Service Offerings

The UTMB Biorepository proactively collects remnant tissues and other biological samples from patients who have consented to have their residual specimens banked for future research. Specimens are obtained rom surgical resection, as well as from autopsies, post-mortem. These specimens can be tumor/diseased and normal tissue, whole blood, serum, plasma and other bodily fluids. The specimens collected become part of the UTMB Biobank Collection. The Biobank Collection is made available to investigators by providing specimens for research , including fresh, frozen and fixed specimens. Access to the Biobank Collection Catalog is provided upon request but must first be approved by the Biorepository Advisory Committee.

Tissue Collection

The UTMB Biorepository provides assistance with protcol-specific, or investigator-initiated, specimen collections. The protocol must be IRB-approved, even if your research study has not yet been fully defined. The biorepository can provide some guidance in creating the protocol to include using the biorepository to support collection and/or storage. All requests for tissue collection are reviewed by the Biorepository Advisory Committee for approval. Specimens collected under investigator-initiated protocols can be added to the UTMB Biobank Collection for community use, if so desired by the investigator.

Specimen Processing

Specimen processing for general blood and bodily fluids, including urine and swabs are also offered by the Biorepository. Processing fees vary based on the complexity of the processing requested. Specimens are provided back to the research lab or they can be stored in the Biorepository for future research use.

The UTMB Biorepository offers specimen storage at the specimen, rack and shelf level for UTMB affiliated researchers in need of storage space. The Biorepository uses OpenSpecimen as our LIMS database to store and access biospecimen data regarding collection, storage, quality assurance and distribution. OpenSpecimen safely stores specimen locations within the Biorepository along with associated data provided by the specimen owners. The storage level distinguishes how the specimens will be added to OpenSpecimen for inventory purposes. Storage fees are charged quarterly and depend on the specimen/box size and level of storage.

The UTMB Biorepository offers research histology services such as fixed tissue processing and embedding, sectioning, routine staining and select special staining for human and animal tissues. Immunohistochemistry is only offered on human tissue, currently, and must receive approval from the Biorepository Director, first. Digital Slide Imaging, High Resolution Imaging and Tissue Microarray building are also available.

The UTMB Biorepository offers research electron microscopy services, performing classical thin and thick section transmission electron microscopy (TEM) of epoxy resin-embedded specimens. We also perform immune-gold TEM, purified and concentrated particle negative staining (viruses, VLPs, vesicles, exosomes, etc.) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM).