Research in Lab
HMH Research Institute

Biorepository Investigators, Resources

The Hackensack Meridian Health (HMH) Biorepository (BioR) is a valuable resource for investigators, providing access to a diverse collection of high-quality human biospecimens and associated de-identified clinical data. To ensure your study's success, we strongly encourage you to connect with the HMH BioR team during the initial planning phase of your research to discuss your specific specimen and data requirements.

Requesting Biospecimens and Data: A Step-by-Step Guide

To request biospecimens and/or data from the BioR, please follow this two-step process:

Step 1: Submit the Project for Non-Human Subject Research (NHSR) Determination in eResearch

Before you can submit a proposal to the Biorepository Research Integrity Committee (BRIC), you must first get a determination from the Institutional Review Board (IRB) that your project qualifies as Non-Human Subjects Research (NHSR). This is a critical first step.

How to get an NHSR determination:

  • Navigate to the eResearch IRB module: https://irbresearch.hmhn.org
  • Log in: Eligible Hackensack Meridian Health employees should be able to use their institutional credentials. If you do not already have access, you may need to request it by submitting a request form.
  • Create a New Study: Start the application as you would for a human subjects research study.
  • Follow the Prompts: The system will guide you through the necessary questions to determine if your research meets the criteria for NHSR.
  • Submit for Review: Once you have completed the application, submit it for Institutional Review Board (IRB) review.

The IRB will then issue an official NHSR determination letter through the eResearch system. This letter is essential for the next step.

Step 2: BRIC Proposal Submission in REDCap

With your NHSR determination letter in hand, you can now submit a formal proposal to the BRIC.

How to submit a BRIC proposal:

  • Access the BRIC Submission Form: Go to https://redcap.link/BRICSubmission.
  • Complete the Proposal Form: Fill out the BRIC proposal form via the link provided with all the required details of your research project.
  • Upload Required Documents: You must upload the following documents with your submission:
    • The NHSR determination letter from the IRB.
    • The same IRB protocol and any other documentation you submitted to eResearch for the NHSR determination.
    • If your project involves collaboration with an external institution, a Material Transfer Agreement (MTA) or other relevant collaboration agreement must also be included.

Important: Incomplete submissions will delay the review process. Ensure all necessary documents are included.

Step 3: The BRIC Review Process

Once submitted in REDCap, the proposal will undergo a multi-stage 2-3 week review. It is first screened for exemption. If not exempt, it is sent for a blinded review by five experts who assess its scientific merit and feasibility. The BRIC coordinator will contact the Principal Investigator (PI) with any questions before a final decision is communicated.

For more information regarding biospecimen access, collaboration opportunities or amendments to approved projects, please contact the General Line: 551-996-2000 ext. 71079 or email joanna.garciamansfield@hmhn.org.

Specimen Catalog

Explore the BioRepository’s sample catalog to find the precise samples your research requires.

By covering a spectrum of diseases and conditions, our catalog facilitates scientific discovery and innovation.

Bodily fluids including blood samples, plasma, buffy coat, serum, saliva, CSF, urine, pleural fluid, bone marrow and DNA and RNA including viral RNA, human RNA, human DNA and tissue samples including flash frozen, paraffin blocks, nitrocellulose membrane, OCT and swab samples including COVID-19, RSV, flu, enterovirus, retrovirus and isolated cells, BMMCs, PBMCS, CD138+, neutrophils.

PIs can request the collection of samples according to their study or they can also review our BioR banked sample catalog. If your sample of interest is not listed in our catalog, please reach out to our HMH BioR program Directors Dr. Kar Chow and Ya'el Kramer at HMHBioR@hmhn.org.

Biospecimen Processing

The HMH BioR helps with banking cells from sample types like bone marrow, whole blood, pleural fluid, frozen tissues, nitrocellulose membrane, formalin fixed paraffin embedded (FFPE) tissues, saliva, sputum and stool. We also assist with shipping and receiving samples to and from university collaborators and other institutions.

Bioinformatics

Our Bioinformatics team scrubs, cleans and performs analysis on patient data as well as run complex queries to capture information that is tailored to the researcher’s requirements. Ask us about how your team can take advantage of our data services.

For more information regarding biospecimen Data and Specimen Management, please contact our HMH BioR Bioinformatics team, Ashish Amin and Justine Kim.

Core Facility and Equipment

HMH BioR offers on-campus laboratory space across HMH Network, equipped with biosafety cabinets, incubators, centrifuges and onsite freezer farm for your convenience.

Leverage our laboratory equipment, designed to support diverse scientific needs. Our laboratory services, including facility and instrument access, sample processing, and storage, are available to meet your lab's needs. Our facility provides researchers with access to instruments tailored to sample analysis, processing and storage ensuring precise and efficient results.

Inquire about the equipment at your disposal including: microscopes, centrifuge, Kingfisher Apex, QuantStudio 5 Real-Time PCR 5, Countess Automated Cell Counting, Nanodrop Nucleic Acid Quantifier, Robosep, Fluent Automation Tecan (Fluent 1080 system), ultra low -80 freezers and -30 freezers, Cryoplus Autofill Cryogenic Storage System.

For more information regarding HMH BioR Core Facility services, please contact yael.kramer@hmhn.org and fareeha.kanwal@hmhn.org.

General Line: 551-996-3700 or email HMHBioR@hmhn.org.