Hussman Institute Opens Cutting-Edge Biorepository, Clinical Research Lab

Worldwide impact includes more samples for research studies, increased scientific collaboration.

The John P. Hussman Institute for Human Genomics at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine now has a new, state-of-the-art, 6,500-square-foot biorepository that greatly increases the center’s capacity to store millions of research samples and expand its laboratory capabilities. The site officially opened at a Jan. 24 event with faculty and donors, including John P. Hussman, Ph.D., M.S.Ed., whose generous gift of $20 million named the institute in 2009.

A scientist in the Hussman Institute biorepository works with tissue samples

The advanced biorepository reinforces the university’s commitment to research and team science by linking its physicians and scientists to colleagues around the globe and attracting business partners looking to collaborate and securely house their samples in the automated, temperature-controlled facility. Funded by a $7.6 million grant from the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the Miller School’s biorepository is one of only a handful of academic institutions nationwide that are employing this type of biobanking automation and technology in a facility of such size and capacity.  

The facility can hold 5 million samples (up from 500,000), which allows the Miller School to conduct more studies, analyze more samples and ultimately generate more findings for conditions like Alzheimer’s disease, cancer and heart disease. In fact, the school expects to double the 215 independent research studies it currently supports. 

Dr. Margaret Pericak-Vance
Flanked by Dean Ford and Dr. Jacob McCauley, Dr. Margaret Pericak-Vance cuts the ribbon at the opening of the Hussman Institute biorepository.

“Our biorepository has become a pivotal resource, not just for the University of Miami, but for researchers nationally and internationally. The global impact of this initiative is remarkable,” said Margaret Pericak-Vance, Ph.D., director of the Hussman Institute and Dr. John T. Macdonald Foundation Professor of Human Genetics.  

Working with colleagues across the United States, Africa, South America and Europe, the Hussman Institute team is identifying genetic-based drug targets for the treatment and prevention of Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias. Their research across diverse populations is advancing precision medicine practices worldwide. 

“As the primary entry point for biological samples and data generation, we’ve established an infrastructure that truly distinguishes UM,” Dr. Pericak-Vance added. “Our state-of-the-art storage facilities and cutting-edge technology position us at the forefront of precision medicine-based care.” 

”A Game-Changer” 

Building a biorepository of this scale for the university was the brainchild of Jacob McCauley, Ph.D., who directs the Center for Genome Technology and Biorepository Core Facilities at the Hussman Institute and is a professor of human genetics and pathology in the Dr. John T. Macdonald Foundation Department of Human Genetics. As a principal investigator for the All of Us Research Program, an NIH study aiming to collect more than 1 million diverse samples for its research on precision medicine, Dr. McCauley understood the immense benefit of such a facility. He submitted a grant proposal to the NIH and was funded in 2020 just before the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Jacob L. McCauley, Ph.D., associate professor in the Dr. John T. Macdonald Foundation Department of Human Genetics at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine
Dr. Jacob McCauley at the opening of the biorepository: “This is a game-changer.”

“This is a game-changer,” Dr. McCauley said. “Our biorepository is central to our genetic research program, facilitating the collection, storage and distribution of biosamples from research participants for collaborative studies across the globe. Through studying individuals from diverse backgrounds, we aim to better predict genetic disease risk and outcomes. The rapid evolution of biomedical technology has increased both the need for and utility of diverse biospecimens. Blood-based biomarkers are especially valuable, as they allow us to collect comprehensive data sets to develop sophisticated models that reveal disease causes and progression patterns.”

Such a high-tech facility is a fitting next step for the famed Hussman Institute, a top-ranked, NIH-funded genetic research institute with a track record of breakthroughs by its prominent scientists, including founding director Dr. Pericak-Vance. Her lab discovered the effects of APOE4 genetic variants on Alzheimer’s disease. 

“This state-of-the-art facility constitutes a pivotal step in our journey to usher the Miller School into the pantheon of great research-focused medical schools,” said Henri R. Ford, M.D., M.H.A., dean and chief academic officer. “It strengthens our position as a leader in drug discovery and precision medicine and enables us to effectively address critical scientific challenges and achieve groundbreaking discoveries that will improve the health of humanity.”

Dr. Hussman praised the Hussman Institute researchers for their passion for helping people.

