The Crimson Biomaterials Collection Core Facility prospectively collects discarded clinical materials matching investigator-defined criteria against available information on clinical samples, including ICD.9 codes and results of clinical laboratory testing. Studies using the core must either (1) have an IRB-approved protocol for discarded clinical materials and anonymized information or (2) a protocol to allow collection of discarded samples from patients consented for their study. Collected samples may be additionally processed, aliquotted, or tested per the menu of clinical laboratory tests available within the BWH Clinical Laboratories. As of March 2006 the core will provide a web-based software application, called “Crimson” to allow investigators and associated study staff to manage collected sample repositories and associated data.

Director: Lynn Bry, M.D., Ph.D.
Phone: (617) 732-7763
Fax: (617) 264-6898
Email: lbry@partners.org

Other Staff:

Neil Herring
Phone: ( 617) 278-0553
Email: nherring@partners.org

Location of Core:

Brigham & Women’s Hospital Clinical Laboratories.

Major Equipment:

Specimen collection and processing equipment.

►Collection of discarded clinical specimens including serum, plasma, CSF, urine and microbiological isolates for IRB-approved studies.
►Processing or additional clinical testing of collected materials.
►Ability to receive consented patient samples for processing and clinical testing.
►Online interface to manage collected sample inventories, associated test results, and study users/workgroup per IRB-approval.

Setup fees are based on the complexity of the study, with factors such as number of samples to be collected, and additional processing to be performed within the laboratory defining basic, moderate complexity and enterprise/complex-level studies.

Banking personnel may perform additional aspects of study management including specialized data management and reporting or participation in site visits or certifications that are billed at an hourly rate for services performed.

If requested, investigators may utilize the services of BWH pathologists to review cases or assist with scientific aspects of studies. These fees may be waived by the participating pathologist(s) if services are provided in the context of a mutually agreed collaboration.

* Call for prices on privately funded and industry-funded studies.

To access the core, please contact Dr. Lynn Bry at (617) 732-7763 or by email at lbry@partners.org.

http://labmed.bwh.harvard.edu/crimson/