Clinical Biobank Technician
Company
RCWIH Biobank (Mount Sinai Hospital)
ORGANIZATION DESCRIPTION:The Lunenfeld-Tanenbaum Research Institute of Mount Sinai Hospital, a University of Toronto affiliated research centre, is one of the world's leading centres in biomedical research. With ground-breaking discoveries in research areas such as diabetes, genetic disorders, cancer and women’s and infants’ health, the Institute is committed to excellence in health research and the training of young investigators. Strong partnerships with the clinical programs of Mount Sinai Hospital ensure that scientific knowledge is used to promote human health. Your significant contributions will assist in maintaining our momentum in advancing our research.
Location
Lunenfeld-Tanenbaum Research Institute (Sinai Health System)
Duties
POSITION OVERVIEW:
The Research Centre for Women's and Infants' Health (RCWIH) Biobank is a cost-recovery biorepository developed by, and for, researchers. It was established in 2006 to support perinatal research programs by providing access to normal and pathological tissue specimens and associated clinical data. Located in the heart of the Discovery District in downtown Toronto, the RCWIH Biobank is a program of the Lunenfeld-Tanenbaum Research Institute and the Mount Sinai Hospital/University Health Network Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology with facilities located in the Frances Bloomberg Centre for Women’s and Infants’ Health. The Biobank specializes in the procurement, processing, and archival of fresh, frozen and fixed specimens (human placenta, umbilical cord blood, and other pregnancy-related specimens) that are suitable for a wide range of research applications. In-depth clinical profiles are prepared for all specimens collected, and program expertise includes healthy pregnancies as well as pregnancies associated with a variety of complications such as preeclampsia, intrauterine growth restriction, preterm labour, and diabetes. The Biobank Technician is a key member of the Biobank team and is involved in participant recruitment, sample acquisition and clinical data preparation.
DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
• Participant recruitment involving screening of prospective participant charts and electronic medical records, provision of written informed consent, and participant monitoring and tracking from consent to delivery
• Collect and process (i.e. PFA-fix, snap freeze) placentas and/or other tissue or blood samples in accordance with the RCWIH Biobank Standard Operating Procedures
• Participate in on-call rotations for night and weekend coverage to ensure collection of high priority samples in consultation with the Manager/Research Coordinator
• Record relevant participant information and clinical data accurately and promptly into the computer database and/or on paper forms as required
• Consult and inform clinical care staff of anticipated sample collections and ensure collegial interactions
• Ensure consent forms are properly completed and securely stored in files and electronically in a secure database
• Monitor and maintain Biobank equipment and materials used for sample processing and storage (including liquid nitrogen and dry ice)
• Archive fixed and frozen specimens according to Biobank Standard Operating Procedures
• Make tissue block slides and crush snap frozen tissue
• Miscellaneous tasks related to sample collection, processing, and archiving, as required and outlined by the Biobank Manager/Research Coordinator
• Follow Standard Operating Procedures as written as a day-to-day responsibility
Requirements
EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS:
Qualifications: Bachelor’s Degree and 6 months to 1 year of related experience
Discipline(s): Health Sciences, Medical Sciences, Life Sciences, or Physiology
Required skills:
• Communication skills (verbal and written)
• Strong organizational skills
• Detail-oriented
• Self-motivated and able to work independently to complete the collective goals of the team
• Good judgment and decision making
• Basic computer skills with Microsoft Word, Excel and Access (data collection and entry)
• Comfortable working with human tissues and basic surgical instruments
• Flexibility in hours worked (position includes sharing on-call responsibilities for high-priority collections, therefore the candidate is required to be able to collect tissue within 20 minutes of delivery)
Additional assets:
• Research/laboratory experience and technical laboratory skills
• Familiarity with and/or interest in obstetrics (preferred)
• Previous work experience in a healthcare and/or clinical setting
• Previous experience interacting with study participants/patients
• Ability to do call-in coverage at Mount Sinai Hospital on short notice
Start Date
2023-10-03
Hours
7.5-22.5 hours / week
Comments
If you are interested in this position please send your resume and cover letter by email to biobank@lunenfeld.ca to Dr. S. Lee Adamson, Director of the RCWIH Biobank Program.
Contact
Name
Dr. S Lee Adamson
Title
Director, RCWIH Biobank
Address
600 University Ave, Toronto , ON, M5G1X5
Telephone
416-586-8888
Job Posting Link
RCWIH Biobank (Mount Sinai Hospital)website
Display Date
2023-08-18
Expiry Date
2023-09-01
