Biobanking
Westmead Biobank provides central facilities and services to support best-practice biobanking at Westmead. We offer biospecimen processing services and inventory-managed storage facilities to both biobanks and research groups. The Biobank team have extensive experience across the spectrum of biobanking activity, from patient consent to distribution of biobank materials to research projects; ask us about management of an existing biospecimen collection or starting a new collection. As a central contact point for a large network of biobanks on the Westmead campus, Westmead Biobank can also assist with researcher requests for biospecimens and associated data.
Submit a request or Query
Specimen processing services
- Specimen receipt – staff on-call for receipt and tracking of specimens by transfer from clinical collection points in the Westmead precinct, or by courier
- Primary processing – blood fraction aliquots, formalin-fixed or snap-frozen tissue samples
- DNA/RNA extraction, quantitation and QC – blood, tissue, cultured cells and other sample types
- Histology services – cryosectioning, FFPE sectioning, TMA design and construction
- Specimen dispatch – coordination of specimen dispatch, local and international shipping.
Biobank storage facility
The Biobank storage facility is equipped for a range of storage temperatures. Samples are accurately tracked, saving users the time-consuming task of inventory management. All freezers and cryotanks have 24hr temperature monitoring and alarm response.
- Controlled ambient – FFPE blocks, slides and blood spot cards
- Biobank Freezer Room – blood fractions, DNA/RNA samples
- LN2 cryostorage – tissue samples and cells
Instruments
Several Biobank instruments are available to trained users to assist with your sample processing workflow: 2D barcoding, DNA/RNA/protein quantitation, and automated pipetting for routine liquid handling tasks.
Click here for more details on our instruments.
WRH Core Facilities
Westmead Biobank is one of nine core facilities at Westmead. WRH core facilities are available for all WRH researchers, external researchers and industry partners. Click here to find out more about what our other facilities have to offer.
Location
Westmead Biobank is located on Level 2 of the Westmead Institute for Medical Research