Many researchers are interested in studying patient samples to better understand human biology and especially disease states. Strict guidelines are needed to protect patient rights, but the processes of obtaining approval by the Institutional Review Board, or IRB, can sometimes be overwhelming for investigators.
Led by Dr. Stephanie McGregor, Associate Professor in the Department of Pathology, in the UW Madison Carbone Cancer Center (UWCCC) Translational Science Biocore (TSB) BioBank is working to ease this burden so that scientists can have the best possible materials to do their work and focus on their science.
TSB BioBank facilitates use of high-quality anonymized patient samples from patients who sign up for the process through its “WiscShare” program, in collaboration with the IRB and the UW Health system. Under WiscShare, the group operates an honest broker system that enables investigators meeting specific criteria to obtain deidentified human tissue samples without navigating the traditional IRB process—removing a major barrier to entry for genomics and precision medicine research. Researchers who do not meet these criteria are also eligible to use their specimens with relatively simple IRB approval, and TSB BioBank can offer guidance in navigating this when needed.
Founded over two decades ago, the TSB BioBank was established to centralize biospecimen collection and facilitate investigator access to patient-derived materials within UWCCC, but their operations have been expanding in recent years. Dr. McGregor emphasizes that many researchers mistakenly assume they are ineligible to work with human tissues due to IRB constraints. However, thanks to the WiscShare regulatory process, patients sign up for broad use of the samples, including living models and whole genome sequencing. Beyond providing access to samples from patients who have consented to their use in research, TSB BioBank actively collaborates with scientists to develop a strategy for optimal specimen use.
Researchers on campus are excited to use it. “Expanding access to TSB resources for the broader human genetics community at UW–Madison positions us at the forefront of translational medicine,” CGSI faculty member Dr. Valentina LoSardo explains. “It will allow the genetics and genomics community to extend research into human specimens, leveraging the exceptional resources of UW Hospital and the Dane County health system.”
During the June 2025 session of the Problems in Precision Medicine and Genomics seminar series, Dr. McGregor outlined the BioBank’s specimen capacity and regulatory structure. Researchers who are not directly involved in clinical care can benefit from collaboration with clinical colleagues, but successful connections can be difficult to obtain, and some researchers do not know where to begin. Dr. McGregor’s team can often serve as a proxy for basic scientists, and when this is not feasible, they can serve as an entry point to form the necessary partnerships. We followed up with her to explore how the BioBank supports genomics and tissue-based research.
How is the TSB BioBank different from the other platforms that allow scientists to access human tissues?
In contrast to commercial platforms, we do a lot of prospective collections. If we already have what someone needs in the bank, we can often just distribute it to interested researchers with minimal effort. However, not everything is immediately available in the freezer. Since there is a lot of subtlety in this work, we can figure out a collection plan or find an alternate approach within our inventory that could meet your needs if our available specimens don’t work for you. We do this by discussing the goals of your work and getting to the crux of what you need from a sample. We can also customize the collection in the way that you need it done for your research, like excluding specimens from patients with a confounding condition or using a proprietary buffer that you provide to us for a tissue sample. We do this all through a close collaboration with the clinical labs so that our specimens are well preserved and we can really know what we have on hand. I think the quality and flexibility of what we offer is really valuable.
How do you think researchers can use these anonymized samples? Are there any limitations or restrictions?
There’s really no limitation on how our samples can be used. The patients have consented to having their samples used for basically anything research related, including whole genome sequencing, so researchers can do what they need. Any related data sharing still requires genomic data sharing certificates, but we can provide the IRB with the necessary information to get that done. Of note, we place emphasis on things being anonymized, but we are able to provide clinical data in a deidentified way so that people can correlate their results with clinical findings and outcomes for whatever question they have.
We do have to keep in mind that specimens are limited in quantity. When things are plentiful, we don’t run into issues. But we have to be very thoughtful about governance to determine if researchers can access specimens when they are especially precious based on rarity or difficulty of acquisition.
What types of samples are currently available as a part of TSB and where can researchers find this information?
Our existing repository has an oncology focus, so we have many tumor samples, often with corresponding normal tissue, and some corresponding blood components. As for prospective collections, if a specimen is going to be removed from a person, is not needed for clinical care, and if the patient consents to its use for research, then we can get it from a regulatory perspective. We can also obtain some volunteered specimens, like surface swabs or donated blood from healthy donors. It’s just a matter of whether the logistics can fall into place. This is where our integration with clinical teams is so critical.
Researchers can put in an iLab request to get samples – it’s the same interface that people are using for most of the other shared resources. If they have questions, they can email us at the biobank email biobank@uwcarbone.wisc.edu.
What do you envision for the future of TSB BioBank? Do you foresee any challenges?
The vision is to increase our efficiency and reach of our WiscShare program within the hospital. Ideally, we would be so integrated with the clinical system that we would be able to obtain things more easily in real time with less manual intervention on a bigger scale than we can now. I hope that eventually groups other than TSB BioBank might be able to use it too. I could see WiscShare being used broadly as a first entry point to get specimens so that we can minimize the footprint of research specimen acquisition within clinical spaces and minimize the thinking that researchers need to do in getting them so that they can have less frustrations and focus on their science. The more we can all filter into one centralized system that people understand and promote, the more we can ultimately feed forward so that everyone wins. It’s just a matter of resources and teamwork. It will take time, but we have a lot of good partners and will keep working on it.
Learn More
To explore available specimens or initiate a collaboration, visit the TSB BioBank website or contact the team directly.