Pooling resources across patient clinics, WIHSC provides researchers unique access to pregnancy-related biospecimens and data collected over months and even years of care.
Since 2008, the Women and Infants Health Specimen Consortium (WIHSC) has served as a partner and honest broker, distributing biospecimens and data to researchers focused on women and infants health, disease, fertility and pregnancy. With the ability to consent patients and collect specimens throughout pregnancy – and 24/7 on labor and delivery – WIHSC helps researchers overcome barriers to accessing the tissue, fluid and other samples necessary for women and infants health research.
Core Description
Women & Infant’s Specimen Consortium has biobank specimens and related data from women who are pregnant or trying to get pregnant, before, during and after pregnancy.
WIHSC enrolls participants from four locations on the Washington University and Barnes-Jewish Hospital campus, including the women’s health clinic, the fertility clinic, and labor and delivery. Participating women range in age from 15 to 48 years and represent various racial and ethnic backgrounds, as well as diverse educational and socioeconomic levels.
All specimens are de-identified and carefully obtained according to strict ethical standards and IRB review. All samples — whether banked or prospective — also include extensive patient data, such as maternal complications, infections during pregnancy and infertility diagnosis.
Banked and prospective samples include:
| Maternal blood | Granulosa cells |
| Cord blood | Placenta samples |
| Buffy coat | Amniotic fluid |
| Newborn dried blood spots | Urine specimens |
| Follicular fluid | Vaginal fluid |
| Discarded oocytes |
Patient data include:
| Pregnancy Complications | Infections during Pregnancy | Infertility Diagnosis |
| Preeclampsia | Pyelonephritis | Cervical factor |
| Chronic HTN | Gonorrhea | Diminished Ovarian Reserve |
| Gestational HTN | Chlamydia | Endometriosis |
| Incompetent Cervix | Trichomoniasis | Fibroids |
| Placenta Previa | UTI | Male Factor |
| Placental Abruption | Bacterial vaginosis | Ovulation Disorder |
| PROM | Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome | |
| Diabetes | Premature Ovarian Failure | |
| HELLP Syndrome | Tubal Factor | |
| Chorioamniontis | Recurrent Pregnancy Loss | |
| Uterine Rupture | Adhesions | |
| Asthma |
Prospective Collection Services – For research requiring specimens and data not in our bank, prospective samples can be fulfilled to your specifications.
Access
Service available to All entities, including for-profit organizations.
Priority service for All entities, including for-profit organizations.
Additional information:
To qualify for use of WIHSC samples, your research must be focused on the future of women and infants health, and you must have a current IRB-approved protocol from your organization. In addition, all requests must receive approval from the WIHSC advisory board.
Many of our research projects are funded by a Just-in-Time (JIT) Grant. The JIT Usage Funding Program provides quick access to funding for researchers using ICTS Cores to advance medical knowledge that can improve human health.
https://icts.wustl.edu/icts-researchers/funding/funding-opportunities
Services
- Biobank specimens
- Prospective collection services
- Clinical outcome data
- Established core for senior faculty seeking center grants
- Approved core for Just In Time Grants
- Guidance in research project design and planning
Equipment
- Specimens are stored in liquid nitrogen
- Specimens are stored in -80 Fahrenheit freezers
Pricing
Pricing is subject to core verification
The WIHSC biobank and collection services operate on a cost recovery model; researchers are charged only for the labor and reagents required to provide samples. Fees for researchers at Washington University differ from fees for investigators affiliated with other universities or organizations. Please contact us for current pricing.