City St George's Infection and Immunity Biobank

• Research type

  Research Tissue Bank

• IRAS ID

  361008

• Research summary

  City St George's Infection and Immunity Biobank

• REC name

  Wales REC 3

• REC reference

  26/WA/0043

• Date of REC Opinion

  15 May 2026

• REC opinion

  Further Information Favourable Opinion

• Data collection arrangements

  The biobank will store a range of biological samples, including blood, saliva, and , alongside associated demographic and health-related data collected from participants and relevant clinical records. All samples and data will be stored in secure, access-controlled facilities that comply with UK GDPR, HTA standards, and institutional governance requirements. Data will be pseudonymised prior to storage using unique study identifiers, with identifiable information held separately by authorised personnel only. Participants will be recruited through approved clinical pathways or research settings and will receive a clear Participant Information Sheet explaining the purpose of the biobank, the types of samples and data collected, potential future research uses, storage duration, and their rights, including withdrawal. Written informed consent will be obtained before any sample or data collection, with options to consent to broad future research use, linkage to health records, and recontact where applicable. Consent will be documented in secure electronic systems and regularly reviewed. Samples and data will be stored long-term to support ethically approved future research, with all access requests subject to independent review by the Biobank Access Committee. Participants may withdraw at any time, after which no further data or samples will be used, and stored materials will be destroyed where feasible.

• Research programme

  The biobank will support a broad research community across the UK, enabling ethically approved studies in biomedical, clinical, and population health research. It will provide high-quality, well-annotated tissue samples and associated anonymised data to researchers. The resource will particularly facilitate research in infection, immunity, vaccinology, but may also support wider multidisciplinary projects where access to human tissue is essential. External academic collaborators and NHS partners may apply for access through the Biobank Committee, which reviews scientific merit, feasibility, and compliance with governance standards. By providing a centralised and well-regulated repository, the biobank will foster collaboration, reduce duplication of sample collection, and accelerate research that may directly benefit patient care.

• Storage license

  12335

• RTBTitle

  City St George's Infection and Immunity Biobank

• Establishment organisation

  City St George's, University of London

• Establishment organisation address

  Cranmer Terrace

  London

  SW17 0RE