Specimen Repository

One of the many aspects that make the John Wayne Cancer Institute distinctive and attractive to potential fellows and researchers is our historical database, a computerized information system begun in 1971 by Dr. Donald Morton. Human specimens are critical for the clinical development of important research discoveries. JWCI has received funding from the National Cancer Institute to make specimens collected for its cancer research available to other researchers. This database, which is updated regularly, contains the demographic data, diagnosis, treatment, and follow-up information of more than 13,000 patients seen by Institute staff over the last 30 years. Additionally, JWCI has an immunotherapy database, containing more than 2,550 records, which tracks the status of patients entered into trials of the therapeutic cancer vaccine developed at JWCI.

Finally, the Institute’s extensive cryopreserved specimen bank contains well over one million vials of serum, in addition to many thousands of vials of lymphocytes, cancer tissue, and normal tissue. The specimen bank and clinical databases are used in tandem for prospective and retrospective studies of prognosis, recurrence, and tumor biology.

Approximately 10,000 serum and lymphocyte specimens, mostly from melanoma patients, are available. Specialty software has been designed to match researcher requests to JWCI Specimen Repository. All specimens have been coded to preserve donor confidentiality.


Application Process

Access to the JWCI Specimen Repository is provided to investigators who submit:

• A Research Proposal detailing the proposed use of the specimens and justification for sample size
• A signed Specimen Request Agreement
• A completed Specimen Repository Application
• A copy of the investigator's local Institutional Review Board (IRB) Approval for the research proposal

Review Process

Specimen applications are reviewed by a Coordinating Committee. JWCI seeks to provide specimens to the widest group of investigators. Because of limited quantities, requests for specimen amounts that would exhaust the Repository supply will not be honored. Specimens are provided for research purposes only. Specimens and their products shall not be sold (or distributed free of charge) to third parties.

Contact Information

Toni Gray
John Wayne Cancer Institute at Saint John's Health Center
2200 Santa Monica Blvd.
Santa Monica, CA 90404
grayt@jwci.org