Working Groups

BioBanking Core

Refer to the Resources section for Biobanking information

MICYRN’s BioBanking Core working group is developing the ethical and quality assurance framework for biobanking. As yet, MICYRN does not provide biobanking services

The BioBanking Core is working closely with the Research Ethics and Regulatory Affairs working group, and a number of articles have been published that discuss issues for consideration.

MICYRN participants have contributed protocols for biospecimen acquisition, processing and transport.

The goal of the MICYRN BioBanking Core is to establish a unique centralized resource of biological material with which network investigative teams will develop innovative studies that offer insights into mechanisms of maternal, infant, child and adolescent health and disease. This goal will be achieved through 1) creation of a mechanism of sample acquisition, processing, storage and distribution utilizing state-of-the art biobanking data platforms; and 2) evaluation and implementation of standardized registration and consent for biological sample collection of pediatric based cohorts. Two primary foci will be addressed, namely, infrastructure and research.

Initiatives

Developing infrastructure

• MICYRN will facilitate the conduct of biomedical research in maternal and child disease by creating a unique national comprehensive ‘healthy subjects’ biobank/clinical data repository for use in these studies. The BioRepository will be a centralized facility with two primary/regional sites for sample storage – the BC Children’s and Women’s Hospital biobank linked to the BC BioLibrary biobank accrual network funded by the Michael Smith Foundation for Health Research, and the proposed Child Health Research Institute at the Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto with funding from the LSIE (Large Scale Institutional Endeavours) and local partners including the SickKids Foundation.
  
  Sample ‘tissues’ to be collected include blood (processed for serum/plasma, WBC pellet, and lymphoblastoid cell lines), buccal swabs to be stored for DNA/RNA extraction as well as fibroblast cell line generation, saliva and urine. Once subjects’ tissue samples are retained for diagnostic purposes, a coordinated system will ensure that the remaining tissue set aside for research is properly encoded, anonymized and stored in the centralized BioRepository and efficiently distributed to specific laboratory-based banks, where required by appropriate investigators.

Developing research resources

• The BioRepository and associated electronic database will be a unique resource for innovative research initiatives in maternal and child health. Specifically, the BioRepository will support important elements of two projects that are integral to the MICYRN mandate: 1) comparative biology and epidemiology studies of the biological and molecular determinants of obesity; and 2) establishment of standards of consent and data registration in a pediatric cohort including issues of privacy, ownership, and access to samples for studies.
  
  If you are interested in joining this working group or discussing issues, contact the BioBanking Core Chair: Dr. David Malkin MD, FRCP (C), FAAP, LMCC ; Senior Scientist, Genetics & Genome Biology; Associate Chief of Research (Clinical); Senior Staff Oncologist, Haematology/Oncology; Professor, Department of Medical Biophysics, School of Graduate Studies, University of Toronto david.malkin@sickkids.ca .