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Upcoming Holiday Closure: In observance of a holiday, Agilent CrossLab/iLab Operations Software Support Help Desk will be closed during U.S. hours on Monday, February 16th, 2026. During this time, support in the U.S. and Canada will be unavailable. APAC and EU Support will remain open as normal. For urgent matters, please add "Urgent" to your ticket/email subject or press "1" when prompted to escalate a call on the iLab Support phone, and we will prioritize those requests first.
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The Biofluids Repository Core (BRC) represents a merger of the previous Population Sciences Biorepository (PSB) Core with a Texas Heart Institute (THI) Biorepository core that includes a physical move from the Feigen Center to the Cooley Building of THI . All the previous services of PSB continue to be offered plus the merger has expanded the capacity and capabilities of the Core.
Biofluids Repository Core
Cooley Building
6770 Bertner Avenue, 970D
Houston, TX 77030
The Biofluids Repository Core (BRC) provides centralized, high-quality biospecimen acquisition, processing, storage, and profiling services in support of basic, translational, and clinical research. As a core resource for the Dan L. Duncan Comprehensive Cancer Center (DLDCCC), and serving investigators across Baylor College of Medicine and the Texas Medical Center (TMC), the BRC operates within a CAP-accredited biobanking framework to ensure standardized workflows, regulatory compliance, and full sample traceability.
The BRC was formed through the strategic integration of the Texas Heart Institute Biorepository & Biospecimen Profiling Core with Baylor College of Medicine’s former Population Sciences Biorepository. This merger brought together complementary expertise and infrastructure, significantly expanding storage capacity, quality systems, and analytical capabilities. As a result, the BRC now offers enhanced in-house profiling services—including multi-cytokine quantification using multiplex assay platforms and exosome isolation and characterization—enabling more integrated study workflows and reducing reliance on external vendors.
In close coordination with the Human Tissue Acquisition and Pathology (HTAP) Core [https://www.bcm.edu/research/atc-core-labs/human-tissue-acquisition-and-pathology-core], the BRC delivers an integrated, end-to-end biobanking solution for studies involving both biofluids and tissue, positioning investigators to accelerate discovery with confidence.
The Biofluids Repository Core (BRC) offers comprehensive support for biospecimen-based research, including study consultation, protocol development, and coordinated specimen acquisition. Services include standardized processing and storage of biofluids (e.g., plasma, serum, whole blood, PBMCs, bronchoalveolar lavage, cerebrospinal fluid, and specialized clinical samples), long-term storage in continuously monitored −80 °C and liquid nitrogen vapor-phase systems, and full inventory management with chain-of-custody tracking.
The BRC also provides biospecimen profiling services such as cytokine assays (ELISA, multiplex assays) and customized sample collection kit building and logistics for multi-site studies. The BRC may have the capability to perform other assays upon request, including microRNA analysis, exosome isolation, and PBMC-based functional assays. Please consult with the core director for any sample processing needs required for your study. Through close integration with HTAP, the BRC supports scalable, regulatory-ready biobanking solutions for investigator-initiated studies, clinical trials, and collaborative research programs.
Camila Hochman-Mendez, Ph.D. | Core Director
Office: Cooley Building, 9th floor Suite 964
Phone: 713-614-4949
Email: camila.hochmanmendez@bcm.edu
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Location |
Hours |
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Biofluids Repository Core Cooley Building 6770 Bertner Avenue, 970D Houston, TX 77030
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8 a.m. - 6 p.m., Monday to Friday
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| Name | Role | Phone | Location | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Camila Hochman Mendez, Ph.D., M.P.H. |
Director
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832.355.8994
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Camila.HochmanMendez@bcm.edu
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Texas Heart Institute at Baylor College of Medicine 6770 Bertner Avenue, room 964,Houston, Texas 77030
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| Micheline M. Resende, Ph.D. |
Research Operations Lead
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Micheline.Resende@bcm.edu
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Texas Heart Institute at Baylor College of Medicine 6770 Bertner Avenue, room 970DHouston, Texas 77030
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| Internal BCM iLab Support |
Internal BCM iLab Support
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ilabs-support@bcm.edu
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https://www.google.com/maps/place/The+Texas+Heart+Institute+at+Baylor+College+of+Medicine/@29.7050424,-95.4078731,15z/data=!4m10!1m2!2m1!1sBiofluids+Repository+Core+Cooley+Building+6770+Bertner+Avenue,+970D+Houston,+TX+77030!3m6!1s0x8640c07409e456c9:0x1800ab44381c7b09!8m2!3d29.7076982!4d-95.3992914!15sClVCaW9mbHVpZHMgUmVwb3NpdG9yeSBDb3JlIENvb2xleSBCdWlsZGluZyA2NzcwIEJlcnRuZXIgQXZlbnVlLCA5NzBEIEhvdXN0b24sIFRYIDc3MDMwkgELbWVkaWNhbF9sYWLgAQA!16s%2Fg%2F1tf588b2?entry=ttu&g_ep=EgoyMDI2MDExMy4wIKXMDSoASAFQAw%3D%3D
