For Researchers: Accelerating IBD Discovery
The University of Colorado IBD Biobank serves as a premier research infrastructure mechanism, providing high-quality, clinically characterized human biospecimens to investigators at the University of Colorado and external collaborators. Our mission is to bridge the gap between the laboratory bench and clinical care, offering the foundational resources necessary to translate basic scientific observations into meaningful clinical breakthroughs.
Our Capabilities & Biospecimen Repository
We offer streamlined access to a robust repository of biospecimens collected from well-defined patients with inflammatory bowel disease (Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis) as well as age- and sex-matched healthy controls.
Available Sample Types
• Endoscopic Biopsies & Surgical Tissue: Mucosal biopsies and surgical resection specimens obtained from the small intestine and colon (including both inflamed and non-inflamed tissue).
• Blood & Serum Fractions: Whole blood, isolated serum, and plasma fractions processed using standardized protocols.
• Stool Samples: Collected and preserved for microbiome, metabolomic, or biomarker analysis.
Deeply Annotated Clinical Metadata
Every biospecimen in our repository is paired with comprehensive, longitudinal clinical phenotypes, allowing investigators to stratify samples by precise disease states. Our metadata tracks:
• Treatment History: Detailed current and past medication history (including biologics, small molecules, and immunomodulators) and surgical history.
• Biomarkers: Serial inflammatory marker trends (e.g., CRP, fecal calprotectin).
• Validated Disease Activity & QoL Measures: Standardized clinical, endoscopic, and quality-of-life indices, including:
o Harvey-Bradshaw Index (HBI)
o Simple Clinical Colitis Activity Index (SCCAI)
o Mayo Score / Partial Mayo Score
o Simple Endoscopic Score for Crohn's Disease (SES-CD)
o Inflammatory Bowel Disease Questionnaire (IBDQ)
Why Partner with the CU IBD Biobank?
Rigorous Quality Control & Standard Operating Procedures All samples are collected andprocessed by highly trained clinical and laboratory professionals following strict, validated standard operating procedures (SOPs) to ensure optimal molecular integrity (RNA/DNA/protein) and viability.
• Ethical and Regulatory Compliance: All participants undergo a rigorous, informed consent process. Biospecimens and clinical data are fully de-identified and distributed under strict IRB governance, ensuring compliance with HIPAA and ethical research standards.
Requesting Samples & Collaboration
We welcome inquiries from academic investigators and industry collaborators. To streamline your workflow, our team assists with cohort feasibility assessment, sample selection, and regulatory navigation.
Note on Cost-Recovery Fees: The CU IBD Biobank operates on a non-profit, cost-recovery model. To ensure the long-term sustainability of our infrastructure, standard service fees apply to sample retrieval, processing, and distribution.
To request a quote or initiate a sample request: Please contact our coordination team at [Darya, Brooke, Sarah?] with your study design or sample requirements. We will work with you to assess cohort feasibility and provide an itemized quote tailored to your project's budget and timeline.
Coordination Team:
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