This centralised registry was developed to support researchers search for biobanking facilities across MACH-affiliated research organisations.
Please note that this is not a complete and comprehensive list of biobanks or cohorts stored across MACH partners and we are actively seeking to add facilities and resources that could be helpful to others. Please use the form for new entries and updates.
We encourage you to explore each of the facilities featured below (click the entry title to expand information – best viewed on a desktop browser).
| Biobank Name | Custodial Institution | Collection Types | Website | Principal contact | Phone | Department | Description | Materials stored | Data stored | Sample range | Collection period | Storage | Additional forms or links | Available for research outside custodial institution | PICF | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| St Vincent's Biobank | St Vincent's Institute | Cancer, Cardiology, Diabetes, Gastrointestinal | www.svi.edu.au/resources/svi_biobank_program/ | Katherine Woods | [email protected] | (03) 9418 1141 | National Serology Reference Lab | The St Vincent’s Biobank plays a major role in facilitating clinical research by providing researchers ready access to good quality human clinical samples and data in a re-identifiable (coded) form, and provides a centralised facility for processing, storing and distributing human samples and related patient data, that are collected ethically. Our Biobank archives human samples for use in research across diseases under study by St Vincent’s clinicians, researchers, and their collaborators. These samples are either collected ad hoc, or as part of defined prospective or clinical trial protocols. | Fresh frozen adjacent normal tissue, Fresh frozen disease tissue, Primary cells, Urine, Buffy Coat, Plasma, Red blood cells, Serum, White blood cells | 10,001 to 50,000 | 2015- | Yes | Download | |||
| eyePSC Bank | Centre for Eye Research Australia | Oral and vision | Prof Alex Hewitt | [email protected] | 0407 359 824 | Clinical Genetics Unit | The aim of this study is to generate iPSCs from skin biopsies of people with and without blinding eye diseases. This will allow the development of stem cell lines that will then be studied to further the understanding of the mechanisms of disease and importantly to identify suitable therapies for people with blinding eye disease. | DNA, Immortalised cell lines, Primary cells, Whole blood specimens, iPSCs & iPSC derived cells | 1,000 to 10,000 | 2012- | Yes | |||||
| Melbourne Biobank of Eye Disease | Centre for Eye Research Australia | Oral and vision | Prof Alex Hewitt | [email protected] | 0407 359 824 | Clinical Genetics Unit | The Melbourne Biobank for Eye Disease is a prospective study to collect blood, biospecimens and clinical information from people with: a) eye disease; and b) healthy eyes (control participants). This is for the purpose of eye research, but may involve the study of other conditions or diseases such as cardiovascular disease that may have similarities to improve: • prevention and screening for eye disease • understanding of eye disease • development of new therapies • prediction of an individual’s risk of developing eye disease | DNA, FFPE disease tissue, Fresh frozen disease tissue, Guthrie card, RNA, Saliva, Whole blood specimens, Buffy Coat | 10,001 to 50,000 | 2013- | Yes | Download | ||||
| kConFab | Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre | Familiar Cancer | kconfab.storm-analytiks.com | A/Prof Heather Thorne | [email protected] | (03) 8559 6526 | Research | The Kathleen Cuningham Foundation Consortium for Research into Familial Aspects of Breast Cancer (kConFab) brings together geneticists, clinicians, community representatives, surgeons, genetic counsellors, psychosocial researchers, pathologists and epidemiologists from all over Australia and New Zealand who believe the causes and consequences of familial predisposition to breast cancer can be understood only by a concerted national effort at both the basic and clinical level. In 1997, kConFab, with the help of the Family Cancer centres in Australia and New Zealand began enrolling families with a strong history of breast and breast/ovarian cancer. Genetic, epidemiological, medical and psychosocial data collected from these families by kConFab are stored in a de-identified fashion in a central relational database. Biospecimens collected from family members are used to characterise germ-line mutations