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A paradigm shift-re-purposing resources and infrastructure during a pandemic to ensure sustainability

Problem: The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted practically all human activities around the world, including, the biobanking research community. In March 2020, in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, all non-essential research activity was halted within the University Health Network (UHN) and in Canada, to protect the community and flatten the curve. As a core facility at UHN, UHN Biospecimen Services, a biospecimen storage and sample information management group, was deemed essential to expedite COVID-19 research and assist in sustaining essential research operations. UHN Biospecimen Services had to re-purpose existing biobank infrastructure and available assets to centralize resources and answer an institutional call for help in the battle against COVID-19. Solution: In close collaboration with Infectious Disease, Occupational Health and other departments, resources, infrastructure and skill-sets were repurposed to fit the organization's current needs. For example, a dedicated, Biosafety Level 2 COVID-19 processing laboratory was established. Amidst the clinical and research shutdown, staff were re-deployed across the organization to critical areas, where assistance was in high demand. Over 50 staff have been re-deployed to assist in the newly formed COVID-19 Biobank facility, since May 2020. Processing COVID-19 samples involves compliance and adherence to established organization's COVID-19 safety protocols, biobank best practices and high-quality standard operating procedures (SOP) to yield prime biospecimens. New SOPs and guidance documents were developed encompassing such standards. Additional training has been provided to clinic and laboratory staff to ensure they are well equipped with COVID- 19 safety procedures during sample collection, transportation, processing and storage. Emergency Response procedures were adapted to fit current and ongoing infection control measures. Conclusion: The implementation of complex and creative strategies to: reduce costs, allocate available resources efficiently and optimize operations to guarantee sustainability, yielded the setup and establishment of a biorepository for COVID-19 research. Adaptability of a biorepository is key to remain fit-for-purpose, sustainable and enable innovation and discovery amidst uncertain climates. UHNBiospecimen Services is able to remain sustainable during this unprecedented time by implementing a visionary approach and balancing financial, operational and social dimensions.