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Our Biorepositories
Allergies and Asthma
BRI’s Allergy and Asthma Biorepository is a confidential list of people with allergies and/or asthma, who are willing to donate a blood sample and provide health information for scientific research.
Cancer
The Virginia Mason and Benaroya Research Institute Tumor Repository (VM BRITE) is a bank of blood and tissue samples from donors who have cancer.
Down Syndrome
BRI’s Down Syndrome Biorepository is a confidential list of people with Down syndrome who are willing to donate samples and provide health information for scientific research.
Gastrointestinal Diseases
The Gastrointestinal Disease Biorepository is a confidential list of people with GI diseases who are willing to donate samples and provide health information to support scientific research.
Healthy Control
BRI’s Healthy Volunteer Biorepository is a confidential list of people with no immune system disease, who are willing to donate a blood sample and provide health information for scientific research.
IgA Nephropathy
The IgA Nephropathy Biorepository is a confidential list of people who have been diagnosed with IgA nephropathy and are willing to donate a blood sample and share health information for research.
Neurologic Diseases
The Multiple Sclerosis - Neurological Diseases Biorepository is a confidential list of people with multiple sclerosis (MS) and other neurological diseases who are willing to donate samples and provide health information for scientific research.
Pulmonary Disease
BRI’s Pulmonary Diseases Biorepository is a confidential list of people with pulmonary diseases who are willing to donate a blood sample and provide health information for scientific research.
Rheumatic Disease
BRI’s Rheumatic Diseases Biorepository is a confidential list of people with rheumatic diseases who are willing to donate a blood sample and provide health information for scientific research.
Type 1 Diabetes Diseases
The Diabetes Biorepository is a confidential list of people with type Type 1 diabetes (T1D) who donate samples and provide health information for scientific research.
Vaccine and Infectious Diseases
The Vaccine and Infectious Diseases Biorepository is a confidential list of people who are willing to participate in a vaccine study, have had a virus, or who have lived in a dengue virus risk area.
Biorepository FAQs
What is a biorepository?
A biorepository collects, processes, stores and distributes blood, tissue and other biological samples to support scientific research. BRI scientists use the donated samples to study autoimmune and immune-mediated diseases.
What do samples from the biorepository enable BRI scientists to study?
Samples donated by people with and without immune system diseases allow researchers to understand how the immune system, the environment, the microbiome, and/or genetics interact and contribute to disease development. Investigators can identify biomarkers (biological characteristics) that are associated with the progression of disease. Using these biomarkers, BRI scientists are able to advance their understanding of how and why immune system diseases develop, identify how genetic risk factors influence these diseases, and develop targets for new therapies.
Are biorepositories confidential?
Yes. All of the information gathered is kept confidential, and samples and health information are coded with numbers, not names.
Which diseases do BRI Scientists study?
Investigators at BRI are interested in immune-mediated diseases. This can include autoimmune diseases like Type 1 Diabetes, Rheumatoid Arthritis, or Celiac Disease. We are also interested in diseases like cancer or allergies, where the immune system contributes to disease progression. Some of our work involves conditions that affect the immune system, like Down Syndrome. We even try to understand how immune systems vary in healthy adults who do not have disease, and how the immune system changes as we age.
Who can participate in a biorepository?
People who have one of the diseases listed above may be eligible to join one of the disease biorepositories. If you do not have an immune-mediated disease and are in good health, you may be eligible to join the Healthy Controls Biorepository.
How can I join a biorepository?
To learn more about BRI’s biorepository or sign up, visit this page or contact us via email. People can also help by encouraging friends and family members with or without immune system diseases to donate to the biorepository as well.
Appointments take about 30-45 minutes and involve the collection of:
● Vitals, like blood pressure
● Health information
● A blood sample
How else can I support BRI?
BRI needs community support to continue its crucial work of finding the causes and cures to eliminate autoimmune and immune system diseases. For more information about supporting BRI call 206-583-6083 or visit BenaroyaResearch.org/support-us.
