SMHS Biobank helps researchers like Natalie improve patient outcomes
L-R: Deborah Matthews (Manager Research), Melanie Wright (Director Research), Dr Sheeraz Mohd (SMHS Biobank Research Coordinator), Michelle Adamson (Clinical Nurse – Burns Research), Natalie Morellini (FSH Burns Clinical Trial Manager).
Committed to advancing biomedical research that translates into clinical practice to improve patient outcomes, South Metropolitan Health Service (SMHS) established the Biobank in 2023 to manage research biospecimens in-house.
Offering SMHS researchers streamlined pathways and support for biospecimen processing, storage and management, the SMHS Biobank provides dedicated infrastructure to support translational research.
"Previously SMHS researchers had to purchase and manage their own freezer or use an external provider to store biospecimens for future studies, which was costly and inefficient,” SMHS Biobank Research Coordinator Sheeraz Mohd said.
“Establishing a SMHS Biobank ensured improved biospecimen access and governance to support translational research, build research capacity and facilitate partnerships with the university sector.
“The SMHS Biobank has reduced the financial burden on researchers while also enhancing efficient, ethical and responsible use of biospecimens that safeguards patient privacy and confidentiality.
“This has instilled trust within the research community, and fostered collaboration with academic institutions that has expanded research opportunities for SMHS.”
Fiona Stanley Hospital Burns Clinical Trial Manager Natalie Morellini used the SMHS Biobank for sample collection and processing for burns research.
“Thanks to the SMHS Biobank, we were able to recruit more participants and obtain more data, as it has assisted us to follow up additional patients in the outpatient clinic,” Natalie said.
“It has been easy and cost effective to work with the SMHS Biobank and we recommend it be used by other researchers,” Natalie said.
Since its inception, the SMHS Biobank has supported a range of research studies and currently facilitates ten active projects across the hospital, with several more expected to commence in the coming year.
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