The UHN BioBank is a comprehensive institutional biorepository supporting medical research throughout UHN. The facility is managed by Heidi Wagner.
Overview
- UHNBB is the largest academic biospecimen bank in Canada
- Tissue, body fluid and blood specimens from UHN patients can be distributed fresh for stem cell and other studies, snap-frozen and stored in liquid nitrogen tanks, or embedded in paraffin blocks for future research use
- A state-of-the-art biospecimen IT system interfaces UHNBB with other clinical and research databases at UHN
- UHNBB is a key player in numerous personalized sample-driven clinical trials throughout UHN
Services
- Access to human biospecimens including solid tissue (diseased and matched normal tissue), blood (serum, plasma, whole blood), body fluids and derivatives for research purposes
- Tissue microarray (TMA) construction
- Digital slide scanning and quantitative image analysis including analysis of TMA sections
- Pathology/clinical annotation is available for some tumour sites
Using the Facility
- Available to all UHN investigators based on institute/group UHNBB membership arrangement or individual funding
- UHN Research Ethics Board and site group-specific approval required
- Biospecimen requisition forms available upon request
Sample Preparation
- Processing of samples is disease specific, following international best practices
- Specific sample handling is available based on research protocols (e.g., fresh frozen tissue for xenografting)
Usage Arrangements
- Collaboration with disease site pathologist recommended
- Design and implementation of individual sample-centered research protocols
Contacts
UHN BioBank (UHNBB)
416-340-4744 (ext.14-4744)
Toronto General Hospital, NU11-208
200 Elizabeth Street
Toronto, ON, M5G 2C4
email: biospecimen.sciences.program@uhn.ca