“The institute’s commitment to reducing health disparities, including so many individuals of varying ethnicities affected by challenging conditions…that’s not just the right thing to do. It’s also good science,” he said.

Enhanced Research Participation Experience 

The Hussman Institute biorepository features a welcoming reception area and two clinical research rooms where study participants can complete enrollment paperwork, provide blood samples and undergo research screenings and evaluations. 

“Having dedicated space for clinical research studies enables immediate sample collection and processing,” explained Dr. McCauley.

The Hussman Institute storage facility
The Hussman Institute biorepository can house up to 5 million samples of blood, plasma, serum and tissue.

The biorepository receives samples from across the globe, including Africa, South America, Asia and local UHealth clinics, as well as from community outreach events during which research coordinators collect specimens using customized kits prepared by the facility’s staff. Each sample is processed according to its specific research protocol and documented in the Laboratory Information Management System, which securely tracks each sample’s location and lifecycle.  

The automated BioStore, developed by Azenta Life Sciences, represents a significant advancement in biospecimen storage and retrieval technology. This sophisticated system maintains a temperature of negative 80 degrees Celsius and can house up to 5 million samples of blood, plasma, serum and tissue. The process has transformed sample management. Instead of staff manually searching through dozens of separate freezers, researchers can now submit electronic requests through a centralized system. The BioStore’s robotic components then locate and retrieve the requested samples, dramatically improving efficiency and reducing the risk of human error.

Onsite Research

“The biorepository goes far beyond simple storage,” said Dr. McCauley. “Our facility features sophisticated, automated systems and instrumentation for specialized procedures, including blood fractionation, DNA and RNA isolation and advanced biomarker analysis for both archived and newly collected samples. This technological infrastructure enables us to support large-scale research collaborations both nationally and internationally. Under the leadership of Patrice Whitehead-Gay, director of research operations, our expert laboratory team has leveraged this advanced automation to dramatically increase our capacity for processing and distributing biospecimens and data. The result has set new standards for research support across campus.”

We are trying to tackle bigger problems like Alzheimer’s and cancer and cardiovascular disease. To solve complex, common disorders, you need thousands of individuals participating, thousands of data points.
Dr. Margaret Pericak-Vance

The Hussman Institute’s grant funding extends beyond biospecimen collection and analysis to include the acquisition of automated DNA extraction equipment and protocol sharing with African collaborators. 

“This global infrastructure and technology transfer is creating lasting impact across continents,” noted Dr. Pericak-Vance. ‘We’re now able to include historically underserved groups in genetic studies, opening new pathways to understanding diseases.” 

Increased Security 

To safeguard the integrity of its samples, the biorepository maintains redundant backup systems designed to respond to power outages or mechanical failures. At the heart of this protective infrastructure is a 6,000-gallon liquid nitrogen tank, serving as the facility’s ultimate safeguard. This system can maintain the critical sample preservation temperature when other backup measures are compromised. 

”This comprehensive, layered approach provides essential protection for our most valuable resource – the samples our research participants have entrusted to us,” explained Dr. McCauley. 

Dominant in the Field 

While the study of Alzheimer’s disease and related disorders is the largest research focus area at the Hussman Institute, with international collaboration between researchers in South Florida, Africa and South America, the organization also collaborates on neurological diseases like multiple sclerosis and Parkinson’s disease, sensory age-related disorders such as macular degeneration, immune-mediated diseases like inflammatory bowel disease and susceptibility to infectious diseases such as HIV and tuberculosis. 

In the decade ahead, this new facility will house the samples that researchers need to confront these diseases using precision medicine. 

“We are trying to tackle bigger problems like Alzheimer’s and cancer and cardiovascular disease,” Dr. Pericak-Vance said. “To solve complex, common disorders, you need thousands of individuals participating, thousands of data points.”

Partner with the Hussman Institute

For more information on partnering with the Hussman Institute’s biorepository facility, please email Dr. Jacob McCauley, Patrice Whitehead-Gay or [email protected]


Tags: Alzheimer's disease, biorepository, Center for Genome Technology, Dean Henri Ford, DNA, Dr. Jacob McCauley, Dr. Margaret Pericak-Vance, genetics, genomics, John P. Hussman Institute for Human Genomics