May 4, 2016

Prechter Fund partnership with the UMMS Central Biorepository

As of January 2016, the Prechter Bipolar Research Fund has partnered with the UMMS Central Biorepository (UMCBR) to house and organize all of the Heinz C. Prechter Bipolar Genetics Repository biological samples. There are multiple benefits of using a centralized University resource. The UMCBR is a world-class accredited institutional resource with national standards and has safe, secure, and automated equipment that is too expensive to purchase and maintain in any one department. Ultimately, this collaboration saves time and money by reducing individual infrastructure expenses. The Prechter team uses a portable cryoport (see images below) supplied by the UMCBR to temporarily store biological samples on-site at -140ºC before weekly transfers to the central biorepository.