Central Biorepository

The Central Biorepository (CBR) facilitates discovery and improves healthcare outcomes by providing high-quality, highly annotated biospecimens donated for basic, clinical, and translational research.

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Photo depicting the CBR biorepository. Containing liquid nitrogen storage tanks and other cold storage.
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Take a Virtual Tour!

Learn more about the U-M Medical School Central Biorepository by taking a virtual tour of the facility. Get details on the CBR process and information about equipment and services available to study teams.

How we Serve Your Biobanking Needs

The CBR is an enterprise-wide resource, serving all members of the University of Michigan community.

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Access Biospecimens

The Central Biorepository enables access to an array of sample types from participants enrolled in a variety of research studies.

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Biobanking

With collection support and biostorage management, the Central Biorepository is a world-class enterprise resource for U-M researchers and beyond.

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Biospecimen Processing

The Central Biorepository offers a variety of biospecimen processing services and creates sample collection kits in support of biomedical research programs.

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Equipment & Instrumentation

The Central Biorepository uses specialized equipment and laboratory robotics to safely store and automate biospecimen processing.

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Through the Central Biorepository, our world-class U-M faculty researchers have access to high-quality, highly annotated biospecimens that are safely stored and processed.

Victoria Blanc, PhD
Director, Central Biorepository
Photo of Victoria Blanc, PhD
CBR FY22 At A Glance
650,000+
Biospecimens
40+
Research Studies
100,000+
Samples Distributed
How the CBR can Benefit Your Research
Contact Us
Central Biorepository
Medical School Office of Research
North Campus Research Complex, Building 60-1661
2800 Plymouth Road
Ann Arbor, MI 48109

Hours of Operation: 7:30 am - 4:30 pm, Monday - Friday

Want to provide feedback? Click here to access a brief survey about your CBR service. 

Phone Number: 734-647-8809
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We're Accredited – The Central Biorepository is accredited by the College of American Pathologists (CAP) Biorepository Accreditation Program.

Upcoming Research Events All Office of Research Events
BRCF Celebrates Elizabeth Hughes' Retirement
You're invited to join the BRCF as we wish Elizabeth Hughes, Interim Managing Director of our Transgenic Animal Model Core (TAMC), a happy retirement following more than 20 years of dedicated service.
Guests at a reception in the atrium at BSRB
Health AI Ethics and Policy Symposium (a joint event with e-HAIL, LHS Collaboratory, MIDAS, and TIERRA)
The Michigan Institute for Data Science (MIDAS), the Learning Health System Collaboratory, the E-Health and Artificial Intelligence (e-HAIL) program and Trust, Innovation and Ethics Research for Responsible AI (TIERRA) invite you to a joint mini-symposium featuring prominent speakers from the U.S. and Canada to explore ethical issues and regulations of health AI.
Audience at an event in the Kahn Auditorium
BRCF Epigenomics Core: Epigenetic Profiling with Illumina: From Arrays to Sequencing
Learn how Illumina technologies can support your epigenetic research through discovery, development, and genetic screening applications.
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NIAID Funding Opportunities for Early Stage Investigators
The University of Michigan Medical School Office of Research is offering an in-person seminar presented by LeShawndra N. Price, Ph.D., Director of the Office of Research Training and Special Programs (ORTSP) at the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID).
Exploring NIAID Supplements: Diversity, Re-entry and Re-integration, Continuity, and PCTAS
The University of Michigan Medical School Office of Research is offering an in-person seminar presented by LeShawndra N. Price, Ph.D., Director of the Office of Research Training and Special Programs (ORTSP) at the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID).
Federal and Institutional Requirements for Human Subject Research
This course will introduce the basics of conducting human subject research in compliance with federal regulations and institutional practices.
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Elements of Informed Consent
This course offers an overview of informed consent in human subject research. The course will examine IRBMED’s standard consent template and focus on how it reflects federal requirements.
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Introduction to eResearch
This course is intended for those unfamiliar with eResearch, the university’s electronic research administration site. This course will provide a basic knowledge of working in and using eResearch while examining the process for creating and submitting an initial project application.
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Research Foundations for Investigators: The What, Why, and How of Protocol Documents
Presented by the Clinical Trials Support Office, a unit of the Medical School Office of Research, the Research Foundations for Investigators series is for early-career investigators and their teams that are looking to develop their skills and grow their research portfolio. Session 2 focuses on writing protocol documents.
Featured Research News All Office of Research News FFMI fastPACE spring 2024
Office of Research
Register Today! FFMI fastPACE Spring Cohort Begins Friday, May 10
Don't miss your chance to participate in this project-based, experiential course designed to help academics launch new innovations, including medical devices/diagnostics, digital solutions, drugs, educational/training interventions, research tools, and many others.
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Office of Research
Clinical Trials Support Office Announces New Associate Medical Director
The Clinical Trials Support Office (CTSO) is pleased to announce that Mio Nakamura, MD, MS, Clinical Assistant Professor, Dermatology, has been appointed as the new Associate Medical Director of the Michigan Clinical Trials Support Unit (M-CTSU) and Michigan Clinical Research Unit (MCRU). Dr. Nakamura’s appointment will begin July 1, 2024, and is a 2-year term.
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Office of Research
Information Assurance Guidelines for Using Applications and Technologies in Research
Before seeking approval for a research project, it is crucial to ensure that the work complies with Information Assurance guidelines.