Where the NIH Does Its Banking

Biobanks play a critical role in biomedical research, providing scientists with ready access to cell lines, DNA, and other biomaterials that can provide insights into the causes and mechanism of diseases. Coriell Institute for Medical Research, one of the world’s leading biobanks, has long served as a steward of important collections of biomaterials for the National Institutes of Health and other organizations. We spoke to Debbie Requesens, co-principal investigator of the National Institute of General Medical Sciences Human Genetic Cell Repository at Coriell, about the role of biobanking, how it can accelerate research into rare genetic diseases, and what patients can do to ensure researchers have access to materials related to their conditions.