Central Biorepository

The Central Biorepository (CBR) facilitates discovery and improves healthcare outcomes by providing high-quality, highly annotated biospecimens donated for basic, clinical, and translational research.

Make an Appointment Photo of CBR director opening a liquid nitrogen tank and pulling out stored samples.

Exceptional Biobanking Services

The CBR helps researchers access, collect, manage, and protect biospecimens using highly automated processes and the highest quality control in our state-of-the-art, safe and monitored facility. 

Before you begin working with the CBR, please review our Pre-Onboarding Considerations for guidance on navigating the early steps of working with us. 
  • Make an Appointment
  • Services and Rates
  • View Inventory
  • Regulatory and Governance
  • Find Biospecimens
  • Research We Support
  • AI & Digital Health Innovation
  • Frequently Asked Questions
    • Photo depicting the CBR biorepository. Containing liquid nitrogen storage tanks and other cold storage.
    Spotlight On

    Take a Virtual Tour!

    Learn more about the U-M Medical School Central Biorepository by taking a virtual tour of the facility. Get details on the CBR process and information about equipment and services available to study teams.

    How we Serve Your Biobanking Needs
    Photo of CBR staff member opening a liquid nitrogen tank

    Access Biospecimens

    The Central Biorepository enables access to an array of sample types from participants enrolled in a variety of research studies.

    Learn More About Accessing Biospecimens
    Photo of biospecimen in a freezer

    Biobanking

    With collection support and biostorage management, the Central Biorepository is a world-class enterprise resource for U-M researchers and beyond.

    Learn More About Biobanking
    Photo of CBR staff member loading samples into a processing machine

    Biospecimen Processing

    The Central Biorepository offers a variety of biospecimen processing services and creates sample collection kits in support of biomedical research programs.

    Learn More About Biospecimen Processing
    Photo of CBR liquid nitrogen tanks in the storage room

    Equipment & Instrumentation

    The Central Biorepository uses specialized equipment and laboratory robotics to safely store and automate biospecimen processing.

    Learn More About Equipment & Instrumentation

    Through the Central Biorepository, our world-class U-M faculty researchers have access to high-quality, highly annotated biospecimens that are safely stored and processed.

    Victoria Blanc, PhD
    Director, Central Biorepository
    Photo of Victoria Blanc, PhD

    CBR FY26 At a Glance
    924,000+
    Biospecimens Stored
    47
    Research Studies
    23,000+
    Samples Distributed

    How the CBR can Benefit Your Research
    How the UMMS Central Biorepository Can Benefit Your Research

    Contact Us
    Central Biorepository
    Medical School Office of Research
    North Campus Research Complex, Building 60-1661
    2800 Plymouth Road
    Ann Arbor, MI 48109

    Hours of Operation: 7:30 am - 4:30 pm, Monday - Friday

    Want to provide feedback? Click here to access a brief survey about your CBR service. 

    Phone Number: 734-647-8809
    College of American Pathologists logo

    We're Accredited – The Central Biorepository is accredited by the College of American Pathologists (CAP) Biorepository Accreditation Program.

    Upcoming Research Events

     All Office of Research Events
    9 30 2026 12:00 pm 9 30 2026 - 1:00 pm

    Research Computing Modernization Project Update, Featuring Great Lakes 2 HPC
    Join the BRCF Advanced Genomics Core (AGC) and ITS Advanced Research Computing (ARC) to learn about the transition to Great Lakes 2 High Performance Computing. Enjoy a complimentary lunch.
    NCRC building exterior
    10 8 2026 9:00 am 10 8 2026 - 1:00 pm

    Ask the Experts: Advanced Genomics Core - 10x Genomics
    Join the BRCF Advanced Genomics Core (AGC) and 10x Genomics for an interactive, small-group discussion series designed around the questions, challenges, and opportunities that matter most to your research, whether you're planning your first single cell experiment or troubleshooting an ongoing spatial transcriptomics project.
    NCRC building exterior
    10 8 2026 1:00 pm 10 8 2026 - 5:00 pm

    Hands-On Workshop: Analyzing Xenium In Situ Spatial Data
    Join the BRCF Advanced Genomics Core (AGC) and 10x Genomics for a hands-on workshop covering key considerations and approaches for analyzing Xenium In Situ Gene Expression data.
    A diverse group of adults engages in a discussion around a table with laptops.
    10 8 2026 2:00 pm 10 8 2026 - 4:00 pm

    Central Biorepository Open House
    Get an inside look at a state-of-the-art facility at Michigan Medicine that helps researchers access, collect, manage, process, protect, and share human biospecimens. Join the Central Biorepository (CBR) for an upcoming Open House and tour our molecular and biorepository facilities, where we process and safely store more than 900,000 biospecimens.
    Photo of a woman standing in front of a long term storage freezer pulling out a rack of biospecimen
    10 12 2026 8:00 am 10 12 2026 - 6:00 pm

    Dean's Lecture Symposium
    The Dean's Lecture Symposium will offer a day of panel sessions, a poster session, and keynote speaker Sean Morrison from UT-Southwestern.
    stem cells
    10 13 2026 10:00 am 10 13 2026 - 3:00 pm

    10x Genomics Office Hours
    Get your questions answered, troubleshoot challenges, or walk through your experimental design to find the platform that best fits your research needs with 10x Genomics and the BRCF Advanced Genomics Core.
    Event runs September 08, 2026 - December 08, 2026
    The U-M North Campus Research Complex
    10 13 2026 12:00 pm 10 13 2026 - 1:00 pm

    Quality Control + Genotyping: A necessary step in model validation
    Join the BRCF Transgenic Animal Model Core for a complimentary lunch while you learn how to make your own model.
    A cell being engineered
    10 15 2026 2:00 pm 10 15 2026 - 3:00 pm

    The Funding Forum
    Join the Grant Services and Analysis Research Development (RD) team on Zoom every third Thursday at 2:00 pm for the Funding Forum – a 60-minute session designed to help UMMS faculty gain an advantage in grant seeking and proposal development.
    Event runs May 21, 2026 - December 17, 2026
    A person sits at a laptop at BSRB.
    10 22 2026 8:00 am 10 22 2026 - 5:00 pm

    Write Winning NIH R01 Grant Proposals
    This full-day workshop is an annual event for R01 Boot Camp participants, and will be open again this year to U-M faculty members, postdoctoral researchers and administrative staff interested in gaining a competitive edge in grantsmanship.
    Faculty and Dr. Robertson in the auditorium at Palmer Commons

    Featured Research News

     All Office of Research News     A view of the U-M Medical School and surrounding buildings on a partly sunny day.
    Office of Research

    Reinvest Your Core’s Rent Budget with the Recharge Core Support Plan (RCSP)

    University of Michigan Medical School department-based recharge cores can now secure some financial relief through the Recharge Core Support Plan (RCSP).
         researcher at microscope in a lab
    Office of Research

    Eligibility Extended for Supporting Scientific Excellence Fund

    Supporting Scientific Excellence Fund extended, federal research projects proposed with begin dates through December 31, 2026, are eligible to request funds through the Medical School program.
         Photo of Mathew Innes
    Office of Research

    Mathew Innes Appointed Director for Clinical Research

    The Medical School Office of Research (OoR) is pleased to announce the appointment of Mathew Innes, MBA, as the Director for Clinical Research in the Medical School Office of Research, effective Tuesday, September 1, 2026.