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Biosample Repository Facility
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Cancer Prevention Pavilion, Room P2011 1-888-831-6466 (Toll-Free) 215-214-1633 (Laboratory) 215-214-1652 (Recruitment/Intake Coordinator) Joellen.Weaver@fccc.edu Mary.Gilroy@fccc.edu |
Function
The BRF is dedicated to the collection and distribution of human subject biosamples (e.g., whole blood, plasma, DNA, and lymphocytes) along with supporting personal and family cancer history data. This facility is overseen by an interdivisional Advisory Committee (AC), with day-to-day staff supervision provided by Dr. Andrew K. Godwin. Operations and protocols are based on those originally implemented by Dr. Godwin, who is also the Director of the Clinical Molecular Genetic Laboratory (CMGL), in support of the Family Risk Assessment Program (FRAP), Gastrointestinal Tumor Risk Assessment Program (GI-TRAP), the Prostate Risk Assessment Program (PRAP), the Melanoma Risk Assessment Program (Mel-RAP), the Pharmaceutical Assistance Contract for the Elderly study (PACE), the Sunbelt Melanoma Trial, and the Ovarian Cancer Consortium for Research and Surveillance (OCCRS).
Patients and their family members at Fox Chase are introduced to the Biosample Repository and are invited to sign an informed consent. Willing participants are asked to contribute a blood sample, and to complete family history, risk factor and demographic questionnaires. Donated blood samples are separated into the following components: Lymphocytes are isolated from half of the blood, divided into multiple aliquots, and cryopreserved in liquid nitrogen for future transformation or nucleic acid preparation. DNA is isolated from one quarter of donated blood, quantitated, and stored at 4®C. The remaining blood is used for the preparation of plasma and blood spots. Samples, as processed, are entered into a database. This database is used to track sample type, quantity, freezer location, and distribution. Available biosamples are distributed by the BRCF for use in interdivisional AC and IRB approved research projects. The facility also supports special requests for the processing of human biosamples as part of grants awarded to Fox Chase investigators. The Repository has banked more than 81,000 frozen samples including plasma, red blood cells, platelet rich plasma, and viable leukocytes. DNA is currently available from more than 5,000 patients and disease-free controls. It is anticipated that over the next five years, future recruitments will generate 40,000 additional biosamples per year, including new immortalized lymphoblastoid cell lines.
Description
The Biosample Repository Facility (BRF) was established in 1999. Dr. Godwin and his staff have extensive experience in collecting and banking human biosamples for research and clinical studies. This laboratory is located in the Cancer Prevention Pavilion at Fox Chase. The laboratory is CLIA (Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments) approved and is fully equipped for the processing and banking of human blood specimens.
To take part in this repository or to ask questions about the process, please call Pat Gilroy (Recruitment/Intake Coordinator) at 215-214-1652 or (Toll-Free) 1-888-831-6466. The identity of all individuals willing to participate in the Biosample Repository is confidential.