Welcome to the HD Biobank
This valuable resource is made possible by the generosity of Canadians, bringing patients, families, and researchers together to find solutions for neurodegenerative brain disorders.
The HD Biobank at the UBC Centre for Molecular Medicine and Therapeutics
About the HD Biobank
The HD Biobank, housed at the UBC Centre for Molecular Medicine and Therapeutics (CMMT), is one of the largest biobanks of its kind in the world. Since the 1980s, patients and families have generously donated biological samples, enabling critical discoveries in Huntington disease (HD) and other brain disorders including dementias and movement disorders such as Parkinson’s disease.
Our History
The HD Biobank began in the 1980s by collecting samples from individuals with and without HD. As the collection grew and expanded nationally, it became clear that Canada needed a coordinated resource for neurodegenerative research. Today, the Biobank accepts samples from any Canadian who wishes to participate, including those with and without a diagnosed brain disorder.
A Resource for Global Research
A significant number of scientific publications worldwide have relied on experiments using patient-derived samples from our collection—blood, DNA, brain tissue, and other biological materials. Each donation contributes directly to research advancing our understanding of neurodegeneration.
The gift of biological specimens, coupled with medical and family history information, is an invaluable resource for researchers. With donor permission, we collect, store, study, and share samples and clinical data with an international network of collaborators working toward better diagnostics, treatments, and ultimately prevention.
Our Mission Moving Forward
As new discoveries raise new questions, ongoing collection and preservation of high-quality samples is more important than ever. By expanding the HD Biobank to include diverse donors and improving systems for secure data and sample sharing, we aim to accelerate research now and for generations to come.
We continue to seek donors, collaborators, and new scientific directions—united by a common goal: to reduce the burden of neurodegenerative disease on individuals, families, and communities.
For more information about sample donation, please visit the “Patients and Families” page
For researchers wanting to collaborate with the HD Biobank please visit the “Researchers” page
The HD Biobank is funded by people affected by brain disorders. Please donate to our operating costs so we can continue to be an essential resource for research.
Our Partners
Partner Links: CMMT, CHD, UBC, BCCHRI, HSC
Website: www.cmmt.ubc.ca
Researching Life to Change Lives
The HD Biobank acknowledges with gratitude and respect that we operate on the traditional, ancestral and unceded territories of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), and Səl̓ílwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations.