Overview
What is a BioRepository?
Biorepositories (or biobanks) store biological specimens such as blood, plasma and urine with valuable, de-identified clinical information from the patients or research participants who supplied the specimens. Similar to a library, researchers and physician-scientists can “check out” donated samples and correlating data for scientific study with the goal of understanding how genetics, lifestyle and environment interact to affect health. Understanding these risk factors on an individual and population level helps doctors treat or prevent diseases that can influence your health and the health of future generations.
About Cleveland Clinic’s BioRepository
Each year Cleveland Clinic Main Campus provides services for more than 4 million patient visits, 500,000 blood draws and 50,000 surgeries.
Cleveland Clinic’s BioRepository collects biological samples and associated health information from these services to be used for medical research. A biorepository is like a library. It is a resource built by and for communities and stores voluntarily donated samples and health data that can be used for scientific research.
Cleveland Clinic’s BioRepository collections are stored in a 22,000-square-foot facility with ultra-cold and cryogenic storage for biological samples that will be used in research projects at Cleveland Clinic, partner institutions and the life science research community. The facility is managed by Azenta Life Sciences, a provider of sample exploration and management solutions with secure sample and material storage facilities across the United States and around the world. The facility is the first building to open in the recently announced Cleveland Innovation District, a public-private partnership aimed at transforming Northeast Ohio into an economic engine for biomedicine. The initiative brings the State of Ohio, JobsOhio and Ohio Development Services Agency together with Cleveland’s healthcare and higher education institutions to create jobs, accelerate research and educate the workforce of the future.
How is my help important?
The goal of Cleveland Clinic’s BioRepository is to leverage better care that is just for you. This type of care is sometimes called precision medicine or personalized medicine. Two people with the same diagnosis may have different responses to treatment. By studying lifestyle, cultural, social and economic factors as well as individual genes we can target treatment directly to you with the goal of fewer side effects and better outcomes.
About Cleveland Clinic
We are a non-profit multispecialty academic health system that integrates clinical and hospital care with research and education. Learn more about us.