in predisposing genes such as BRCA1, BRCA2, ATM, PALB2, p53, PTEN, BRIP1, RAD51C/D. kConFab has accumulated data on more than 2,105 multigenerational, multi-case kindreds. kConFab itself is not a research organisation in the usual sense, but rather provides a resource upon which researchers can draw. The aims of the consortium are to make data and biospecimens widely available to researchers for use in peer-reviewed, ethically-approved funded research projects on familial aspects of breast cancer. At present, kConFab is supplying biological specimens and data to more than 205 research projects world wide. | Buccal swab, DNA,FFPE adjacent normal tissue, FFPE disease tissue, Fresh frozen adjacent normal tissue, Fresh frozen disease tissue, Guthrie card, Immortalised cell lines, RNA, Whole blood specimens, Buffy Coat, Plasma, White blood cells | 50,001 to 100,000 | 1998- | Yes, on formal application | Download | |||
| Victorian Brain Bank (VBB) | The Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health | Neurodegeneration, movement disorders psychiatric disorders, neurotrauma and normal ‘controls’ | florey.edu.au/science-research/scientific-services-facilities/victorian-brain-bank | Fairlie Hinton | [email protected] | (03) 8344 1900 | Victorian Brain Bank | The Victorian Brain Bank is a research resource facility that supports neuroscience research by providing Victorian, Australian and international researchers with access to post–mortem human brains, spinal cords and cerebrospinal; fluid. This resource has the potential to unlock our understanding of how brain diseases occur and is essential for research devoted to finding causes, treatments, and ultimately a cure. | Diseased and normal ‘control’ fresh frozen, formalin fixed, paraffin embedded sections and cerebrospinal fluid. | 1,000 to 10,000 | 1990- | Yes - consent form available on request | ||||
| Women's Healthy Ageing Project | The University of Melbourne | Bone and muscle, Cancer, Cardiology, Data, Diabetes, Gastrointestinal, Neurology, Obstetric/gynaecological | www.biogrid.org.au/data-directory | Prof Cassandra Szoeke | [email protected] | (03) 8344 1835 | Department of Medicine at the Royal Melbourne Hospital | The Women's Healthy Ageing Project is an ongoing prospective, longitudinal, epidemiological study that has been running since 1990. The project collects an extensive range of measures covering cardiovascular, bone, cognitive, urology, endocrinology, psychological, sociological and lifestyle areas. Fasting Blood Samples taken from same 438 women, stored plasma and EDTA 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2002, 2004, 2012, 2014, 2018 Protocol 1 1992-2004, Protocol 2 2012-2018 DNA Freeze dried DNA - 330 women 2002, PAX Gene Tubes 252 women 2012 | DNA, RNA, Whole blood specimens, Buffy Coat, Plasma, Serum, White blood cells | 1,000 to 10,000 | 1992- | Yes - consent form available on request | ||||
| Northern Centre for Health Education and Research (NCHER) Reproductive Health Biobank | Northern Health | Newborn/infant, Obstetric/gynaecological | A/Prof Lisa Hui | [email protected] | 0426 865 343 | Obstetrics and Gynaecology | Normal development of the placenta is essential to a healthy mother and baby; however, the development of the placenta is complex, and abnormalities in placental function can lead to serious maternal and fetal complications and even death. Our biobank collects pregnancy-related biological samples donated for use in research on placental dysfunction, fetal development and reproductive health. The samples include paired maternal blood and placental tissue (first and third trimester samples) and matched umbilical cord blood (third trimester only). | FFPE adjacent normal tissue, FFPE disease tissue, RNA, Whole blood specimens, Plasma, Placenta, cord blood, maternal blood, stored in RNA later/PaxGene tubes for RNA; FFPE; frozen tissue - able to tailor collection to anticipated future projects | Less than 1,000 | 2019- | PICF - Trimester 1 PICF - Trimester 3 | Yes. We may allow access to de-identified samples and associated clinical data to collaborating research partners outside of the University of Melbourne Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology. All future research on biobank samples, including that performed by external researchers, will be required to have prior approval from an approved Human Research Ethics Committee. (as per PICF) | Download | |||
