KHCCBIO

Supporting the Establishment of a Cancer Biobank for Jordan and its Neighbouring Countries Through Knowledge Transfer & Training

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 Obiettivo del progetto (Objective)

'The King Hussein Cancer Center (KHCC) in Jordan, a highly accredited hospital, treats over 3,500 new adult and paediatric cancer patients annually from Jordan and its neighbouring countries. KHCC wishes to maintain its pioneering position in cancer detection and treatment and plans to establish a state-of-the-art biospecimen repository to store and archive tissue samples for use in cancer research with the support and experience of experts in biobanking and quality management from Trinity College Dublin and two European SMEs. The KHCCBIO bank will collect, process, extract, store high-quality, clinically annotated biospecimens from consented patients and distribute them to researchers worldwide. It will be established using current international guidelines, best practices and will incorporate the highest level of Quality Management System (QMS) based on ISO standards & the EU’s Tissue & Cells Directives. European partners will deliver training and support to KHCC and provide a proven solution, based on existing licensed technology & know-how. Instruction and training will be given in FP7 project management, implementation of Quality Management Systems, genetics of thoracic cancer, creation of a Europe-wide lung cancer biobank (EUELC), standard operating procedures for the procurement, processing, storage and distribution of human tissues & cells, expert guidance in ethics, data protection & confidentiality, computer systems implementation & validation and an introduction to an international network of oncology specialists to interact with and share knowledge with. Today, the vast majority of the millions of biospecimens in collections around the world are not suitable for making the type of direct comparisons that modern cancer biology research demands. The KHCCBIO bank will help change all that and provide a bank of biospecimens, from a diverse ethnic Middle Eastern population that will be a valuable resource in our arsenal and the battle against cancer.'

Descrizione progetto (Article)

Treating cancer patients from both Jordan and neighbouring countries, the KHCC is striving to maintain its leading position in cancer therapy in the Middle East, and remain at the forefront of cancer detection and treatment. A primary approach to this goal is the support of knowledge transfer and training.

The KHCC has established the first International Organization for Standardization (ISO)-accredited cancer biobank for collecting, processing, storing and archiving cancer biospecimens. Key KHCCBIO project achievements included the development of an exploitation and dissemination plan.

There is a project website, and press releases, a newsletter and fact sheets have been produced and published, as have newspaper, magazine and scientific journal articles. Radio and TV interviews related to the project and the Centre's activities have also contributed to dissemination efforts. Fifteen high-profile conferences have been held across Europe and in Africa and Jordan.

For quality measures, the KHCCBIO Quality Policy Manual, a Validation Master Plan and documents for ISO certification requirements were all finalised. As with all project documents, they have been approved by the KHCCBIO Chief Quality Officer.

A task force has also been set up to develop policies on ethics, data privacy, confidentiality, sample ownership and by-laws for the biobank. Training courses on consent for tissue banking and preservation, ISO quality management, data privacy standards, equipment and systems infrastructure qualification, tissue storage and distribution standards were held at centres of excellence in Ireland.

Ongoing KHCCBIO work will further develop the KHCC's research infrastructure, increasing its scope and visibility. Project efforts have and will continue to help develop and enhance partnerships between organisations in Europe and the Middle East, as well as build competency for participation in future EU-funded projects.

Initially named Al-Amal Center, meaning 'the centre of hope', this world-class institution was renamed after King Hussein who died of cancer. The KHCC is a free-standing, independent, non-governmental, non-profit organisation established by a royal decree to combat cancer in Jordan and the Middle East region. KHCCBIO outcomes will continue to boost cancer research and treatment potential in the region due to the Centre's expansion.