SVI Biobank Program

The SVI Biobank is a storage resource and repository for research groups, clinical trials organisations and others requiring contract storage of biological samples.

Medical researchers often require human biological samples to help progress their work. High-quality samples can be difficult to access, because of the need for live cells or specialised storage. The SVI Biobank stores human specimens – such as whole blood, plasma, serum and tissue – for any disease type.

Established in 2015 with the support of the Helen Macpherson Smith Trust (HMSTrust), the Biobank has now collected in excess of 22,000 specimens from more than 600 participants.

The SVI Biobank is managed by and housed at the National Serology Reference Laboratory (NRL, a division of SVI) on the St Vincent’s Hospital Melbourne campus.

What we offer
The SVI Biobank offers an end-to-end service, encompassing:  

• pre-study consultation and planning 
• sample collection and processing 
• troubleshooting and ongoing adaptation to changing study needs 
• 24/7 temperature monitored freezers 
• secure de-identified data collation.

We offer the complete package for research study needs, tailoring services to the needs of each individual study. 

The SVI Biobank can store samples for any disease type; we currently store diabetes, cancer, hepatitis, HIV and HTLV samples.  

We supply safe storage and access to critical samples for Australian, New Zealand and global teams undertaking: 

• ​primary research 
• translational research  
• clinical research  
• clinical trials.

We can work with you prior to grant submission, to advise on protocols and to provide budgeting information. 

​How we make a difference

The SVI Biobank supports SVI’s BANDIT clinical trial for type 1 diabetes, which aims to slow or stop progress of the disease in newly diagnosed people. The trial is being run across four hospitals in Melbourne and Adelaide. 

Patients who have recently been diagnosed with type 1 diabetes receive the trial drug (or placebo) and donate six blood samples over a two-year period. The biobank processes four different sample types from the donated blood and will store them securely until the end of the trial, when samples from each donor will be tested together, to evaluate results.

More information

For more information, visit this page or contact:
Katherine Woods, Biobank Coordinator
E: [email protected]
P: (03) 9418 1141