Banking on the future of oesophageal cancer research

The oesophagus is the tube that connects your mouth to your stomach, and Barrett’s oesophagus is where the cells in that tube show signs that they may develop into cancer cells in the future.

Patients who have Barrett’s come in for checks and endoscopies, where the doctor takes a small sample or biopsy of those cells to examine them. The idea of a biobank is to store tissue from biopsies and blood samples and other useful clinical data – all with the patient’s consent – so they can be used for future research.I see which patients with Barrett’s might be suitable for research, then when one comes in I make sure with the nurses and doctors that it is okay to talk to the patient.

We have minus-80-degree freezers for this, and I have to be careful to avoid freezer burn when putting samples in or taking them out! I also work with researchers who could be interested in using the samples for their approved projects.No, that is one of the great things about biobanking – because the patients have consented, we don’t need to contact them again, they don’t need to think about it.

The patients are often just very happy to be able to give something back for research, but it is all voluntary and if a patient does not want to consent that’s okay too. We also try to tailor it to make the patient feel comfortable, so, for example, if the patient has a fear of needles then we wouldn’t ask for a blood sample. It’s very patient-focused, which I like.My dad is a medical doctor.

. Then I went to London to study translational medicine, which looks at lab findings that can be applied in the clinic. I loved that “wet lab” work, looking at biochemical pathways.

Superstar marinazaki91 🥇👏

claireoconnell This research bank is vital in the early detection of oesophageal cancer. Great insight claireoconnell OesophagealCF Thank You

My dad had Barrett's Esophagus and died of esophageal cancer...this hits close to home...thank you😌

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