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.

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Photo depicting the CBR biorepository. Containing liquid nitrogen storage tanks and other cold storage.
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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

The CBR is an enterprise-wide resource, serving all members of the University of Michigan community.

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Access Biospecimens

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

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Biobanking

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

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Biospecimen Processing

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

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Equipment & Instrumentation

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

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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 FY22 At a Glance
650,000+
Biospecimens
40+
Research Studies
100,000+
Samples Distributed
How the CBR 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
Not Regulated, Secondary Use, and Umbrella Applications
This course will review the Not Regulated, Secondary Use, and Umbrella application types in eResearch and when these application types are applicable.
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OHRP’s Subparts B, C, and D -Special Populations
This course will examine the additional regulatory requirements for conducting research involving pregnant women, fetuses, neonates, children, and prisoners, including the requirements for these populations in a research project and obtaining informed consent.
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Federal and Institutional Requirements for Human Subject Research
This course will introduce the basics of conducting human subject research in compliance with federal regulations and institutional practices.
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Bioinformatics Core Summer Workshop Series
Composed of the two companion workshops (Computational Foundations and RNA-Seq Demystified), this virtual workshop series is for researchers who would like to better understand the analysis of differential gene expression in bulk RNA-Seq data.
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Elements of Informed Consent
This course offers an overview of informed consent in human subject research. The course will examine IRBMED’s standard consent template and focus on how it reflects federal requirements.
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Introduction to eResearch
This course is intended for those unfamiliar with eResearch, the university’s electronic research administration site. This course will provide a basic knowledge of working in and using eResearch while examining the process for creating and submitting an initial project application.
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Microscopy Core NCRC Open House
The BRCF Microscopy Core has recently renovated and expanded the services offered at the North Campus Research Complex (NCRC), 2800 Plymouth Rd Building 18, Ann Arbor, and we’d love for you to come see what we’ve done! 
Microscope
Waivers, Alterations, and Alternative Forms of Informed Consent
This course offers an overview of some special situations relating to informed consent. Specifically, waivers and alterations of informed consent, waivers of documentation of informed consent, and obtaining consent from non-English speakers.
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Reporting AEs, ORIOs, and Unanticipated Problems
This course will identify what constitutes an Adverse Event, ORIO, and Unanticipated Problem and how such events impact risk to subjects. Additionally, the course will review the requirements of reporting such events to the IRB and other entities.
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Featured Research News All Office of Research News Photo of Beth Vibbart
Office of Research
IRBMED Announces New Assistant Director
The Institutional Review Boards (IRBMED) is pleased to announce that Beth Vibbart, MS, CIP, has been appointed as a new Assistant Director.
Gary Luker
Office of Research
Changes at the BRCF Microscopy Core
The BRCF Microscopy Core has a lot of exciting changes: a faculty director, a superresolution spinning disk confocal microscope, an EM series, and an open house.
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Office of Research
Several Cores Closed for the Holiday
In observance of the Independence Day, several cores will have a change in operations.