The Canadian Tumour Repository Network was formed in 2004 with the financial assistance of the Institute for Cancer Research (ICR) of the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) to foster studies into the determinants of cancer, to better understand cancer prevention and early detection, and to improve the prediction of drug response and the identification of new drug targets.

CTRNet operates as a not-for-profit consortium of leading provincial tumour banks and programs that furthers Canadian health research. CTRNet provides interested researchers with a streamlined process to obtain quality human tissue and human tissue products from member tumour banks.