The Ontario Tumour Bank is committed to ensuring that the collection of research biospecimens does not interfere with patient care and that the privacy and confidentiality of all volunteer donors are maintained. Informed consent for tissue collection and research use is obtained from all patients. The Ontario Tumour Bank and participating healthcare institutions comply with all existing Canadian federal, provincial and institutional requirements pertaining to the participation of patients in research as well as the collection and use of research biospecimens and accompanying clinical data.

All biospecimens and associated clinical data are de-identified so that a donor's identity is inaccessible to the Ontario Tumour Bank and to medical researchers. Collection of research biospecimens and associated clinical data has been approved by the research ethics boards (REBs) of participating healthcare institutions. To ensure that the proposed research meets scientific and ethical standards, all requests for biospecimens and clinical data are reviewed by the Ontario Cancer Research Ethics Board (OCREB), on a timely basis.