ServicesBruce McManus Cardiovascular Biobank
About the Biobank
The Bruce McManus Cardiovascular Biobank (BMCB), initiated by Dr. Bruce McManus in June 1982, maintains over 100,000 de-identified human cardiovascular tissue specimens, including explanted hearts from orthotopic heart transplantation, blood vessels, heart valves, and myocardium. The BMCB has been a platform for translational research and multi-faceted education.
Archiving Tissue Specimens
In close collaboration with heart surgeons and pathologists, the BMCB collects human tissue specimens directly from the Operating Room, typically within 5 minutes post-surgery. Each specimen is processed through four distinct preservation methods, ensuring the integrity and utility of samples for research purposes. These methods include:
- flash-freezing,
- RNA stabilization solution (RNAlater™) storage,
- Optimal Cutting Temperature (OCT) compound-embedded, and
- formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE)
The BMCB’s distinguished heart transplant cohort is characterized by the collection of explanted hearts, kindly donated by transplant recipients, alongside matched blood samples from the donors. For each heart, we archive tissues from 32 standardized regions in each of the four preservation methods previously described (Fig. 1). Our biobanking approach is illustrated in the below figure, a visual representation of our heart archiving protocol.
Requesting Sample Access
The BMCB offers local, national, and international researchers access to its cardiovascular specimens. The biobank also supports HLI investigators with project-specific research services. As well, standard histology services are provided upon request. The BMCB requires approved human ethics before your project starts. Please refer to the TCPS2 policy (https://tcps2core.ca/welcome) and obtain ethics approval from your research institution.
All researchers interested in collaborating with or using samples from the BMCB can follow instructions in the BMCB Sample Access Request Form and submit it to biobank@hli.ubc.ca.
Ying Wang
Registry DirectorDr. Wang’s vision is to incorporate high-throughput biotechnologies (single cell phenotyping and spatial phenotyping) and bioinformatics methods to modernize biobank research of cardiovascular research.
For more details, please see: https://wanglab.med.ubc.ca/
Gurpreet Singhera
PhD, Registry ManagerDr. Singhera brings 25 years of extensive experience in tissue and cell biobanking, lab management, project management, and inter-disciplinary collaborations.
As CVTR manager, she oversees the heart failure archiving team and facilitates cardiovascular research within the HLI community and external collaborators.
Coco Ng
BSc, Biobank Technician
