Medicine

Contact Us School of Medicine
Level 1
Trinity Biomedical Sciences Institute
Trinity College
152-160 Pearse Street
Dublin 2

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medadmin@tcd.ie

Trinity Paediatric Biobank

Advancing Child Health Through Research, Collaboration and Innovation

The Trinity Paediatric Biobank is a dedicated research resource that collects, processes and stores biological samples and associated clinical information from infants and children to support world-class paediatric research. Established to improve our understanding of inflammation, developmental disorders and childhood disease, the biobank provides researchers with access to high-quality samples that are essential for discovering new diagnostic tools, identifying disease biomarkers and developing innovative therapies.

Over the past two decades, the biobank has established a unique repository of more than 1,000 biological samples, primarily blood specimens, collected from a diverse range of paediatric patient populations. These include infants and children affected by neonatal encephalopathy, complications of preterm birth, Down syndrome, traumatic brain injury, allergy, haematological disorders, multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C), as well as healthy term-born control infants and children. This rich collection supports both immediate research projects and long-term longitudinal studies aimed at improving outcomes for children and families.

The biobank uses advanced laboratory technologies to enable the detection and measurement of multiple proteins from extremely small sample volumes. In addition, the repository supports RNA analysis, immune cell profiling and gene expression studies, allowing researchers to investigate the biological mechanisms that underpin inflammation, immune function, brain injury and developmental outcomes in childhood.

A Collaborative Research Resource

The Trinity Paediatric Biobank operates through close collaboration with leading maternity and paediatric healthcare institutions across Dublin, including:

  • The Coombe Women and Infants University Hospital
  • Children's Health Ireland at Crumlin
  • Children's Health Ireland at Temple Street
  • Children's Health Ireland at Tallaght

Together, these partnerships create a valuable platform for translational research, enabling discoveries made in the laboratory to be rapidly translated into improvements in patient care.

Part of the Trinity St James's Biobank Network

The Trinity Paediatric Biobank is integrated within the Trinity St James's Biobank Network, which promotes excellence in biobanking through coordination, education, policy development and research collaboration across Trinity College Dublin and affiliated healthcare institutions.

The network ensures that all biobank activities are conducted according to the highest ethical, legal and governance standards. Biological samples and associated data are securely stored, coded and pseudo-anonymised or anonymised to protect participant privacy. Participation in all research studies is entirely voluntary, and the views and experiences of patients and families remain central to the research process.

Ethical Governance and Regulatory Oversight

The Trinity Paediatric Biobank operates under rigorous ethical and regulatory frameworks, with approval and oversight provided by:

  • Children's Health Ireland Research Ethics Committee (CHI REC)
  • The Coombe Research Ethics Committee (Coombe REC)
  • Trinity College Dublin Research Ethics Committee (TCD REC)

All research projects accessing samples from the biobank must have appropriate ethical approval and comply with national and international regulations governing research involving human participants.

Sample Collection, Storage and Data Management

To ensure the highest quality standards, the biobank follows standardised operating procedures for the collection, processing and storage of biological samples. Samples are maintained under optimal storage conditions, including ultra-low temperature freezers (-80°C) located within the Trinity Translational Medicine Institute (TTMI) and, in the future, the Campus Biobank facilities, preserving sample integrity for future research.

Robust sample tracking and data management systems support the secure management of samples and associated clinical information. Ongoing development of barcode-based tracking and laboratory information management systems (LIMS) will further enhance traceability, transparency and operational efficiency.

Patient Consent and Participation

The Trinity Paediatric Biobank is committed to ensuring informed and transparent participation. Each research project has its own study-specific Participant Information Leaflet and consent documentation based on Trinity College Dublin paediatric research templates. Explicit informed consent is obtained from participants and/or their parents or legal guardians before any samples are collected.

Clear policies govern sample retention, future use of samples and participant withdrawal, ensuring that participants remain informed and retain control over their involvement in research.

Transparency, Monitoring and Audit

Biobank activities are managed transparently and are subject to regular monitoring and auditing. Operational oversight is provided by Dr Lynne Kelly, with governance and scientific oversight by Professor Eleanor Molloy, ensuring compliance with established standards, ethical requirements and best practice in paediatric biobanking.

Through its commitment to scientific excellence, ethical governance and collaborative research, the Trinity Paediatric Biobank plays a vital role in advancing our understanding of childhood disease and improving health outcomes for future generations.