BioStorage Technologies (BST) will serve as the biorepository partner for the first phase of the Indiana Health Study, a new landmark longitudinal study of coronary artery disease
This community-based research initiative will utilise the population of Indianapolis and surrounding areas as study participants and will enable research that will lead to new drugs and diagnostics that allow doctors to better manage common, chronic diseases such as heart disease, cancer and diabetes.
Sponsored by the Fairbanks Institute for Healthy Communities, an Indianapolis-based non-profit organisation, the Indiana Health Study will create one of the USA's most comprehensive resources for academic and commercial research by integrating biological samples, medical data and lifestyle information collected from two cohorts of people: patients with coronary artery disease and people without the disease.
The collected biological samples will be stored at BST's state-of-the-art facility located in Indianapolis.
"We selected BioStorage because of their expertise in cold chain logistics, sample management and long term storage, which are all necessities for a study of this scope and importance," said Cynthia Helphingstine, president and COO of the Fairbanks Institute.
"We are fortunate to have partnered with a company that shares our strong commitment for community-based life science research".
John Mills, chief executive officer of BioStorage Technologies, believes the Indiana Health Study can make a significant impact on the future of health care for people in Indiana and around the world.
"We believe we can play a vital role in advancing health care and research initiatives through ensuring sample integrity.
"In a study of this magnitude samples are vital and could possibly hold the key to unlocking the causes of some of this nation's deadliest diseases".
While the Indiana Health Study will follow participants for years, Helphingstine anticipates immediate benefits as well.
Samples will be available for researchers as soon as they are collected.
The Fairbanks Institute intends to study multiple chronic diseases with future research platforms including studies on cancer, diabetes and central nervous system disorders.
