The IBBRI collects, catalogues and stores biological samples that are non-essential for diagnostic purposes from patients who provide informed consent for the use of their tissues for research purposes. A direct pipeline with the operating theatres for the collection of tissue samples ensures negligible sample degradation. Surgically-excised pathological and non-pathological tissue samples, plasma/serum, total blood, DNA and RNA are collected and stored according to specific protocols and standard operating procedures. We also store any primary cell cultures, stem cell preparations, and xenotransplanted tumors derived from collected samples. The collection and distribution of Biological Samples must have prior approval from the Scientific and Technical Committee of the IBBRI and by the Ethics Committee. The role of the two committees and the procedure are described in the Biobank Rules.

All biobanked samples are managed and tracked through a software package that is fully integrated with the hospital medical records database, pathology database and central registry of patient demographic information. This ensures that each sample is linked to a full complement of anonymous or anonymized (according to patient choice) patient information that is accessible solely by authorized Biobank personnel.

The high quality biospecimens collected by the IBBRI are used for biomarker and drug discovery experiments, both for basic research and for MMC translational research projects (e.g. the development of personalized therapies), with the ultimate aim of providing excellence in patient care through excellence in research.