As part of the initiatives put forward to find solutions to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Fonds de recherche du Québec and Génome Québec have tasked Vincent Mooser and a group of researchers from different hospitals and research institutions in Quebec on March 19th, 2020 with establishing the Biobanque Québécoise de la Covid-19 (BQC19). In June 2020, the Public Health Agency of Canada joined the initiative by providing additional funding to the biobank.
The mission of the BQC19 is to ensure that scientists have access to the biological materials and data necessary for their research efforts on COVID-19, to respond effectively to the public health challenges posed by the pandemic on a solid scientific basis and within an appropriate ethical and legal framework.
The collection of data and samples began on April 1st, 2020 and as of September 30th, 2020, approximately 1,500 samples have been collected over the 11 participating sites.
To know more about BQC19, visit the BQC19 website.