The CRLB-GMEL offers a full range of laboratory services including:
- Biobanking
- Biochemistry & biomarker analysis
- Proteomics
- Genomics including DNA sequencing, gene expression, epigenetics
- Metabolomics
- Bioinformatics
Genetic Analysis Using Multi-Omics
The genetics and molecular epidemiology team at CRLB-GMEL provides a broad range of genomic and proteomic solutions:
- Specializing in large-scale population genetic studies, capable of handling project sizes ranging from single samples to >10,000 samples.
- Supporting experimental design considerations, bioinformatics and statistical analyses, and interpretation/reporting of results.
Bioinformatics Services
We offer flexible bioinformatics support for all genomic services with regards to:
- Experimental design and planning considerations
- Quality control
- Statistical analysis
- Results interpretation and reporting
- Methodological / analytical tool development and optimization
Featuring two genotyping platforms and a proteomics platform, and the use of DNA methylation and gene expression analysis, the laboratory has supported many landmark PHRI studies over the years, and plays a growing role in PHRI’s current and planned studies – include components of active genetic analysis.
Biobanking
We are proud to have the largest research biobank in Canada today.
With the 1993 launch of PHRI’s study, HOPE (Heart Outcomes Prevention Evaluation), the Clinical Research Laboratory and Biobank (CRLB) needed to expand its capacities in collection, transportation and analytics to accommodate samples from the HOPE study’s 9,000 participants in 28 countries.
Starting in 1999, large numbers in PHRI’s INTERHEART study (almost 30,000 participants) created a new storage challenge, as well as INTERSTROKE, and the ongoing PURE study.
The long duration of many PHRI studies – ranging from five to 10 years – resulted in the decision to store all samples from -160 C to -180 C (almost twice as cold as before) in nitrogen vapour for long-term stability.
Our History
The CRLB-GMEL laboratory was born as a new entity in late 2020, a combination of:
- The Clinical Research Laboratory (CRLB), established in 1987 at McMaster University to support clinical trials, biobanking, and biochemistry testing. One of its founders, Matthew McQueen, is today the Deputy Director, CRLB-GMEL.
- The Genetic and Molecular Epidemiology Laboratory (GMEL) was established in 2010, a collaboration between McMaster, PHRI, and TaARI. The GMEL conducts genetic testing, and researches new methods to conduct those tests.