Launching a COVID Biobank in Quebec
Among the initiatives being suggested to find a solution to the COVID-19 pandemic is one originating from the Fonds de recherche du Québec and Génome Québec: they have mandated a group of researchers to create the Quebec COVID Biobank.
This provincial infrastructure’s main objective is to make the samples and data needed by Quebec researchers in their work on COVID-19 available to them, within a strict ethical and legal framework. In addition, the Biobank will serve to catalyze and facilitate the coordination of research on COVID-19 being conducted in Quebec, in Canada, and around the world. It will support research efforts to discover new biomarkers of the disease, track its evolution, and develop drugs and vaccines. It will also foster the development of new technologies for analyzing large databases. Lastly, the Biobank will stimulate health research and precision medicine on a scale unprecedented in Quebec, which will serve to support health care, innovation, and research.
This decentralized infrastructure will allow for the research conducted in all Quebec research institutions to be amalgamated and facilitate national and international research collaborations. Discussions are underway at the federal level to eventually include this Biobank in a pan-Canadian network. Data and sample collection will begin on April 1, 2020.
For information:
Vincent Mooser, Director of the task force implementing the Biobank
Canada Excellence Research Chair in Genomic Medicine
Faculty of Medicine, McGill UniversityVincent.mooser@mcgill.ca
Carole Jabet, President of the Biobank’s Governance Committee
Scientific Director, Fonds de recherche du Québec – SantéCarole.jabet@frq.gouv.qc.caSerge Marchand, Vice President, Scientific Affairs, Génome Québecsmarchand@genomequebec.com