Craig Biorepository
Craig Hospital’s Biorepository supports research in spinal cord injury (SCI) and brain injury (BI) by collecting and storing biospecimens for research purposes. These samples are vital for validating mechanisms of injury and improving long-term health outcomes.
These biological samples and medical data are stored and made available for use in future research studies. By meaningfully collecting and storing these samples, the Biorepository accelerates a researcher’s ability to answer critical questions to improve the lives of people with SCI and BI.
Mission Statement
To accelerate translational research throughout the continuum of spinal cord and brain injury care by supporting original research questions and expanding collaborative team science with leading topic experts across the world.
Vision
To altruistically serve to improve lives of people with spinal cord injury and/or brain injury.
How a Biorepository Works
1. SCI and BI participants meet with a member of our team to discuss the Biorepository process, ensure that they qualify to participate, and ultimately fill out necessary forms and provide samples.
2. A member of the Biorepository team will take the data and samples and securely process and store them for future use.
3. Researchers connect with Craig Hospital to utilize the samples collected from BI and SCI participants for answer research questions.
4. The time and effort saved from collaborating with the Craig Biorepository leads to solutions for problems those with SCI and BI experience in their lives.
Biorepository Impact
A critical gap in spinal cord injury (SCI) and brain injury (BI) research is the high throughput, hypothesis-generating research infrastructure necessary to perform molecular and mechanistic research across the injury life cycle (acute, subacute and chronic). As both SCI and BI are relatively low-incident conditions, large clinical trials and adequate sample size necessary to find definitive conclusions are rare.
Biobanking is the activity in which biospecimens and annotating data are collected to support health research. Biobanking provides critical fuel for research, where pre-clinical research identifies a mechanism of interest, and can be quickly assessed in human samples from a biorepository. These samples can validate across multiple individuals and time points, improving our accuracy in finding meaningful mechanisms to study more in depth. Studies that could take years to recruit, enroll and collect samples can be evaluated immediately.
Craig Hospital is a nationally recognized SCI and BI neurorehabilitation and research hospital with unmatched clinical programs that draw a large nationwide patient population and their families who seek the best care after a life-changing injury. We support one of the highest volumes of inpatient and outpatient care of individuals with SCI and BI that is lifelong. Thus, our clinical programs are well designed to support Biorepository efforts.
The Craig Hospital Biorepository is located within Craig Hospital and funded through a grant by the philanthropic organization Philips Foundation. The program is structured under Craig Hospital’s Research Department leadership and directed by a dedicated Director of Craig Hospital Biorepository. The Craig Biorepository is dedicated to future certification/accreditation.
How Can I Get Involved?
- Participants
Individuals with a history of spinal cord injury or brain injury are invited to participate in the Craig Hospital Biorepository. We are also recruiting individuals without a spinal cord injury or brain injury to serve as controls within the Biorepository. Please get in touch with us by filling out this survey.
- Researchers
Craig Hospital’s Biorepository is available to facilitate collaborations leading to scientific discoveries with the goal of improving the lives of people with SCI and BI. Please reach out to a member of our team through the contact information below.
Contact Us
“Our collaborative efforts with the Craig Hospital Biorepository has allowed us to move our research toward human application and therapeutic development.”
– John C. Gensel, Ph.D.
Director and Endowed Chair, Spinal Cord and Brain Injury Research Center (SCoBIRC)
“The biospecimens we collect play a critical role in advancing the studies needed to enhance the lives of people with SCI and BI.”
– Andrew Park, MD
Research Physician, Craig Hospital
The authors gratefully acknowledge the support of the Jay and Rose Phillips Family Foundation of Colorado and other generous donors to the Craig Hospital Foundation who helped make this research possible.