In-depth with BC²
Giving donors a look inside the biobank's commitment to transforming samples into impactful cancer research
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How Can I Get More Involved with the BC² Biobank?
The Future at the BC² Biobank
Medical research is constantly evolving. As new technologies develop, researchers are able to generate more interesting data that can then be used to guide progress towards breakthrough discoveries.
This means that the BC² must also continue to evolve in order to fulfill its aims. While storing donor samples and making them available to researchers will always be helpful, recent trends in research show that BC² could also take other steps to aid researchers both within Indiana and nation-wide.
Currently, the BC² Biobank is hoping to expand its research budget so that it can accommodate the future needs of cancer researchers. With an expanded budget, the biobank would conduct more genetic tests on samples which would allow researchers to investigate the link between genetics and a person’s risk for developing certain cancers. Understanding the genetics of cancer also can help develop more targeted and effective treatments.
The biobank also hopes to eventually utilize artificial intelligence tools that will be able to recognize various patterns and data trends within donors’ samples. This would provide researchers with more in-depth data about the biobank’s samples.
Establishing a Community Advisory Board
In order to better incorporate the perspectives and thoughts of BC² donors, the biobank is considering establishing a community advisory board. A community advisory board is a group of donors who will meet regularly with the BC² leadership team and offer their feedback on various topics related to the biobank. These topics could include research projects using BC² samples, donor outreach and engagement, and policy changes.
Community Scientist Program
The BC² Biobank is also considering establishing a community scientist program for its donors. The goal of the community scientist program is to establish a bridge between members of the BC² donor community and the scientists that conduct research using BC² samples. This will allow the BC² community to offer feedback specifically to researchers who are utilizing BC² samples.
The community scientist program will recruit members from the BC² donor community. These donors will receive training to learn more about medical research, the BC² biobank, and the Simon Cancer Center. After receiving this training, the donors will attend quarterly meetings where a researcher will describe their projects to them. During these meetings, donors will be given time to offer critiques, suggestions, and overall feedback to the researcher. The hope is that the researcher will be able to incorporate this donor-driven feedback into their project which will help ensure that their research is meaningful and impactful to the BC² and cancer community.