Biobanks that store biological samples, such as blood and tissue, for future research are becoming increasingly important in understanding the genetic and molecular contributions to disease, health outcomes and treatment.

Started by the Palo Alto Medical Foundation Research Institute (PAMFRI), and already gaining support of generous donors throughout our community, we will now expand the charter of our program to link together blood sample data (DNA, RNA, lipids and proteins) and electronic health record data (such as blood pressure and weight) from consenting patients throughout the region, which will enable researchers to better understand how people develop diseases over time.

This Biobank will allow scientists to study diverse populations across more than 100 communities in Northern California, including people from various genetic and cultural backgrounds. Research findings from the Sutter Health Biobank will not only benefit our patients, but patients all over the world leading through the possibility to develop more personalized treatments and improved healthcare.

Precision Medicine

Made possible by the Sutter Biobank, the Precision Medicine initiative drives revolutionary changes in individualized treatment and care for patients. Our highly diverse patient base, billion dollar investment in electronic health records, existing research and infrastructure capabilities and a centralized biobank laboratory facility will allow our health system to conduct research faster and at a lower cost. Precision Medicine provides clinicians with tools, knowledge and therapies to select which treatments work best for each patient based on their genetics, environment, preferences and needs.

Health Precision Medicine Institute

The Precision Medicine Institute brings together researchers in Genomics and Epidemiology with experts in Health Services Research to discover diagnostics and treatments that can address unmet patient care needs and rapidly translate these discoveries into clinical protocols throughout the Bay Area Region and beyond. This expert team of researchers will use the newly created Biobank, a repository of biological specimens from more than 100,000 patients. They have identified six initial areas of research to address significant gaps in treating common chronic conditions:

• Cancer — Targeted therapies for cancers with low 5-year survival rates (e.g. glioblastoma, melanomas, and lung cancer)
• Heart Failure — Diagnostic tools for detecting heart failure before damage, disability, and decline in function can occur
• Chronic Migraine — More effective treatments for one of the most prevalent chronic pain problems and a common cause of disability
• Multiple Sclerosis — New therapies for patients in a chronic progressive stage, for which there are now no effective treatments 
• Parkinson's Disease — More effective multi-medication therapies for later stage patients
• Healthy Aging — Pioneering studies to identify numerous genetic, clinical, and behavioral factors related to disease-free survival