| Melanoma Research Victoria (MRV) | Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre | Cancer, Melanoma | melanomaresearchvic.com.au | Sonia Mailer | [email protected] | (03) 8559 6530 | MRV is a collaborative research cohort. Participants are recruited from Peter Mac, the ONJCRWC, the Alfred, Border Medical Oncology and the Skin Health Institute. Over 3600 melanoma patients have donated clinical data, biospecimens, Medicare/PBS data, QOL and Follow Up data for use in melanoma research projects. | Buffy coat, FFPE disease tissue, Fresh frozen disease tissue, Plasma, Serum | 50,001 to 100,000 | 2010- | Specimen and Data Application form | Yes | ||||
| CERA Biobank | Centre for Eye Research Australia | Ocular | www.cera.org.au/lions-eye-donation-service | Dr Heather Machin | [email protected] | 0412 581 881 | Lions Eye Donation Service (LEDS) | The CERA Biobank (CB) is the end-of-life research tissue allocation arm of the Lions Eye Donation Service (LEDS) – a donation and transplant service, located within, and part of, CERA. LEDS and the CB recover and allocate donations in accordance with the policies and procedures of LEDS; the Human Tissue Act 1982 (Vic); NHMRC National Statement on Ethical Conduct in Human Research 2007; NHMRC Biobank Information Paper 2010; and the OECD Guidelines on Human Biobanks and Genetic Research 2009. The CB is approved to recover ocular tissue for research by the Human Research Ethics Committee (HREC) of Lifeblood Victoria (2020#18) and approved to allocate to researchers by the HREC of the Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital - RVEEH (13/1151H). Researchers involved in eye care or affiliated fields are welcome to contact the CERA Biobank for application details. | Ocular: cornea, corneal rim, trabecular meshwork, whole or posterior globe, or eviscerated contents. | Ongoing | 2013- | Yes | ||||
| PEBBLES Study Biobank | The University of Melbourne | Cellular, Childhood diseases, Data, Immunology, Newborn/infant, Oral and vision | mspgh.unimelb.edu.au/centres-institutes/centre-for-epidemiology-and-biostatistics/engage/pebbles | Prof Adrian Lowe | [email protected] | (03) 8344 0878 | Public Health | Biological samples collected from infants participating in a clinical trial for eczema and food allergy prevention. Includes blood spots, skin lipids, breast milk and oral and skin microbiome samples. Proposals for collaboration are welcome. Please contact the principal contact for further details. | Breast milk, Buccal swab, DNA, Guthrie card, skin microbiome, skin lipids | 1,000 to 10,000 | 2017- | Data Linkage PGIS | Proposals for collaboration are welcome. Conditions apply | Download | ||
| Australian Donation and Transplantation Biobank | Austin Health | Cardiology, Cellular, Gastrointestinal, Immunology, Liver, renal, and kidney | www.adtbiobank.org | Dr Claire Gordon | [email protected] | 0444 514 864 | Infectious Diseases | The Australian Donation and Transplantation Biobank (ADTB) is an investigator-led resource which links eligible medical researchers with donated clinical biospecimens that are not being used for life-saving transplantation. It was established in 2019 in a collaborative effort between Austin Health Liver Transplant Unit, Austin Health Department of Infectious Diseases and DonateLife Victoria. The Australian Donation and Transplantation Biobank (ADTB) aims to improve opportunities for people to donate organs or tissues after their death for use in medical research, and to make it easier for researchers to conduct valuable research using donated organs and tissues. The ADTB provides an organized system for collection of tissue or organ samples for use in research at the time of recovery of donor organs or tissues for use in transplantation. It then distributes these samples to researchers who have received ethics approval for specific research projects. Australian researchers are able to apply for access to ADTB samples. Their application will be assessed by the ADTB Sample Access Committee to ensure their research is feasible and is ethically approved. The ADTB then coordinates sample retrieval and distribution as well as linkage with de-identified clinical data. | The ADTB is able to provide the following fresh, fresh frozen, formalin-fixed or paraffin-embedded tissues: blood, bone marrow (sternal), spleen, mesenteric lymph nodes, lung-draining lymph nodes, liver, lung, kidney, tonsils, breast tissue, heart, gut (duodenum, ileum, ascending colon), lower urinary tract, thymus and skin. Lung and liver are often transplanted and are infrequently available to researchers. The ADTB works closely with researchers to maximise the opportunity for successful experiments by ensuring the ideal sample is provided. Fresh samples are usually shipped to researchers on the day of donation surgery. | Less than 1,000 | 2018- | Yes - consent and access forms available on request | ||||
