DESKTOP
1440 <
991 >
767 >
478 <
Play Reel
Welcome to biobank ailliance canada

A Federated Biobank Network

Established in 2021 and based at the Ottawa HospitalResearch Institute (OHRI), the Canadian Biobank Alliance (CBA)is federated, pathogen-agnostic network of biobanks across Canada. Originating as the Coronavirus Variants Rapid Response Network (CoVaRR-Net) Biobank, it was founded to fill a critical gap in Canada’s ability to rapidly respond to health threats by enabling nationwide specimen and data sharing.

The CBA integrates samples and expertise from a growing number of autonomous biobanks, enhancing pandemic preparedness and supporting research into both infectious and non-infectious diseases.Working in tandem with its Bioethics and Data Platform pillars, the CBA facilitates the secure and rapid exchange of biological materials, data, and microbes with academic, government, and industry partners, both nationally and internationally

A Unique National Biobank System

The CBA is a unique coordinated biobank network system forCanada, connecting biobanks across the country under a shared infrastructure, facilitating collaboration and resource sharing. To support this initiative, a CBA Metabase was developed as a custom national data catalogue that integrates inventory data from partner biobanks.This system streamlines and accelerates access to samples and data through robust governance and high operational standards.The CBA’s lead site, based in Ottawa, coordinates resource applications and sharing through a federated model that respects the autonomy of individual biobanks over their materials and data.During the COVID-19 pandemic alone, the CBA network collected over 500,000specimens from more than 50,000 Canadians. As the CBA expands beyondSARS-CoV-2, the scope and accessibility of its resources continue to grow.

Ethical and Contractual Considerations in Biobanking

To support seamless sharing of biosamples, data, reagents, and microbes among Canadian academic institutions, the Universal Data and Biological Material Transfer Agreement (UDBMTA) was developed in partnership with the University of Ottawa and the Ottawa Hospital Research Institute (OHRI). Vetted by over 30 Canadian institutions, the UDBMTA served as the foundation for the governing Data and Sample Sharing Agreement (gDSSA)—a broader, nationally applicable materials transfer document. Having a ready-to-use MTA process is essential to the Canadian Biobanking Alliance (CBA)’s mission of preparedness, helping avoid delays in the exchange of scientific data and materials.

Additionally, the Bioethics team has streamlined multi-jurisdictional research ethics approval by adopting the Clinical Trials Ontario (CTO) template. This provides a rapid approval pathway for minimal-risk research and enables inter-institutional collaboration across Ontario. These pre-established tools position the CBA to lead national biobanking efforts in academic research, clinical trials, and other preparedness initiatives.
learn more

Instructions for Researchers to Access Samples and Data

1) Request

Researcher searches the catalogue and completes an application.

2) Review

The Scientific Review Panel evaluates the application. The Research Ethics and Access Officer reviews contracts (e.g., UDBMTA).

3) Select

The Biobank Coordinator identifies available samples from inventory. The Biobank Technician retrieves the selected samples.

4) Ship

Biobank Technician and Coordinator ship samples and transfer data. Biobank coordinator follows-up with researcher

Mission statement
Advancing Canadian research through collaborative biobanking to enable equitable data access to drive scientific discovery for the health of all.
contact us
Copyright © 2025 CBA
CBA
RESOURCES
ABOUT