How the BioBank Works - Penn Medicine BioBank

The Penn Medicine BioBank (PMBB) is a collection of biological samples, such as blood or tissue, that are donated by patient volunteers. These samples are connected to clinical information, such as diseases or lab measures. These data are then used by researchers to discover new ways to detect, treat, and maybe even prevent or cure disease. Some of these studies may be about how genes affect health and disease. Other studies look at how genes affect response to medicines.

Any Penn Medicine patient (age 18 and up) can participate in the Penn Medicine BioBank.

How to participate

Participation is completely voluntary and involves just a few steps:

Sign a consent form to agree to participate. You can sign through your myPennMedicine account , or at the front desk before an appointment. Contact us if you would like to consent, and we can send the consent form to your myPennMedicine account.
Donate your sample. Donation is quick and easy and can be done while you are at Penn Medicine for a clinic visit. This usually involves drawing a sample of blood from a vein in your arm. It may also include collecting saliva or urine samples. It could also include allowing us to use any leftover samples, like blood or tissue, that doctors have removed during a medical procedure. This would only be done when the sample is no longer needed for your care.

What's in it for me?

As our partner in research, we will update you on the types of research being done and what has been discovered to help advance medicine. We may also contact you to review any changes about your health or to join other new research studies as they begin. If you choose to participate in the Penn Medicine BioBank now, you can stop at any time. No matter what you decide, now or in the future, it will not affect your medical care at Penn Medicine. By contributing to the Penn Medicine BioBank project, you can play an important role in supporting new discoveries in medical research. Please consider participating as a gift to research and to future patients who might benefit from it.

How is my privacy protected?

Your privacy is very important to us and we will make every effort to protect it. Your name, contact information, and date of birth will be removed from your sample and replaced with a code number that only select personnel can access. Personnel with access to your information must sign an agreement to keep your information confidential and secure. It is impossible for us to completely guarantee your privacy. Genomic privacy is a developing concept that will likely require new laws and regulations over time. You should consider the potential impact before deciding whether to participate.

Your donation will enable breathtaking discoveries in medicine that can improve patients' lives.