About Us
Our Program
UHN Biospecimen Services is a centralized, large-scale biospecimen storage and sample information management group. It serves Canada’s University Health Network (UHN) and regional research institutions by providing a central location for access to high-quality samples in order to drive novel research for the understanding, detection, prevention and ultimately the cure of cancer and other diseases.
UHN Biospecimen Services is located at the core of Toronto’s Discovery District in the #1 hospital network in Canada, and leverages over 20 years of combined expertise from the Princess Margaret Cancer Biobank (PMCB) and the McCain GU BioBank (MGB). To date, UHN Biospecimen Services has provided support for more than 100 clinical trials, ranging from single site investigator-initiated pilot studies to large-scale studies initiated by pharmaceutical companies.
We continue to distribute to collaborators across North America and around the world, contributing to high-quality translational research in the fields of oncology, genetics, epigenetics, and proteomics, with a focus on disease marker development. Our collaborative group compromises experts in biospecimen management and processing, regulatory compliance, quality assurance, technology, clinical research, pathogenesis and marker development.
Our services include the collection, processing, storing, and dissemination of biospecimens, ranging from biofluids and derivatives to biopsy cores and tissue sample.
We ensure that all samples are collected prospectively under general biobanking protocols or in support of clinical research studies. In addition, our institutional affiliation provides administrative and legal support that allows flexibility to adapt in size and resources to meet the potentially changing needs of any project.
Values
Mission
For Patients
To represent our patients by providing researchers access to essential biospecimen services supporting the process of discovery in the causation, progression, response to treatment, and clinical outcomes to improve personalized treatment options and promote a healthier world.
For Researchers
To empower research teams and collaboration by ethically acquiring, processing, storing, analyzing, and distributing high-quality biospecimens. We aim at providing researchers with seamless access to a readily available specimen inventory to be used for analyses to fuel discovery and innovative basic and clinical research.
For our Institutes and UHN
Through stakeholder relationships, we serve the global scientific community to drive novel research and improve personalized medicine. We provide regional and national leadership in biospecimen management and operations through continued education, engagement, and fostering collaborations with national and international research institutions.
Bioethics and Privacy
At UHN Biospecimen Services we are committed to employing the highest standard of ethics and best practices through the collection, storage and dissemination of research biospecimens. All of our processes comply with existing Canadian federal, provincial and institutional requirements pertaining to the participation of patients in research as well as the collection and use of research biospecimens and accompanying clinical data.
UHN Biospecimen Services, collaborating institutions and their research applications for biospecimens and clinical data have been approved by the Research Ethics Boards (REBs) of participating healthcare institutions.
Executive Committee
Dr. Neil Fleshner, MD, MPH, FRCS(c)
- Director and Founder, McCain GU BioBank
- Director, UHN Biospecimen Services
Governance
Governance Board
Chief Medical
Officer
Head of
Operations
Pathology
Representative
Ethics
Representative
MAC
Representative
Core Services
Representative
Living
Biobank
Infectious Disease Biobank
Peter Munk
Biobank
MOT
Patient
Representative
IT
Representative
Arthritis
Biobank
Lung Transplant
Biobank
