What differentiates BioPortal from other biobanks?

 

  • The deep clinical datasets we have been able to produce in collaboration with Digital Health.
  • The distinct and diverse populations that the JGH serves.
  • Open access to data. Fourth, REB-approved consent which enables recall-by-genotype studies.

 

Deep Phenotypic Data

 

Over the past two years, the BioPortal team in collaboration with Digital Health, has built one of the richest hospital-based datasets for COVID19. Types of data include:

  • ER visits
  • admission
  • ICU admission
  • vitals on arrival
  • administered medications in hospitalgenetic photo
  • pharmacy reconciliation
  • previous medical history by ICD10 code
  • consult history, procedures performed and all lab values
  • microbiology
  • CT/XR/MRI imaging
  • blood type

 

For the diabetes project, phenotypes will include, on top of those listed above:

  • retinal images using AI-assisted technologies
  • FibroScan to document liver damage
  • brain imaging to document small vessel diseases

 

Addressing the needs of researchers

 

  • Access to large quantity of real-world high-quality data from patients diagnosed with diabetes and related metabolic disorders
  • Access to such patients for selected, molecularly enriched early development clinical trials
  • Access to biological material from such patients
  • Access to data, samples and patients diagnosed with specific rare diseases.
  • Possibility to envision population-based secondary prevention of coronary artery disease. The ultimate goal of BioPortal is to apply genomics and related technologies to the entire population of the CIUSSS the JGH belongs to, i.e., 300,000 individuals.

 

Open Access

Unlike most other biobanks (BioVU, FinnGen, Geisinger), BioPortal will be open-access, meaning any group who has REB approval and Data Access Committee endorsement will be given access to the data.

This is good for science and good for us as it increases our user base, our scientific productivity and national and international visibility.

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