title: The challenge of sustaining a hospital-based biobank and core molecular laboratory: the Beaumont experience.
abstract: The Beaumont Health System BioBank was established in 2008, not only to leverage the potential to collect biospecimens for translational research, but to undertake such research in a seamless facility that combined high quality biobanking with state-of-the-art laboratory platforms geared towards biospecimen-based research. This report describes the challenge of sustaining a hospital-based biobank with an operating budget exceeding $1,000,000 in a financial climate that favors short-term fiscal goals rather than long-term scientific ambitions. Some of the key areas that are discussed include grants, philanthropy, accreditation, process improvement and commercialization of samples and services. We conclude that grants are not a feasible avenue, in our case, to support a biobank and that philanthropy and commercialization represent the best options for external funding to support stalling internal support, in order to sustain the operations of the BioBank.
authors.affiliation: Beaumont BioBank , William Beaumont Hospital, Royal Oak, Michigan.
authors.forename: George D
authors.initials: GD
authors.lastname: Wilson
authors.forename: Kirsten
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: D'Angelo
authors.forename: Barbara L
authors.initials: BL
authors.lastname: Pruetz
authors.forename: Timothy J
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Geddes
authors.forename: Dianna M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Larson
authors.forename: Jan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Akervall
mesh_terms: D018070:Biological Specimen Banks / Q000191:economics* / Q000458:organization & administration* / Q000639:trends; D004469:Economics, Hospital; D005378:Financial Support; D005381:Financing, Organized / Q000458:organization & administration; D005653:Fund Raising / Q000458:organization & administration; D006801:Humans; D057170:Translational Research, Biomedical / Q000191:economics / Q000458:organization & administration; D014481:United States