| BROCADE | Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre | Cancer, Patient Derived Xenograft models of primary and metastatic breast cancer | www.petermac.org/research/research-cohort-studies/brocade | Lisa Devereux | [email protected] | 03 8559 6532 | Research Division | The BROCADE study was established to create a biobank of breast tumour tissue with a focus on creating patient derived xenograft (PDX) models to support ongoing breast cancer research. Primary and recurrent tumour tissue is collected in excess of diagnostic needs from patients having surgical treatment of breast cancer. BROCADE is also a rapid autopsy study where donors give consent during life for collection of metastatic tumour tissue and associated normal tissue in an autopsy procedure conducted soon after their death. Snap frozen and FFPE material is collected as well as fresh tissue from selected sites. This fresh material has been engrafted into immune compromised mice to create a library of PDX models. The BROCADE resource currently holds PDX models from primary breast cancer [17 ER+, 24 TNBC and 3 Her2+] and metastases [11 ER+, 4 TNBC, 2 PR+] The BROCADE resource is open to access by national and international researchers, pending approval by the BROCADE Access Committee and all relevant institutional ethical clearances. Cost recovery fees apply. | DNA, FFPE adjacent normal tissue, FFPE disease tissue, Fresh frozen adjacent normal tissue, Fresh frozen disease tissue, PDX models of breast tumours: primary tumours derived from surgical samples and metastatic tumours collected in a rapid autopsy procedure from consenting donors. | Less then 1,000 | 2015 to 2022 | Yes | Download | |||
| Lifepool | Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre | Cancer, Data, Population DNA, Population cohort of women aged 18+ | www.lifepool.org | Lisa Devereux | [email protected] | 03 8559 6532 | Research Division | Lifepool is a population cohort of women who provide health & lifestyle data at enrolment and consent to ongoing linkage with health registries including the Victorian Cancer Registry. A subset provide consent for linkage to Medicare & Pharmaceutical Benefit Scheme records. As part of a key collaboration with BreastScreen Victoria, lifepool collects digital mammogram images with over 900,000 images stored to date. For participating women who are diagnosed with breast cancer lifepool collects formalin fixed tumour from pathology archives and histopathology and treatment information. Over 17,000 DNA samples have been collected including over 1,100 samples from women affected by insitu and invasive breast cancer. Importantly, lifepool participants provide consent for future contact to consider participating in additional research, with the privacy of each woman carefully protected through the use of a unique study identification number. There are currently just over 55,000 lifepool participants. The resource is open to application from researchers both nationally and internationally. Modest cost recovery fees apply and institutional ethical approval is essential. | DNA, FFPE adjacent normal tissue, FFPE disease tissue, Saliva, Whole blood specimens, Digital mammogram images, epidemiological questionnaires, linkage with a variety of registry databases for ongoing followup | 50,001 to 100,000 | 2010- | Yes | Download | |||
| Colorectal Oncogenomics Group (COG) | The University of Melbourne | Cancer, Data, Gastrointestinal, Obstetric/gynaecological | www.buchananlab.org www.coloncfr.org | A/Prof Daniel Buchanan | [email protected] | 0405 060 245 | Clinical Pathology | The COG Biobank is a collection of biological samples relating to a number of studies. 