One of the Largest Hospital Cohorts in the World: The Montreal Heart Institute Biobank Celebrates its 20,000th Participant

MONTRÉAL, Feb. 4, 2015 /CNW Telbec/ - Audrey Sirois, a 26-year-old patient, has become the 20,000th participant in the Montreal Heart Institute Biobank. The Biobank, which was created for research purposes, aims to recruit 30,000 volunteer patients from all over Quebec and will constitute one of the largest hospital cohorts in the world. Eventually, it will help the Institute's specialists and researchers better understand the genetic bases and other risk factors of cardiovascular disease.

The Biobank aims to collect biological material and information on the participants' health and their lifestyle, nutrition and psychosocial habits. What makes it unique is the long-term follow-up of each participant by means of a telephone interview with a nurse, once every four years for the rest of their lives.

Volunteers have different reasons to participate. Some join the Biobank because of the excellent care they received at the Montreal Heart Institute, while others do it to ensure a healthy future for their grandchildren. "I gave a blood sample and filled out a questionnaire on my health and lifestyle habits – that's all I had to do to join the Biobank, a huge network of mutual aid created to fight cardiovascular disease," explained Ms. Sirois, who was born with a heart defect.

The Montreal Heart Institute Biobank enables researchers, doctors, and professionals at the Montreal Heart Institute to better identify the causes of cardiovascular diseases, to create better diagnostic and preventive tools, and to develop more effective treatments for these diseases. Thanks to this innovation, the Institute is able to contribute to the advancement of knowledge and help develop more specialized medical treatments with which patients get the right medication based on their genetic makeup.

 "A number of projects have already seen the light of day because of the Montreal Heart Institute Biobank. Some discoveries have been published in the most prestigious scientific journals in the world, and there are several more to come," said Mr. David Busseuil, PhD, Director of the Biobank.

About the Montreal Heart Institute
Founded in 1954 by Dr. Paul David, the Montreal Heart Institute constantly aims for the highest standards of excellence in the cardiovascular field through its leadership in clinical and basic research, ultra-specialized care, professional training and prevention. It is part of the broad network of health excellence made up of Université de Montréal and its affiliated institutions.

About the Montreal Heart Institute Foundation
The mission of the Montreal Heart Institute Foundation is to raise and administer funds to support the Institute's priority and innovative projects and help its fight against cardiovascular disease, the number-one cause of death worldwide. Since its creation in 1977, the Foundation has donated almost $200 million to the Montreal Heart Institute.

SOURCE Montreal Heart Institute

Lise Plante, MBA, Director of Communications and Marketing, Montreal Heart Institute Foundation, Phone: [phone], ext. 3898 | [email protected], facebook.com/institutcardiologiemontreal | @ICMtl