Prof Peter Riegman talks to ecancer about bio-banks and their role in cancer research, as well as the development of the EurocanPlatform, at the European Forum on Oncology in Berlin, May 2012.

A bio-bank is a collection of biological material that can be used for research and contains an entire archive of material. These samples need to be kept for decades in order to be studied properly. The first use of these tissues is to diagnose a patient and then it is determined whether or not they can be used for research.

Prof Reigman has also been involved with the Eurocan Platform and discusses with Prof McVie how data and diagnostics from bio-banks can be shared across borders.