1) The Genetics of Colonic Polyposis Study (GCPS) comprises biospecimens, risk factor and clinical data for people with colonic polyposis including people with herediatry polyposis syndromes or with unexplained colonic polyposis. The aim of the study is to develop a comprehensive understanding of the phenotype, risk factors and genetic architecture of colonic polyposis through clinicopathological and molecular investigations. HREC#1955946 2) The Applying Novel Genomic approaches to Early-onset and suspected Lynch syndrome colorectal and endometrial cancers (ANGELS study) - is a study of individuals with colorectal cancer or endometrial cancer of unknown aetiology including people diagnosed with suspected Lynch syndrome and early-onset colorectal cancer. The ANGELS study collects tumour tissue and blood-based biospecimens, risk factor and clinical data with the aim of improving diagnostic approaches and enhancing understanding of tumour aetiology. HREC#1750748 3) Australasian Colorectal Cancer Family Registry (ACCFR) comprises biospecimens, risk factor and clinical data for people and families affected with colorectal cancer. HREC#13094 | Buccal swab, lymphocyte DNA, FFPE adjacent normal tissue and DNA, FFPE tumour tissue and DNA, Guthrie card, RNA, Saliva,Whole blood specimens, Plasma, White blood cells, scanned digital images of H&E slides | 10,001 to 50,000 | 1) 2013-present 2) 2008- present 3) 1998-present | Yes for all three studies | ||||
| CRC for Mental Health: Australian Parkinson’s Disease Registry | The Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health | Neurology | www.mentalhealthcrc.com | Prof Mal Horne | [email protected] | The CRC for Mental Health has fractionated, aliquoted and stored in LN2 blood biospecimens for a Parkinson's disease cohort (with controls, n=~300 participants). | DNA, RNA, Whole blood specimens, Buffy Coat, Plasma, Red blood cells, Serum, White blood cells | 10,001 to 50,000 | 2012-2014 | Yes | ||||||
| CRC for Mental Health: Treatment-resistant Schizophrenia Cohort | The Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health | Neurology | www.mentalhealthcrc.com | Prof Christos Pantellis | [email protected] | The CRC for Mental Health has fractionated blood biospecimens, aliquoted and stored in LN2, for a drug-resistant psychosis cohort of n=~200 disease participants. | DNA, RNA, Whole blood specimens, Buffy Coat, Plasma, Red blood cells, Serum, White blood cells | 10,001 to 50,000 | 2012-2017 | Yes | ||||||
| The Australian Imaging, Biomarker and Lifestyle (AIBL) Study of Aging Biobank | The Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health | Neurology | www.aibl.csiro.au | Dr Christopher Fowler | [email protected] | 03 9389 2944 | AIBL Study | The Australian Imaging, Biomarkers and Lifestyle study of Aging is a 15 year longitudinal cohort investigating the natural history of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Approximate cohort breakdown is 20% AD, 20% mild cognitive impairment, 60% cognitively normal. Blood samples have matching clinical and cognitive assessment and PET-amyloid scans and MRI. ~10% of the cohort has donated CSF. | DNA, RNA, Urine, Whole blood specimens, Buffy Coat, Erythrocytes, Plasma, Red blood cells, Serum, White blood cells | More than 100,000 | 2006- | Expression of Interest form | Yes | |||
| Royal Women's Tissue Bank | The Royal Women's Hospital Melbourne | Cancer, Data, Obstetric/gynaecological | endometriosis.org.au (for endometrial samples) | Prof Peter Rogers; A/Prof Orla McNally | Prof Peter Rogers: [email protected] (endometrium and endometriosis samples) A/Prof Orla McNally: [email protected] (ovarian and endometrial cancer samples) | (03) 8345 3722 | Primarily samples of endometrium and blood plus clinical data from women undergoing surgery for endometriosis. Also ovarian and endometrial cancer samples. | DNA, FFPE adjacent normal tissue, FFPE disease tissue, Fresh frozen adjacent normal tissue, Fresh frozen disease tissue, Immortalised cell lines, RNA, Buffy Coat, Plasma, Serum, endometrium | 1,000 to 10,000 | 2011- | RWH Tissue Bank Donor Consent Form | Yes (currently for endometrium and endometriosis samples only) | Download | |||
| Children’s Cancer Centre Biobank | Murdoch Children’s Research Institute | Bone and muscle, Cancer, Childhood diseases, Data, Liver, renal, and kidney, Newborn/infant, Bone marrow disorders, Primary immunodeficiency disease, Neurofibromatosis - siblings, parents and relatives | www.mcri.edu.au/research/projects/childrens-cancer-centre-biobank | Dr Louise Ludlow | [email protected] | (03) 9936 6048 | Stem Cell Biology, Neuro-oncology | The Children’s Cancer Centre Biobank is a valuable collection of biological samples such as tissue collected during surgery, blood and bone marrow. These samples are linked to health information contained in hospital medical records. | DNA, FFPE disease tissue, Fresh frozen disease tissue, Guthrie card, Immortalised cell lines, Primary cells, RNA, Saliva, Skin, Plasma, White blood cells, Cryopreserved cells | 10,001 to 50,000 | 2013- | Yes - the Children’s Cancer Centre Biobank welcomes enquiries from researchers investigating paediatric malignancy, neurofibromatosis and bone marrow disorders. | Download | |||
