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Our Program

The UTMB Institutional Biorepository has dedicated laboratory specialists for specimen procurement and processing, specimen storage, histology and electron microscopy services. The Biobank consent form allows access to historical and future clinical data through the electronic health record system (EPIC) to facilitate in-depth translational research. Samples collected include tumor/diseased and normal tissue, whole blood, serum, plasma, and body fluids. All specimen handling is in accordance with Biorepository operating procedures and compliant with the International Society for Biological and Environmental Repositories (ISBER) Best Practices, current edition and the CAP-Biorepository Accreditation Program.

Our Mission

Our mission is to facilitate research by providing standardized collection, storage and distribution of high-quality biospecimens to investigators. We support the research community by serving as a centralized tissue resource core and providing professional and technical pathology services to UTMB researchers and collaborators.

The UTMB Biobank is committed to collecting a diverse sample set for various research studies led by our clinical and basic science researchers and other established organizations. In addition to tumor and normal tissues, the Biorepository for Severe Emerging Infections collects specimens from patients with infectious diseases including SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19). This facilitates discovery and development of tests, vaccines and pharmaceuticals. It also enables us to lead the fight against novel viruses and other health conditions affecting our communities.

Our Objectives

The UTMB Institutional Biorepository aims to be a highly-valued, sustainable resource for investigators in the UT Community. We plan to achieve these goals by focusing on the following objectives:

  • Keep Quality First- Quality is at the forefront of our goals, both in the specimens we provide from our Biobank Collection and in the services we provide to our researchers.
  • Build Investigator Confidence- By serving as the subject matter experts in the areas of service we provide, we work to gain the trust and confidence of our Research Community.
  • Provide Accessibility to the Biobank Collection- Our biobank of collected specimens is available to researchers via our OpenSpecimen Catalog for approved requests.
  • Offer Comprehensive Services- Our service offering list will remain fluid as we listen to the needs of our research community and strive to meet those needs.
  • Achieve Sustainability- We operate on a "cost-recovery" model, collecting fees for our time and the materials used to serve our researchers, ensuring the longevity of the biorepository for years to come.

Who We Serve

We provide a host of services and resources to support our UTMB Research Community. In addition, we work with affiliated partners to ensure our services are comprehensive.

  • UTMB Research Community, Colleges, Centers and Institutions
  • Undergraduate and Graduate Students (and their Mentors and Trainees)
  • Clinical Research Coordinators for Clinical Trial Requests
  • Research Administration, Investigators and Scientists
  • Industry Sponsors