Heart Centre Biobank Governance

Steering Committee

This committee meets annually to collectively examine the progress of the biobank (recruitment, studies supported, publications and financial status) and make suggestions for further progress and directions of the biobank.

Members
  • Seema Mital, Staff Cardiologist; Senior Scientist, Genetics & Genome Biology – Sickkids
  • Jo-Anne Herbrick, Manager, The Centre for Applied Genomics – SickKids
  • Dr. Erwin Oechslin, Head, Division of Cardiology – Toronto General Hospital
  • Dr. Luis Altamirano-Diaz, Cardiologist, London Health Sciences Centre
  • Dr. Tapas Mondal, Cardiologist, Hamilton Health Sciences Centre
  • Dr. Jane Lougheed, Cardiologist, Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario
  • Dr. John Smythe, Cardiologist, Kingston General Hospital
  • Dr. David Chitayat, Geneticist, Mount Sinai Hospital
  • Dr. John Coles, Cardiovascular Surgeon; Senior Associate Scientist, Physiology & Experimental Medicine – SickKids
  • Dr. Robert Hamilton, Staff Cardiologist; Associate Scientist, Physiology & Experimental Medicine – SickKids
  • Dr. James Ellis, Senior Scientist, SickKids
  • Phyllis Billia, Scientist, Toronto General Hospital Research Institute (TGHRI)
  • Patient Partner: Rochelle Peer
Tissue Allocation Committee

The committee reviews and assesses sample and data requests coming through the Heart Centre Biobank. Committee members will adjudicate sample and data requests based on their scientific merit and feasibility.

Members
  • Steven Schwartz, Head, Division of Cardiac Critical Care, SickKids
  • Erwin Oechslin, PI, Toronto General Hospital (Adult)
  • John Coles, Co-PI, Sickkids Heart Centre Biobank Registry
  • Robert Hamilton, Co-PI, Sickkids Heart Centre Biobank Registry
  • Tapas Mondal, PI, Hamilton Health Sciences Centre (Paediatrics)
Return of Results Committee

The committee meets (as needed) to provide insight into whether research findings with potential health implications should be returned to the patient’s responsible physician or family based on participants’ consent at time of recruitment.

Members
  • Seema Mital, Staff Cardiologist, SickKids Hospital
  • Laura Zahavich, Genetics Counselor, SickKids Hospital
  • Rebekah Jobling, Staff Geneticist, SickKids Hospital
  • Raymond Kim, Staff Geneticist, SickKids Hospital
  • Kelsey Kalbfleisch, Genetic Counsellor, SickKids Hospital
  • Robert Lesurf, Senior Bioinformatician, SickKids Hospital