| RMH Neurosurgery Tissue Bank | The Royal Melbourne Hospital | Cancer, Cellular, Data, Neurology | A/Prof Andrew Morokoff | [email protected] | 0419 391 911 | Neurosurgery RMH and Department of Surgery The University of Melbourne | We collect all brain tumour and associated brain tissue specimens from patients in the neurosurgery unit at RMH. Stored in -80 freezers at RMH. Linked Clinical data is collected in the BRAIN database. Various research projects used the stored frozen tissue. There is also a glioma cell line bank made from direct culture from brain tumours, and blood specimens since 2018. | Fresh frozen disease tissue, Immortalised cell lines, Whole blood specimens, Buffy Coat, Plasma, Serum | 1,000 to 10,000 | 2001- | Yes | Download | ||||
| Australian Autoinflammatory Disease Registry (AADRY) | WEHI | Data, Immunology | www.aadry.org | Prof Seth Masters | [email protected] | (03) 9345 2390 | Inflammation | AADRY is a patient registry for all Australian patients with autoinflammatory disease. It collects data and biospecimens. AADRY is a knowledge base and data set that is used to facilitate patient care and disseminate relevant information, provide patients without an established genetic diagnosis the opportunity to participating in a whole exome sequencing project, and to Validate the pathogenicity of novel variants, or variants in genes not previously associated with autoinflammatory disease. | DNA, Whole blood specimens, White blood cells | Less than 1,000 | 2015- | Proposals for collaboration are welcome. Conditions apply | ||||
| COMBINE Biobank | Royal Melbourne Hospital @ The Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity | Serum, COVID-19 | Kathy Jackson | [email protected] | (03) 9342 9379 | Melbourne Health | Single-site Biobank containing samples from five different studies investigating COVID-19 infection | Plasma, Serum | 1,000-10,000 | 2020- | Will be considered on a request-by-request basis | |||||
| Austin Health Tissue Bank (A member of Victorian Cancer Biobank) | Austin Health | Cancer, Data | viccancerbiobank.org.au | VCB Enquiries | [email protected] | (03) 9514 6289 | Department of Anatomical Pathology | The Austin Health Tissue Bank based at Austin Hospital is a member of the Victorian Cancer Biobank (VCB). The VCB consortium is a collaborative, not-for-profit biobank network. It offers a wide range of ethically obtained biospecimens and associated services to faciliate biomedical research. Readily available specimens of multiple cancer streams can be found on: viccancerbiobank.org.au/for-researchers/specimen-catalogue. The VCB can also assist in bespoke prospective collections and clinical trial support. | FFPE adjacent normal tissue, FFPE disease tissue, Fresh frozen adjacent normal tissue, Fresh frozen disease tissue, Buffy Coat, Plasma, Serum | More than 100,000 | 2005- | Yes | ||||
| Peter Mac Tissue Bank (A member of Victorian Cancer Biobank) | Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre | Cancer, Data | viccancerbiobank.org.au | VCB Enquiries | [email protected] | (03) 9514 6289 | Pathology & Research | The Peter Mac Tissue Bank based at Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre is a member of the Victorian Cancer Biobank (VCB). The VCB consortium is a collaborative, not-for-profit biobank network. It offers a wide range of ethically obtained biospecimens and associated services to faciliate biomedical research. Readily available specimens of multiple cancer streams can be found on viccancerbiobank.org.au/for-researchers/specimen-catalogue. The VCB can also assist in bespoke prospective collections and clinical trial support. | FFPE adjacent normal tissue, FFPE disease tissue, Fresh frozen adjacent normal tissue, Fresh frozen disease tissue, Buffy Coat, Plasma, Serum | More than 100,000 | 1998- | Yes | ||||
