Biomedical Research Institute
The Biomedical Research Institute provides excellent biorepository service for your valuable biospecimens.
Alex Federline
Biorepository Director
biobank@afbr-bri.org
The Biomedical Research Institute (BRI) in Rockville, Maryland is a premier biorepository and biobanking facility in the Washington DC area with over 40 years of experience in biospecimen storage. Incorporated in 1948 in Chicago, Illinois under the name American Foundation for the Study of Genetics, BRI pioneered the cryopreservation of bovine semen which is the foundation of in vitro fertilization techniques used for agricultural purposes.
Renamed American Foundation for Biological Research in 1956 and doing business in the state of Maryland since 1968, BRI provides researchers and institutions around the world with low temperature storage space for clinical specimens. BRI is accredited with the College of American Pathologists (CAP) and serves clients across government, academia, and industry. Our capabilities to store and distribute precious biological materials help speed research and hasten the discovery of cures and treatments.
20,000 ft2 low-temperature storage facility
6M+ specimens stored
BRI’s biorepository is a 20,000 ft2 low-temperature storage facility which currently stores over 6 million biospecimens including peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC), plasma, serum, tissues, and other body fluids to support several programs critical to the treatment and prevention of infectious diseases. In addition, BRI provides custom biorepository services to companies, medical institutions, and academic and government laboratories. BRI uses an advanced laboratory data management system to track and manage biospecimens.
Whether you are conducting basic research, searching for a new drug, or developing the next diagnostic tool, you need a safe, secure home for your biological materials. With monitoring systems and back-up power in place at the Biomedical Research Institute, you can be assured that your biospecimens are protected.
Over 6 Million Biospecimens Stored
We offer a wide range of storage options including 4°C, -20°C, -80°C and liquid nitrogen (-196°C). Sample integrity is essential to BRI. We maintain the cold chain custody of samples in a frozen and/or refrigerated state throughout storage. All mechanical freezers and liquid nitrogen tanks are monitored electronically 24/7. In addition, BRI staff manually monitors all temperatures. In the event of an emergency, BRI is equipped with generators for back-up power and houses spare freezers to be utilized as needed.
BRI staff are GCLP and IATA-compliant and undergo annual training with all domestic and international regulations for receiving and shipping of biological substances. BRI also has on-site full-time engineers to perform maintenance service on all freezers and are on-call in the event of an emergency. You can rest easy knowing our team of expert biobankers and repository technicians are dedicated to maintaining the integrity of your samples.
Making a difference
To contribute to the worldwide efforts on coronavirus research, BRI continues its mission to provide secure cold storage and temperature monitoring to support your COVID-19 projects. We have the capacity to store your valuable COVID-19-related materials, including biospecimens, test-kits, and other research supplies. Our combined efforts will greatly enhance our understanding of SARS-CoV-2 while shedding light on other coronaviruses. With rapid deposits and retrievals available, you can access your biospecimens safely and efficiently during business hours. You can count on BRI to provide high-quality protection of your reagents while you conduct your research.
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