CHOP Biobank: Making Breakthroughs Together
The CHOP Biobank gathers biological samples from CHOP patients and relatives to help researchers find new treatments and cures for diseases.
You can help us make a real difference in the future of children’s health. When you agree to participate in the CHOP Biobank, you may contribute to groundbreaking research that has the potential to shape better healthcare outcomes for generations to come.
Who can participate in the CHOP Biobank?
Any child from any area of CHOP’s clinical care system is welcome to participate. It’s important that we gather samples from healthy children, as well as children who are receiving specialized care for medical conditions. Biological relatives (like parents and siblings) are also eligible to participate.
Please know that participating in the CHOP Biobank is optional. Your child will always receive the best care possible from our world-renowned experts, no matter what. We will always ask your permission first and we will never collect a sample from your child without your permission.
Contact the CHOP Biobank
Interested in learning more about the CHOP Biobank? Complete our interest form and a study coordinator will reach out to you with more information.
What does it mean to participate in the CHOP Biobank?
By allowing your child's biological samples to be part of the CHOP Biobank, you may be helping our researchers collaborate to find better treatments, tools for quicker diagnoses, and hope for a healthier tomorrow.
- We will store leftover samples that would have otherwise been thrown away (for example, blood from a clinical draw, or leftover tissue samples after a procedure). Leftover samples may be accessed throughout clinical care. If no such specimen is available, we will ask for a blood or saliva sample for research. Less frequently, participants may be asked to provide other optional types of samples, such as urine or stool.
- We will also review your medical records and link data from your medical records to your specimens in the CHOP Biobank.
Biological samples… biospecimens… what does it all mean?
A "biospecimen" refers to a sample of biological material taken from a person. You might also hear the term “biological sample.” Both phrases mean the same thing.
Biospecimens could include things like blood, tissue, cells, or even DNA. CHOP researchers use biospecimens to learn more about how certain diseases affect the body and how we can better treat, or even cure them.
Why are biospecimens essential for pediatric research?
Biospecimens from children are very important to pediatric research. Diseases that affect children are often more diverse, rarer, and may be more likely to have a genetic cause than diseases that affect adults. Other researchers often substitute adult biospecimens and data for pediatric samples, and this generally does not translate to useful findings for childhood diseases. Children are continuously developing, and samples from children of all ages, both with medical conditions and apparently healthy are needed in “big data” research.
How will we use the samples and medical information?
The biological samples and associated data in the CHOP Biobank are used in different ways:
- Medical Research: The samples in our Biobank give our researchers access to a wide range of samples from both healthy children and children with various medical conditions. Our researchers use the samples to study the underlying genetic, molecular and cellular mechanisms of diseases, allowing us to develop more targeted and personalized treatments.
- Genetic Research: Biobank samples and associated data can help us identify genetic variations linked with specific diseases or conditions. The goal is to discover genetic markers that indicate disease risk so we can diagnose diseases earlier and start treatment sooner.
- Treatment Research: Biobank samples and associated data can help our researchers identify which patients would respond well to certain treatments. We can also see if a certain treatment works well with a particular genetic profile and identify potential side effects.
- Epidemiological Research: Our Biobank samples and associated data can help us study why certain diseases are more common in a particular population. We can look at how genetics and environmental factors play a role. Epidemiological studies can help us identify risk factors, track disease trends and develop strategies for prevention and intervention.
- Biomarker Identification: CHOP researchers use Biobank samples to identify biomarkers. Biomarkers are molecules that indicate the presence or progression of a disease. Biomarkers can be used for early detection, disease monitoring and assessing how well a treatment is working.
Biological samples may be used for years to come. If you ever change your mind about your child’s participation, let us know. You may withdraw from the Biobank at any time and your samples and data will no longer be accessible in the CHOP Biobank.
At CHOP, we care about the health and wellbeing of all children and we’re working toward a world where all childhood diseases can be cured. When you or your child contribute to our Biobank, you're helping our researchers study the complexities of different conditions. You may be helping them better understand childhood disease. You may help them create breakthroughs that could transform pediatric healthcare. Each contribution makes a difference.
How can I sign up for the CHOP Biobank?
If you are interested in learning more about the CHOP Biobank, contact biobank@chop.edu.
We want to make sure you’re aware that there is no compensation for participating (that means you won’t be paid to provide samples). As a part of our CHOP community, we appreciate your help in finding new treatments and cures for children who need them.