Coriell Cell Engineering Center to Support National Biobanking Infrastructure

About This Grant

Coriell Institute for Medical Research Application to ORIP C06 Funding Opportunity Announcement PAR- 25-061, Biomedical Research Facilities. Project title: “Coriell Cell Engineering Center to Support National Biobanking Infrastructure” Project Summary/Abstract: Coriell Institute for Medical Research’s mission is to conduct and support research to benefit human health and help cure disease. A leader in biobanking, Coriell has hosted NIH biobanks since 1972, building and distributing world class sample collections, enabling biomedical research. Coriell’s biobank is committed to meeting the evolving needs of researchers by adopting new technologies as well as diversifying and including minorities and underrepresented populations in its biospecimen collections. Coriell scientists are supported by the NIH, NJ State, and other parties, in fields including but not limited to cancer and disease research, aging biology, biobanking, and personalized medicine. Coriell’s primary facility, 403 Haddon Avenue, Camden, NJ, is owned by, and resides on, the campus of Cooper University Hospital. There is limited room for growth and plans are underway for Coriell to relocate to a new headquarters building, on its own site in Camden, in approximately three years. If awarded, ORIP C06 funds would help create a >7,495 square foot Cell Engineering Center on the first floor of Coriell’s new facility, to enable expansion of biobanking infrastructure and product and service offerings. Of these offerings, stem cells offer unique insights into cell and developmental biology, disease etiology, and expedition of drug discovery. Advances in gene engineering and tools like 3D “mini-organ” models are revolutionizing research. Such tools also represent New Approach Models (NAMs) that complement and reduce the need for vertebrate animals in research. This Center will serve as a core laboratory, offering cancer cell lines, newly created iPSCs, differentiated cells, 3D organoid models, cell gene engineering, quality control, genomic/epigenomic profiling, and bioinformatic services, for NIH-funded scientists at Coriell, in the region, and across the country. This project epitomizes Coriell’s mission to support robust research by providing scientists a new generation of reproducible, highly characterized, high-quality biospecimens and services to accelerate the pace of biomedical discoveries. Coriell samples have been instrumental for elucidating mechanisms of diseases to allow new regenerative and precision medicine therapeutics. This Center will provide critical, affordable new products and services to support researchers. An experienced and collaborative team of dedicated professionals, with an expert Principal Investigator, Construction Project Manager, and Facility Manager will lead this project. This project is part of a larger new building investment which is already underway with an anticipated completion date of 2027-2028, and Coriell leadership commits to staffing and supporting this Center for 10+ years post-completion, using business tactics developed as an independent research institute for over 70 years. In addition to institutional, local and regional benefits, this project will have a substantial national impact. The Center will increase current capabilities >20 fold, support up to 30 scientists/technicians, and enable biobanking of new, needed sample types, supporting Coriell internal grants, contracts, and federally funded researchers, as well as scientists nationwide.