BC COVID-19 Biobank Network

The BC COVID-19 Biobank Network is a province-wide network of partner biospecimen collection sites. Biospecimens with annotated data related to COVID-19 are formally coordinated together as one unified resource.

For biospecimen access requests or biobanking study protocol assistance, please contact bc.biobanknetwork@ubc.ca.

Vision

Accelerated COVID-19 research discoveries by providing high quality biospecimens and data.

Mission

To create a provincial unified resource of high-quality biospecimens paired with robust clinical data to enable translational COVID-19 research.

Objectives and goals

  • To collect and store biospecimens and associated data from BC patients for future release and use by researchers studying COVID-19.
  • To streamline COVID-19 research patient recruitment processes
  • To develop a catalogue/inventory of biospecimens with processes to enable linkages to clinical information – searchable and useable by researchers in BC.
  • To build collaborative partnerships with researchers for streamlining biobanking activities.
  • To develop an appropriate, transparent, and equitable access and release of process of the samples and associated data to researchers which is underpinned by applicable ethical and legal principles and regulatory frameworks.

 

Researchers and Participants

Researcher

The BCCBN is in operation and is currently accepting applications for the release of biospecimens. If you are a researcher interested in seeking support for a new project with biospecimen collection activities, please contact bc.biobanknetwork@ubc.ca.

Visit the BC Biobank Network website for more information.

The process to access biospecimens will follow the steps below.

Biospecimens Collected by the BCCBN

  • Serum
  • Plasma
  • Buffy Coat
  • PAXgene Blood RNA tube (limited patients)
  • PBMCs (limited patients)

For a subset of patients, a PAX gene tube will also be collected and PBMCs will also be isolated and available for researchers

Join the BCCBN as a Partner Site

BCCBN Partner Sites will:

  • Participate as part of the BCCBN Governance Committee to provide leadership, oversight, and direction for Network activities.
  • Participate in the BCCBN Scientific Review Committee to review requests and facilitate equitable access to biospecimens and/or data by researchers.
  • Remain in control of their own biobanking operations.
  • Utilize and/or contribute to BCCBN infrastructure, resources, equipment as needed.

Contact

For more information, contact the bc.biobanknetwork@ubc.ca

Participant interested in donating

What is the BC COVID-19 Biobanking Network (BCCBN)?

The BCCBN is a province-wide network that has been developed to improve COVID-19 research for doctors, researchers and patients. The network aims to coordinate COVID-19 research in BC so that patients can be involved in more research studies without having to sign multiple consent forms. The overall goal is to make research more accessible for everyone involved.

If you are interested in participating, please complete this consent form in order to proceed.

What samples can you donate?

You can donate blood samples at the time of a standard of care blood draw or by going to any LifeLabs location.

What medical information can you donate?

In order for the samples you donate to be more useful for research, the BCCBN needs to know some medical information about you such as:

  • Your age and sex
  • If you have been tested positive for COVID-19
  • If you have been tested positive for COVID-19
  • How COVID-19 affected you
  • Whether you have any pre-existing medical conditions

**All medical information is safely stored in a database on the hospital server.

 What research will be done with my samples?

Your samples and medical information will be used for research related to COVID-19. Some examples of the type of research are listed below:

  • Vaccine development
  • Understanding the spread and risks of COVID-19
  • Developing COVID-19 treatment options
  • Understanding potential long-term effects of COVID-19 infection

Why should I donate?

Information about you and your health will help researchers improve their understanding of COVID-19 so they can develop better care, treatment, or preventative measures for this virus. The BCCBN makes sure that your information and samples will only be used for useful and ethical research. All samples and medical information that is given to researchers will be de-identified. This means that the researcher will not know who the samples or information belong to.

Contact

For more information, contact the bc.biobanknetwork@ubc.ca

About Us

The BC COVID-19 Biobank Network is a provincial initiative comprised of Partner Sites of the Post-COVID-19 Recovery Clinics and the BC Children’s Hospital BioBank.

The BCCBN is led by:

  • Co-Principal Investigator: Dr. Darryl Knight, Vice President, Research and Academic Affairs
  • Co-Principal Investigator: Dr. Michael Chen, Clinical Assistant Professor, Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine)
  • Co-Investigator: Dr Chris Carlsten, Post-COVID-19 Recovery Clinic Biobank, Professor, Department of Medicine, University of British Columbia
  • Co- Investigator: Dr Chris Ryerson, Post-COVID-19 Recovery Clinic Biobank, Associate Professor, Department of Medicine, University of British Columbia
  • Co-Investigator: Dr Suzanne Vercauteren, BC Children’s Hospital BioBank, Clinical Associate Professor, Department of Pathology & Laboratory Medicine, University of British Columbia

The BCCBN is coordinated by the COVID-19 Clinical Research Coordination Initiative and generously supported by funding from the UBC Faculty of Medicine Strategic Investment Fund, UBC Faculty of Medicine donors and Genome BC.