Biobanking Capabilities and Resources

Recognizing the critical importance of high-quality, well-annotated biospecimens for medical research health and disease, we have established a standardized, regulatory-compliant, and genetic privacy protected repository for fluid and tissue biospecimens, allowing our own group and other internal and external investigators to reduce costs, redundancies, and risks associated with alternative bio-banking strategies. The facility integrates basic and clinical research programs with molecular profiling technologies, enabling large-scale genomics and proteomics research programs that will inform and drive the development of new generations of personalized care of future.

Our facility provides support for basic, clinical and epidemiological research studies involving specimen collection, annotation, inventory management, and high quality molecular genomics assays from the collected samples.

Facilities and Capabilities:  Biobanking activities are centralized in the IPPH Laboratory space in KCBD building.  This central location serves as the sample receipt and accessioning area, provides dedicated sample processing/QC workspace, and offers specimen storage in ultralow freezers.   The lab has twenty six -86 Celsius freezers, twenty-20 Celsius freezers for storage of biological samples and specimens. Currently ~ one million biological samples are being stored. Storage facilities are access-restricted to authorized personnel, and provide appropriate environmental controls, with each -86 C freezer unit linked wirelessly for 24 hour temperature monitoring, active notification system, and connected to emergency generator back-up power.  The biobank employs custom-built electronic sample management including data entry, barcode-based tracking and inventory management, specimen annotation, flexible query and data reporting, while providing access controls ensuring data security and integrity.

The key capabilities include:

  • SOP-guided sample processing, handling, and storage to support all type of molecular genomics research studies
  • Secure, monitored, ultra-low temperature specimen storage with appropriate environmental controls and power redundancy
  • barcode-based tracking, inventory management, and data query.