Northern BC biobank initiative launched

Medical research in the north has gotten a shot in the arm with today’s launch of the Northern BC biobank.

A biobank is a repository of genetic data, information and tissue samples collected with consent of patients. It allows medical professional understand the nuances of different populations and that allows patients in the region to take part in clinical trials and other medical research.

Project lead and UNBC Northern Medical Program faculty member Dr. Nadine Carson says Prince George’s healthcare has pulled itself equal to the Lower Mainland in many ways.

“But what the south is doing now is building these biobanks, and we had one of two choices; we could either wait for 20-30 years like we did for the cancer agency and wait and say ‘ok now everyone else has it let’s do it’ or we could actually go with the flow, ride the wave and be one of those leaders.”

It’s funded in five equal parts by Genome BC, Northern Health, the First Nations Health Authority, Provincial Health Services Authority and the BC Cancer Foundation.

Dr. Carson says there are several reasons researcher cannot rely on data from biobanks in the Lower Mainland while dealing with patients in Northern BC.

“The distinct nature of First Nations and indigenous populations…. northern is another issue, we have different environments, we have different diets, there’s many things that are different about the north.”

She added the goal is so “every patient feels they have a choice, the same type of choices someone in Vancouver or Toronto or Montreal would have, they have the choice to be involved in research.”

The BC Cancer Foundation fully funded the first phase of the project, which was a consultation process spanning at least two years with stakeholders and First Nations communities.