About BQC19
What is the Biobanque québécoise de la COVID-19 (BQC19)?
The Biobanque québécoise de la COVID-19 (BQC19) is a pan-provincial initiative that collects, stores and shares data and blood samples from COVID-19 patients, both severe and non-severe cases and control cases, in an effort to respond effectively to the public health challenges posed by the pandemic.
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Supported by the Fonds de recherche du Québec – Santé (FRQS), Génome Québec, the Public Health Agency of Canada and, as of March 2022, the ministère de la Santé et des Services sociaux, the BQC19 collects a growing number of samples from ten locations around Quebec. Its ultimate goal is to contribute to the global efforts to better understand the evolution and determinants of the SARS-CoV-2 infection.
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BQC19 believes that better understanding the disease will help society in returning to social activities and in preparing for future pandemics. It sees access to high-quality samples and data as essential in fulfilling research and works to bring about national and international research collaborations.
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Our Mission
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 effectively address the public health challenges posed by the pandemic on a sound scientific basis and within an appropriate ethical and legal framework.
BQC19 governance
BQC19 is a biobank with its own management and governance structure. The governance includes a Governing Committee, a Steering Committee, an independent Data and Sample Access Committee, and an International Scientific Council. It also includes several sub-committees responsible for mandates ranging from scientific priorities to communication and ethical, legal and social issues. The governance of BQC19 is framed in its Management Framework.
Accountability
The BQC19 reports to the funding agencies and to the multicentric ethics committee that has approved the project.