Objective: To build a repository of longitudinally collected biological samples and clinical, demographic, and lifestyle data from individuals with Parkinson’s disease (PD) and other movement disorders as well as healthy controls.

Background: Many research participants consent for use of their samples and/or data for a singular study, and these samples and data must be destroyed following study completion. The construction of a biobank permits use of samples and data for any future research study which has obtained ethics approval. This has the potential to increase efficiency of clinical research in movement disorders by reducing or eliminating aspects of participant recruitment, data collection, and sample processing for observational studies [1].

Method: The Bjorn Moller Research Repository (BMRR) was established in September 2024 at the Pacific Parkinson’s Research Centre in Vancouver, Canada [2]. Individuals aged 19 and older with English proficiency were invited to participate for two study visits, approximately 18 months apart. Each visit involves at-home collection of fecal and urine samples, on-site blood collection and clinical assessments (MDS-UPDRS, MoCA, Fried Frailty Index), and completion of online questionnaires on diet, lifestyle, and movement disorder symptoms.

Results: Between September 2024 and March 2025, 128 individuals were recruited via launch events at the University of British Columbia (UBC), through the UBC Movement Disorders Clinic, and via a local virtual recruitment platform. 59 individuals completed their first visit as of March 11, 2025, resulting in storage of >1,200 biological sample aliquots (feces, urine, serum, plasma, whole blood, and peripheral blood mononuclear cells). [table 1]

Conclusion: The launch of a local biobanking initiative generated enthusiasm and a sense of empowerment among community members with a personal connection to PD, demonstrated by the success of hybrid recruitment events. Future directions include streamlining participant at-home sample collection and recruiting from more diverse communities. The BMRR project has potential to provide a rich resource for movement disorders research by enhancing our understanding of the biological mechanisms contributing to disease in each individual, driving improved identification of PD sub-types, and identifying strategies to slow progression in a “bench to bedside” approach.

Table 1

References: 1. Gallagher, C.S., Ginsburg, G.S. & Musick, A. Biobanking with genetics shapes precision medicine and global health. Nat Rev Genet 26, 191–202 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41576-024-00794-y
2. Pacific Parkinson’s Research Institute (2024). “Bjorn Moller Research Repository.” https://www.pacificparkinsons.org/researchprojects/bjorn-moller-research-repository (accessed 11 March 2025).

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