June 5, 2020
The provincial government announced a partnership between six of Alberta’s health foundations for the establishment of a biorepository for human COVID-19 samples in the province.
Financial support from the Calgary Health Trust, University Hospital Foundation, Alberta Cancer Foundation, Stollery Children’s Hospital Foundation, Alberta Children’s Hospital Foundation and the Royal Alexandra Hospital Foundation will cover the full $300,000 capital cost of the biorepository to be located in Edmonton and Calgary. The biorepository will allow for the long-term preservation of positive COVID-19 samples, giving Alberta’s world-class medical-scientific researchers local access to the biological material they need to further study the virus.
There are currently more than 30 research projects in Alberta in need of positive samples to support their coronavirus-related research. These projects are undertaken between the University of Alberta and the University of Calgary, involving dozens of Alberta-based researchers. This partnership brings AHS and APL together with the post-secondary, research, and philanthropic communities in our shared goal to combat COVID-19, expand scientific discovery, and keep Albertans healthy now and in the future.
