IHKB: Blood Samples with Linked Health Data
Blood Samples with Linked Health Data
Health-Linked Biobank
“The Blood Sample Bank with Linked Health Data stores patient tissue samples alongside anonymised health records. This secure, ethically approved resource supports research by enabling access to clinically annotated samples for approved studies.”
Overview
What are Blood Samples with Linked Health Data?
Blood Samples with Linked Health Data are a secure, ethically governed resource that integrates high-quality biological samples with corresponding anonymised clinical data from across Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust. Designed to support translational research, this platform provides approved researchers with access to richly annotated blood samples linked to longitudinal health records. By connecting blood sample type with both phenotype and genotype, the resource enables deeper insights into the molecular and clinical dimensions of disease. This bridges biospecimens with real-world data; these Blood Samples enable advanced investigations into disease mechanisms, personalised medicine, and biomarker discovery. This integrated approach accelerates research, enabling scientific insights, and contributes directly to improving patient care.
We currently store three types of blood samples: Whole Blood, Plasma, and Serum. These samples are collected under strict ethical governance and linked with anonymised health data to support advanced research.
Service Benefits
Benefits to Researchers
- Offers integrated access to high-quality tissue samples linked with clinical data.
- Reduces setup time through streamlined access and clear governance processes for ready-to-analyse samples.
- Ensures ethical, secure, and compliant use of human tissue and health data.
- Efficient use of storing and transferring samples where laboratory results have already been obtained.
- Facilitates collaboration through shared resources across research teams and institutions.
Benefits to Patients
- Enables patients to contribute to research that advances treatments and care for others with similar conditions, around their own appointments.
- Provides a safe and respectful way to support NHS-led scientific discovery and innovation.
- Helps patients play an active role in improving health outcomes through the use of donated blood samples and anonymised data.
- Ensures research includes diverse real-world experiences and health journeys.
- Upholds strong ethical standards, with transparency and no impact on individual care.
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