| Melbourne Health Tissue Bank (A member of Victorian Cancer Biobank) | The Royal Melbourne Hospital | viccancerbiobank.org.au | VCB Enquiries | [email protected] | (03) 9514 6289 | Office of Research and Department of Anatomical Pathology | The Melbourne Health Tissue Bank based at The Royal Melbourne Hospital is a member of the Victorian Cancer Biobank (VCB). The VCB consortium is a collaborative, not-for-profit biobank network. It offers a wide range of ethically obtained biospecimens and associated services to faciliate biomedical research. Readily available specimens of multiple cancer streams can be found on viccancerbiobank.org.au/for-researchers/specimen-catalogue. The VCB can also assist in bespoke prospective collections and clinical trial support. | FFPE adjacent normal tissue, FFPE disease tissue, Fresh frozen adjacent normal tissue, Fresh frozen disease tissue, Buffy Coat, Plasma, Serum | More than 100,000 | 2001- | Yes | |||||
| ASCOT-ADAPT: The Australasian COVID-19 Trial | The University of Melbourne | Cellular, Immunology, Microbial collections, Serology (COVID-19) | www.ascot-trial.edu.au | Vi Nguyen | [email protected] | Infectious Diseases, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences | The Australasian COVID-19 Trial (ASCOT) was initiated in the setting of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic and focuses on the rapid evaluation of new treatments with potential effectiveness in reducing mortality and need for intensive care admission. ASCOT has now moved to an adaptive platform (ASCOT ADAPT) to allow rapid implementation of new treatment arms as well as the potential to drop treatment arms as new evidence emerges. As a voluntary part of the trial, enrolled participants may also agree to have additional blood and other samples collected and stored for future research studies that may or may not be related to COVID-19. | DNA, Microbiological, Whole blood specimens, Erythocytes, Plasma, Red blood cells, Serum, White blood cells, Upper respiratory swaps | Less than 1,000 | 2020-2021 | Please see attached. Due to the adaptive nature of this trial there are a number of consent form versions. See links below to the following versions: PICF V3.0 PICF V4.0 PICF V5.0 | Yes | Download | |||
| Victorian Critical Vaccinees Collection | The Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity | Cellular, Data, Immunology | www.doherty.edu.au/victorian-critical-vaccinees-collection | Rosy Taqi | [email protected] | Department of Infectious Diseases | The Victorian Critical Vaccinees Collection (VC²) is a biospecimen collection – or biobank – of samples from people vaccinated against pandemic diseases including COVID-19 and monkeypox in Victoria. | Primary cells, Saliva, Plasma, Serum, Granulocytes | 1,000 to 10,000 | 2021- | Sample access application form | Yes | Download | |||
| Generation Victoria (GenV) | Murdoch Children's Research Institute | Cellular, Childhood diseases, Data, Microbial collections, Newborn/infant, Obstetric/gynaecological, Child health and wellbeing, spanning physical, cognitive, mental, socioeconomic, Adult health and wellbeing, spanning physical, cognitive, mental, socioeconomic, Adult diseases | www.genv.org.au | GenV Cohort Coordinator | [email protected] | 1800 436 888 | GenV - Murdoch Children's Research Institute | Based at the Murdoch Children’s Research Institute (MCRI), GenV is recruiting large, parallel whole-of-state cohorts of children born 2021-2023 and their parents for discovery and interventional research. GenV is designed to address physical, mental, and social issues experienced during childhood, as well as the antecedents of a wide range of diseases of ageing. It will generate translatable evidence—including prediction, prevention, treatments, and services—to improve future well-being and reduce future disease burden. GenV’s ‘building blocks’ comprise consent, biosamples, linkage to administrative and service/clinical data, GenV-collected data, a capability for integrated studies, and a platform designed to provide value to its consumers. Inclusivity and Open Science are core values. | Breast milk, Faecal samples, Guthrie card, Microbiological, Saliva, Plasma, Serum, Vaginal/anal swap | More than 100,000 | 2021- | The following sites provide more specific detail of use to researchers: | Yes - GenV is designed as an Open Science resource. Privacy-protected child and parent research data will be made available in the future. Currently, researchers are encouraged to approach GenV to explore synergies and collaborative opportunities. See GenV website for collaboration principles and expression of interest processes: www.genv.org.au/for-researchers/enquire-about-collaborating-with-genv/ | |||
