These frequently asked questions and corresponding answers are here to answer some of your questions. If you have come to this section, you are probably in need of some answers. Hopefully your question will be listed here. From time to time we will add more questions and answers to further help out our members. If you do not see your answers here or wish for more clarification on others, please feel free to contact our CVBTB coordinator, as he will be more than happy to answer any of your questions.

1. I would like to get in touch with one of the nodal banks. How can I reach them?

Unfortunately, at this time, we have not included a contact list for all of our nodal banks. In the interim, you can contact the CVBTB Coordinator who will be more than happy to provide you with contact information for a particular nodal bank.

2. I have built my query and sent in my request for some samples. What happens next?

Upon receiving your request, the CVBTB Coordinator will bring your request to the CVBTB Committee who will then look over the request for approval. Upon approval, the CVBTB Coordinator will then get in touch the corresponding nodal bank and as well with the person who has made the request. The Coordinator’s role is more of a facilitator who lets the corresponding bank know of the request and who relays the nodal bank information to the requester.
          3. How accurate is the database? How often does it get updated?

The CVBTB is currently looking to update its database by obtaining updated nodal bank databases approximately every month.

4. Does the Canadian Virtual Brain Tumour Bank house samples of their own?

Technically, no the CVBTB does not house any samples. The CVBTB is a virtual bank whereby sample listings from various tumour banks across the country are linked together into one central core. The inner workings of the CVBTB occur at Toronto Western Hospital in Toronto, Ontario and Toronto Western Hospital has a bank of their own.

5. I have just applied to become a registered member of the CVBTB as I would like to view the holdings and request some samples. How long will it take to hear back from the CVBTB if I have been granted membership?

After submitting your registered membership form, the CVBTB Coordinator will bring up your membership request to the CVBTB committee, who will then grant approval after carefully going over the request. Upon approval, the CVBTB Coordinator will then contact you with a username and password.