Toronto Lung Transplant Program Biobank
The Toronto Lung Transplant Program (TLTP) Biobank is a classic model biorepository that comprises human biospecimens related to lung transplantation. Operating under the direction of Dr. Shaf Keshavjee and the Latner Thoracic Research Laboratories, TLTP Biobank supports research initiatives that drive innovation and discovery, improving patient care and optimizing clinical outcomes in lung transplantation.
Through the development of a vast platform of over 260,000+ samples (2025), TLTP Biobank continues to provide access to biospecimens that are foundational to the advancement of industry standard clinical practices.
Our biorepository is made up of various biospecimens including, but not limited to, bronchial wash fluid and Ex Vivo Lung Perfusion (EVLP) perfusate samples from the largest cohort of lung transplant patients in the world. We provide high quality biospecimens together with deidentified clinical data for lung transplant researchers and industry collaborators.
Our Mission
Support groundbreaking translational research that drives innovation and discovery to improve patient care and optimize clinical outcomes in lung transplantation.
Our Objective
Serve as an accessible and reliable platform for researchers and collaborators to access key biospecimens derived from the entire lung transplant process.
What Do We Collect?
The Toronto Lung Transplant Program Biobank is a biorepository and specializes in the collection, processing, and cryopreservation of donor and recipient samples and data related to lung transplantation. Sample collections begin at the donor procurement site, continue through the transplant procedure, and extend to clinical follow-up. This comprehensive range of timepoint collections offers researchers a clear, longitudinal view of the transplant process over time.
Biospecimen Overview
All incoming biospecimens are processed using best practice standard operating procedures defined by established governing committees (ISO, ISBER, CTRNet, etc.). These protocols are continually reviewed and adapted to the ever-changing demands of clinical practice and research needs.
Biofluids
- Bronchoalveolar lavage
- Large airway bronchial wash (donor & recipient)
EVLP Perfusate
- Blood like solution used during EVLP procedure
Other
- Post-Op plasma
- Extracorporeal Life Support intervention plasma
- Transplant biopsies
- Formalin Fixed Paraffin Embedded (FFPE)
- EVLP perfusion biopsies
Lung Fluid | Bronchoalveolar & Large Airway Bronchial Wash
| Biospecimen Subtype | Analytes |
| Raw | DNA (human, mixture of donor and recipient), microbial (microbial analysis) |
| Supernatant | Soluble proteins and other soluble components (bile acid) |
| Cell pellet (Directly frozen) | DNA, protein |
| Cell pellet (RNA stabilizer) | DNA, RNA, potentially protein |
| Cell pellet (Freezing media) | Cellular analysis (viability, functionality), DNA and RNA analysis, protein |
Blood
| Biospecimen Subtype | Analytes |
| Plasma | Protein, cell free DNA (cfDNA), soluble components |
Perfusate | EVLP
| Biospecimen Subtype | Analytes |
| Raw | DNA (human, mixture of donor and recipient), microbial (microbial analysis) |
| Supernatant | Soluble proteins and other soluble components (bile acid) |
| Cell pellet (Freezing media) | Cellular analysis (viability, functionality), DNA and RNA analysis, protein |
Other
| Biospecimen Subtype | Analytes |
| Flash frozen samples | No functional analysis; DNA, RNA, protein |
| Formalin (or other fixative) embedded in paraffin | Immunohistochemistry, pathology, histology, DNA, possibly RNA |
Biospecimen Banking & Support
Sample Processing and Distribution
TLTP Biobank comprises a large biorepository of human lung biospecimens that includes samples collected from the patient following a transplant (month, years—Bronchoalveolar Lavage (BAL) and recipient Large Airway Bronchial Wash (rLABW).
Our proprietary data tracking software offers easy biospecimen searches and empowers us to find the right samples and associated data to meet your health research needs.
Study Support Services
- Patient screening, consenting, biospecimen collection & processing accessioning, clinical data annotation, and long-term cryogenic storage
- Fresh, frozen, and formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) tissue
- Blood components (e.g., serum, plasma, peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC)
- Bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) washes
- Ex Vivo Lung Perfusion (EVLP) perfusate samples
- Protocols & Approvals
- Research-tailored protocol development to accommodate your specific research needs, such as variation in processing and storage
- Research Ethics Board (REBs)/Institutional Review Board (IRB) and policy approval assistance
- Consultation & Biospecimen distribution
- Assessing research needs and analysis scope to provide applicable biospecimens
- Shipping, tracking, and documentation (local & international)
- Assays and analytical classes (extracting DNA and RNA)
Publications
The collaborative efforts of the TLTP Biobank have resulted in the publication of many impactful research papers.
International Society for Heart and Lung Transplantation consensus statement for the standardization of bronchoalveolar lavage in lung transplantation
Martinu T, Koutsokera A, Benden C, Cantu E, Chambers D, Cypel M, Edelman J, Emtiazjoo A, Fisher AJ, Greenland JR, Hayes D Jr, Hwang D, Keller BC, Lease ED, Perch M, Sato M, Todd JL, Verleden S, von der Thüsen J, Weigt SS, Keshavjee S Read More
Identification of regional variation in gene expression and inflammatory proteins in donor lung tissue and ex vivo lung perfusate
Chao B, Sage A, Yeung J, Bai X, Ma J, Martinu T, Liu M, Cypel M, Raemdonck D, Ceulemans L, Neyrinck A, Verleden S, Keshavjee S. Read MoreOur Team
Dr. Shaf Keshavjee
Director, TLTP Biobank
Marcelo Cuesta
Manager
Rasheed Ghany
Database Manager
Johannes Teselink
Clinical Research Coordinator II
Erika Kurtz
Research Technical Assistant
Ella Arustei
Research Technical Assistant
Contact Us
Interested in collaborating with researchers at the TLTP Biobank? Please fill out the request form and we will get in touch with you as soon as possible.
Governance
The TLTP Biobank adheres to University Health Network’s Research Ethics Board policies for assessing and distributing samples & accompanying data. All research requests are reviewed to ensure provincial and institutional requirements are met. The approval committee re-directs the request to the appropriate team for execution.