| BLADDA Project: Bladder and Urothelial Cancer Data - and Biobank | WEHI | Cancer, Bladder and Urothelial | bladda.wehi.edu.au/ (requires BioGrid login) | Prof Ben Tran | [email protected] | (03) 9345 2896 | Personalised Oncology | The BLADDA project is an Australasian-wide bladder cancer registry data and biospecimen bank that collects data and biospecimens from patients with bladder cancer in Australia and internationally. Its purpose is to facilitate a comprehensive analysis of bladder cancer diagnosis, treatment and outcomes in Australia, and support much needed basic, translational and clinical research. The registry is a resource to conduct registry-based randomised control trials. | Urine, Whole blood specimens, Virtual – archival tissue from biopsies and surgeries | Less than 1,000 | 2017- | Yes on formal application | ||||
| KRAB: Kidney canceR Australian registry and Biobank | WEHI | Cancer, renal, and kidney | krab.wehi.edu.au/ (requires BioGrid login) | Prof Ben Tran | [email protected] | (03) 9345 2896 | Personalised Oncology | The Kidney canceR Australian registry and Biobank ( KRAB) collects clinical data and biospecimens from patients with kidney cancer in Australia to determine the characteristics, clinical outcomes, and patterns of treatment in patients with kidney cancer managed in routine clinical care. KRAB supports a large number of projects, including quality assurance audits, as well as translational and basic research projects. | Virtual biospecimens – pathology details to allow retrieval at a later date | Less than 1,000 | 2018- | Yes on formal application | ||||
| Melbourne Femur Research Collection | The University of Melbourne | Bone and muscle, Data, Digital image stacks (microCT, digitized microradiographs, CT, pQCT) | dental.unimelb.edu.au/research/melbourne-femur-research-collection | Dr Rita Hardiman | [email protected] | Melbourne Dental School | The Melbourne Femur Research Collection consists of over 600 samples and terabytes of imaging data. The collection was established to answer research questions about ageing in bone tissue, and adheres to this direction of research. | Whole blood specimens, Fixed cortical bone tissue, Fresh frozen bone tissue, Imaging data | 1,000 to 10,000 | 1990-2005 | Yes | |||||
| Riordan Haematology Tissue Bank | Austin Health | Cancer, Cellular, Data | Dr Chun Fong / Alicia Davies | [email protected] [email protected] | (03) 9496 5000 | Clinical Haematology | The Riordan Tissue Bank is generously funded by a bequest from Mrs. Riordan to support ongoing research into leukaemia, lymphoma and related disorders. Established in 2018, our tissue bank stores DNA, RNA, cryopreserved viable cells from bone marrow and blood, plasma and tissue blocks. Serial samples have been collected from patients throughout their treatment journey allowing for investigation of clonal evolution and mechanisms of resistance. The Riordan Tissue Bank remains active with sample storage and expansion planned for the years ahead. | DNA, Plasma, FFPE disease tissue, Primary cells, RNA, White blood cells | 1,000 to 10,000 | 2018 – Present | Yes | |||||
| MCRI COVID Biobank | Murdoch Children’s Research Institute | Cellular, Immunology | Dr Benjamin Ong | [email protected] | 0416 061 230 | Infection, Immunity and Global Health | The MCRI COVID Biobank at the Royal Children’s Hospital, Melbourne offers a wide range of biospecimens obtained from children and adolescents presenting with COVID-19. Specimens continue to be obtained since the beginning of the pandemic. Specimens are used in a range of immunology studies across the campus in an effort to improve the diagnosis, care, and long-term outcomes of children and adolescents with COVID-19. | Buccal swab, saliva, whole blood specimens | 10,001 to 50,000 | 2020- Present | Yes |
Periodically we will contact contributors and verify that details of their listed facility is up-to-date.
If you would like to update your existing entry or suggest the addition of a new facility, please complete the form below and send to [email protected]
National
New South Wales
Victoria
Western Australia
International
MACH recognises the contributions of the facilities featured on this registry in providing access to patient samples and expertise that supports scientific research. We also thank Research Translation Centres across the AHRA network who assisted us in the design and conceptualisation of this resource.
We encourage researchers to ensure fair acknowledgement of facilities and/or co-authorship of core facility staff, in line with the guidelines for acknowledging work supported by the individual facilities.