- Largest National Tumour Repository: The Tumour Tissue Data Repository is Canada’s largest cancer clinical trials tumour bank.
- Advanced Molecular Technologies: Digital pathology, genomics, and AI enhance how researchers analyze cancer at the molecular level.
- Stronger Institutional Collaboration: Co-location at Kingston Health Sciences Centre deepens research ties with Queen’s University and national partners.
Decades of cancer research—and thousands of patient tumour samples—now have a new home at Kingston Health Sciences Centre (KHSC). This state-of-the-art space is set to transform how researchers study cancer and translate discoveries into improved patient care.
Part of the Canadian Cancer Trials Group (CCTG), the Tumour Tissue Data Repository (TTDR) houses tissue samples collected through cancer clinical trials conducted worldwide, including those at KHSC. These samples enable scientists to better understand how cancers evolve and respond to treatment—insights that can guide more personalized therapies in the future.
“The underlying question we look to answer is why certain cancers respond the way they do,” says Dr. Lois Shepherd, CCTG Senior Investigator and Professor in the Queen’s Department of Pathology and Molecular Medicine. “This biospecimen repository provides extraordinary long-term data that helps us better understand cancer as a disease.”
Operating since 1997, the TTDR represents nearly 30 years of research and stands as the largest cancer clinical trials tumour bank in Canada. Previously distributed across multiple locations at KHSC and Queen’s University, the TTDR and Queen’s Laboratory for Molecular Pathology (QLMP) are now co-located at KHSC, creating a centralized hub that bridges laboratory discoveries and patient care.
Visualizing the Fight Against Cancer
The new facility integrates advanced digital pathology tools and specialized freezer storage, bringing together tissue banking and molecular pathology teams to strengthen day-to-day research impact.
“The new facility combines tremendous technological capabilities and scientific expertise that enables our researchers to visualize the fight against cancer at molecular scale,” says Dr. David Berman, Head of the Department of Pathology & Molecular Medicine.
QLMP processes and analyzes samples using cutting-edge technologies, including computerized image analysis, genomics, and artificial intelligence. It also leads tissue and genomic analysis for hundreds of KHSC patients participating in the Terry Fox Marathon of Hope Cancer Centre Network, a national initiative applying advanced genomic tools to improve cancer treatment.
“A sample given at one point could mean changes in treatment well down the road,” says Shakeel Virk, Manager of the TTDR and Director of Operations for QLMP. “It maximizes a patient’s contribution and creates extraordinary long-term value for cancer research. We are custodians of samples donated by patients from across the world and it is critical that we use these samples responsibly to help improve how patients are treated in the future.”
Expanding Opportunities Through Collaboration
The project reflects the long-standing and expanding partnership between KHSC and Queen’s University. By aligning health care, research, and innovation across shared spaces, the new facility enhances accessibility for investigators at the hospital, the university, and across the broader research community.
“This project demonstrates the continually expanding collaboration between KHSC and Queen’s,” says Dr. Steve Smith, President and CEO of the KHSC Research Institute and Deputy Vice-Principal Research at Queen’s. “Kingston stands out nationally as home to the largest research tumour bank in Canada and to some of the most talented researchers in the world focused on improving the lives of patients with cancer.”
The initiative was supported by numerous partners, including the Canadian Cancer Trials Group, Queen’s University, KHSC, the KHSC Research Institute, the Department of Pathology and Molecular Medicine, and the Canada Foundation for Innovation.
Building the Future of Cancer Research
For clinician-scientists like Dr. Annette Hay of the Canadian Cancer Trials Group and KHSC, the new facility represents years of planning and collaboration. With one in two Canadians expected to be diagnosed with cancer in their lifetime, the need for innovative research remains urgent.
“The beautiful new facility is the result of years of work,” says Dr. Hay. “There is still much work to be done, but this dedicated space enables expansion of internationally renowned research for many years to come.”
By consolidating decades of biospecimens, advanced technologies, and scientific expertise under one roof, KHSC’s new tumour bank positions Kingston as a national leader in cancer research—turning patient-donated samples into discoveries that could redefine cancer treatment in the years ahead.
About the Author
Biobanking.com delivers valuable news and information on biobanking, biorepositories, cryopreservation, and biosample/biospecimen management, while connects buyers with top vendors globally.
