East Montgomery Times

The CHOP Biobank is an expansive resource that collects biological samples and records from CHOP patients and their relatives. This initiative aims to advance understanding of both health and disease, as well as to discover new treatments and cures, by offering a comprehensive collection of pediatric biospecimens.

The biobank is noteworthy for its disease-agnostic approach, with the ability to store millions of samples from patient donations or care residues that would otherwise be discarded. "Cutting-edge research in children’s health today requires biobanking of pediatric biological samples, such as blood, tissue, and other bodily fluids, along with associated health information," according to the Biobank’s manager, Dr. Kathryn H. Driesbaugh. She emphasized the need for building large study populations to discover disease markers and genomic correlations, which could lead to better diagnosis and treatment options.

The samples in the CHOP Biobank support various research applications. Medical research can delve into the genetic, molecular, and cellular mechanisms behind diseases, facilitating more targeted treatment approaches. Genetic research focuses on discovering genetic markers for disease risk, enabling earlier diagnoses. Treatment research seeks to identify patients' responsiveness to treatments based on genetic profiles. Epidemiological research explores the prevalence of diseases in specific populations, while biomarker identification aids in the early detection and monitoring of diseases.

Partnering closely with the CHOP’s Biorepository Resource Center, the CHOP Biobank can accommodate up to 3 million samples, maintaining an organized and accessible storage system for researchers. The integration with existing biobanking efforts, such as the Birth Defects Biorepository and the Neuroscience Biorepository, enhances its capacity to merge data and specimens across different resources. As part of the CHOP Omics and Big Data Initiative, the biobank intends to hasten the development of omics-based diagnostics and therapeutics catered to pediatric care.