David Serisier Research Biobank
The David Serisier Research Biobank is the only biobank in Australia dedicated to aiding and facilitating research into respiratory disease.
Based at Mater Hill, South Brisbane, this Biobank collects specimens for research into chronic respiratory disease, respiratory infections and lung cancer. Named in honour of the late Dr David Serisier, the aim of the Biobank is to carefully collect and professionally process high quality samples to researchers in the hope of improving the health of respiratory patients in Australia and the world.
History of the Biobank
In 2014, with the support of Mater Research, the Mater Respiratory Research Biobank opened. This biobank would aid and facilitate research into respiratory conditions by providing high quality samples and data.
Dr David Serisier was the Director of Respiratory Medicine at Mater Hospital Brisbane and was an Associate Professor of Medicine at the University of Queensland. He was a highly decorated Mater Researcher and was the primary author of 31 papers in peer reviewed journals. In 2015, David Serisier sadly passed away at the age of 45. In honour of his enormous contribution to the field of respiratory medicine, the biobank was renamed the David Serisier Research Biobank.
Today, the biobank continues to collect specimens from consenting Mater Hospital patients as part of their treatment. These valuable samples are available for use in ethically approved research projects. The Biobank has Human Research Ethics Committee approval and is governed by Mater Health.
Important Information for Researchers
The David Serisier Research Biobank recruits donors from Mater, South Brisbane. These include ward patients, outpatients, bronchoscopy admissions and thoracic surgery admissions. Patients provide consent and specimens are collected by a qualified biobank staff member or by their treating physician. All clinical data and medical history is collected at the time of consent.
Specimens and data collected
| Samples | Data |
| Blood (Whole Blood, Serum, Plasma, PBMCs) | Demographics (age, gender, height, weight, ethnicity) |
| Tissue (Biopsies and Lobectomy Resections | Medical history (medications, conditions, exposures, vaccination status) |
| Sputum | Pathology Reports (Histology, Cytology, Microbiology, Immunology) |
| Oropharyngeal Swabs | Imaging |
| Bronchial Lavage Fluid | Lung Function Data |
| Pleural Fluid | Questionnaires (SF-36 & CRQ) |
| Bronchial Epithelial Cell Cultures |
Diagnosis and current inventory
- Pulmonary Fibrosis
- Asthma
- Bronchiectasis
- Lung Cancer (SCLC and NSCLC)
- COPD
- Cystic Fibrosis
- Interstitial Lung Disease
- Sarcoidosis
- Non-Tuberculous Mycobacterial Infection
- Lymphangioleiomyomatosis
For a complete list of diagnoses please contact Rio clinical trials team
Services
The David Serisier Research Biobank has over a decade of experience with research. To facilitate respiratory research, the unit may able to help with protocol creation, ethics and governance submissions, project design and implementation.
To access the services of the David Serisier Research Biobank an application needs be lodged with the Biobank Coordinator. Once approved by the Biobank Access Committee, an investigator can engage in the Biobank services to obtain specimens and data for their project. There are three options to achieve this:
- General Collection
Utilising the existing inventory to fulfil your project requirements. There are currently has over 2,500 specimens in cryostorage ready for dispatch. - Prospective collection
Prospectively collecting specimens based on the exact requirements of the research project (i.e. collecting specific samples and data from specific donors with a particular disease). Samples obtained through prospective collection can also be processed according to your protocols. - A combination of both
Costs
The David Serisier Research Biobank utilises a cost recovery schedule to recover some of the costs associated with collecting and storing specimens. The schedule is governed by the principles set out by the NHMRC Direct Research Costs Guidelines (January 2014). The prices listed below reflect the costs associated with specimen collecting, processing, consumables and storage. It is provided as a guide only and is based on specimen us for academic research.
For a more accurate quote, please contact the Biobank Coordinator to evaluate your exact study requirements and develop a customised quotation. Quotes can also be provided to researchers in the process of submitting grant and funding applications.
| Specimen | Fee |
| Whole Blood (500µl) | $30 |
| Plasma (500-1000µl) | $39 |
| Serum (500-1000µl) | $39 |
| PBMCs (>1x106 cells per vial) | $66 |
| Swab (per swab) | $12 |
| Sputum (per vial) | $47 |
| Tissue Biopsy (1 Biopsy) | $94 |
| Lobectomy Tissue (~5x5x5mm) | $122 |
| BALF (SN) (1000µl) | $30 |
| BALF (Pellet) (300µl) | $60 |
| HBEC (~1x106 cells per vial) | $360 |
| Pleural Fluid Pellet (per vial) | $65 |
| Clinical Data | Fee |
| Base Data Set* | Included in Specimen Fee |
| Additional Data** | Determined on an hourly rate basis |
| Access | Fee |
| Application | $120 |
| Application Amendment | $60 |
*Base Data Set: Age, Sex, Concomitant Medications, Concomitant Medical Conditions, Smoking Status, Smoking Pack Years, Asbestos Exposure, Vaccination Status (Pneumovax and Fluvax), Pathology Reports
**Additional Data Sets: Questionnaires, Lung Function, Imaging, Treatment and Survival Data
Contact Us
Donors or researchers interested in more information about the David Serisier Research Biobank are encouraged to contact the Kaltin Ferguson, Biobank Operations Manager via Email Kaltin