Tufts Medical Center/Tufts University COVID-19 Biorepository and Comprehensive COVID-19 Database

The COVID-19 biorepository and comprehensive database have been created to accelerate a wide variety of research efforts including characterizing the basic pathophysiology of the disease, its clinical outcomes as well as the development of diagnostic tests, vaccines and treatments.

This resource has been developed in collaboration with the Massachusetts Consortium on Pathogen Readiness (MassCPR) – a multi-institutional research collaboration aiming to rapidly respond to COVID-19 and future health crises.

We adhere to all federal, state and local regulations regarding the use of bio-samples and de-identified data for human subject’s research.

COVID-19 Biorepository

The COVID-19 biorepository is a centralized resource that collects, process, stores and disseminates biological specimens and accompanying de-identified health information to qualified Tufts Medical Center, Tufts University and MassCPR investigators for use in a wide range of biomedical studies. The COVID-19 Biorepository is led by the Division of Geographic Medicine and Infectious Diseases in collaboration with the Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine. The biorepository functions under standard operating procedures and quality control measures for specimen collection and maintenance.

Funding for the COVID-19 Biorepository has been provided by the Tupper Research Fund and MassCPR.

The COVID-19 biorepository supports the prospective collection of biospecimens and associated de-identified data from hospitalized patients under one standardized protocol. The centralized nature of the biorepository ensures uniform specimen handling, data quality, and regulatory oversight for biobanking operations. Specimens are collected at multiple time points and include nasopharyngeal, oropharyngeal, and rectal swabs as well as plasma, serum, peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC), placentae, saliva, urine, and stool

The COVID-19 biorepository is available to qualified investigators within the Tufts Medical Center and Tufts University research community as well as qualified investigators from MassCPR. Not all specimen types may be available from all participants.

The COVID-19 Biorepository Oversight Committee will grant approval to investigators who have relevant Research Committee, Biosafety, and Institutional Review Board (IRB) approvals. Specimen access is on a first come first served basis.

Comprehensive COVID-19 Database

The comprehensive COVID-19 database captures de-identified clinical and epidemiological data from all people tested for COVID-19 at Tufts Medical Center and includes information from both those with and without infection. The COVID-19 Database is led by the Division of Geographic Medicine and Infectious Diseases with support from the Tufts Clinical and Translational Science Institute (CTSI).

De-identified data from the COVID-19 database are available to qualified investigators within the Tufts Medical Center and Tufts University research community.

The COVID-19 Database Oversight Committee will grant approval to investigators who have relevant institutional Research Committee and Institutional Review Board (IRB) approvals.

Make a formal request: A formal request is planned for de-identified specimens from COVID-19 infected individuals (and negative controls) and accompanying de-identified data. Before a request is made, all approvals must be in place (e.g., IRB approval, COVID-19 Research Oversight Committee approval, if applicable, and Biosafety approval). If making a request for specimens and de-identified data, there is no need to compete a separate request for de-identified data only. Only requests from Tufts University and Tufts Medical Center qualified investigators will be entertained.

Make a formal request: A formal request is planned for de-identified data (no specimens) from people tested for COVID-19. Before a request is made, all approvals must be in place (e.g., IRB and COVID-19 Research Oversight Committee, if required).

Our Research Staff

For more information, email COVID-19 Biorepository or COVID-19 Comprehensive Database.