Biorepository

The Tufts Biorepository Program has been created to provide a resource to support the research of members of the Tufts Cancer Center and other scientific faculty at Tufts Medical Center (TMC) and Tufts University.

Overview

The biorepository strives to provide banked frozen tissues of uniform quality for use by investigators while maintaining patient confidentiality. Its operations are managed by a Biorepository Coordinator with professional direction provided by an anatomic pathologist. Biorepository policies are governed by an Oversight Committee which is responsible for the policies regulating allocation of tissues to qualified investigators who have obtained Tufts University Institutional Review Board (IRB) approval. The IRB and the Oversight Committee must approve requests for tissues before any tissues are released to investigators.

The decision to provide specimens to investigators is based on the scientific merit of the proposed project and the perceived benefit of the study to enhancing the goals of Tufts Medical Center research and clinical programs. A brief summary of proposed studies must be provided to the Oversight Committee with the specific aims of the proposed studies describing the specific requirements for the use of banked tissues. Justification must be given for the numbers of tissue samples required to obtain statistical data.

First priority is given to TMC and Tufts faculty members with funded projects. Second priority is given to existing collaborative projects amongst TMC and Tufts faculty members. Third priority is given to faculty members planning applications for peer-reviewed funding and require preliminary data. Applications from other Tufts investigators are given consideration based on scientific merit of the project and the availability of particular tissues.

Services

  1. Collection of surplus neoplastic and normal human tissues from surgical pathology specimens obtained at Tufts Medical Center.
  2. Collection of blood samples obtained from patients at the Tufts Medical Center Hematology/Oncology Clinic.
  3. Preparation of tissue samples according to established protocols which include: snap freezing of solid tissue samples; formalin fixation and paraffin embedding of tissue; and density gradient centrifugation of blood samples to isolate white blood cells prior to frozen storage of the blood components.
  4. Maintenance of a separate database of the stored tissue samples by the Tissue Bank. This database interfaces with the anatomic pathology clinical database in the Department of Pathology to provide optimal and accurate pathologic diagnosis.
  5. Appropriate protection of patient confidentiality of all samples.
  6. Oversight Committee review of requests for studies that have gained IRB approval. The committee reviews proposals to determine if the minimum amounts of tissue requested are available and assures that the appropriate level of patient confidentiality is maintained upon release of the tissue.