bank (1995). However this special NCIC program was rolled into the operating grants program and review system. Issues soon arose with respect to the needs of other priorities of the NCIC and lack of agreement around the appropriate mechanism for the review and criteria for ongoing support of Tumour Banks. This stimulated extensive discussions including a national workshop on Tumour Banks (Toronto,
