Welcome to Update 2 from the Biological Studies Committee.

New method of payments for samples banked in the UKCCSG tumour bank

As mentioned in Update 1, the method of funding tumour banking will be changing and, with effect from 6 th July, a prospective payment will be made to each Centre based on the number of tumours they bank. Initially the sums will be calculated on banking tumour from 60% of all cases registered with the UKCCSG. The lump sum payment will be reviewed towards the end of the year and discussed with individual Centres. We will be writing to individual Centres to confirm the detail and manner of payment they can expect.

Biological Studies Group Membership

We are pleased to welcome Gail Jenner to the Biological Studies Group as a Research Nurse representative. Leukaemia representatives are currently being finalised.

We are still looking for a Junior Scientist to join the Biological Studies Working Group and two c.v.s have recently been circulated. Could you please bring this opportunity to the wider attention of your group as we would like to fill this vacancy.

New Agents/Biological Studies Collaboration

As set out in the Scientific Report, we are very keen to promote and expand the interaction between new agents and biological studies. A good example of this is the forthcoming Tarceva trial in brain stem glioma.

UKCCSG Website

The UKCCSG website is currently being redesigned and the new site should be going live very soon. Biological Studies will now been on the site for Health Professionals and will include a page for parents.

Tissue Registration Update

To date there are now 1345 specimens registered with appropriate consent in place (either archival or with a copy of the consent form in the Data Centre). We now have ethical approval for the use of archived studies from 12 Centres. Could those Centres that have not yet got approval please pursue this? Please contact Richard Grundy if you need more information or wish to discuss.

Diary Dates

Dates are currently being circulated for a Conference Call to take place before the next Committee Meeting. The precise date will be confirmed in due course.

Wednesday, 14 th July 2004
a.m. – Biological Studies Committee Meeting
p.m. – Division of Therapeutics Meeting
Both of the above meetings to be held at CR UK, Albany House, London

Thursday 2 ^nd – Friday 3 ^rd December 2004 - UKCCSG Scientific Meeting
To be held at the Royal Marsden Education & Conference Centre, Fulham Road, London

NEXT EDITION ...

According to the dates published in Update 1, this issue was planned to be a main Newsletter. However, as Update 1 was quite substantial, the order has changed as follows:-

If you have any items that you would like to include in the next Update, please send them to Sue Thornton by 23^rd June (st22@le.ac.uk).

Chair Biological Studies Committee

Dr Richard Grundy
Birmingham Children’s Hospital
Tel: 0121 333 8243
Fax: 0121 333 8241
e-mail: richard.grundy@nottingham.ac.uk