Coriell Institute for Medical Research

09/14/2026

For over 70 years, Coriell has been renowned for our biobanking facilities, which serve scientists worldwide. But what exactly is biobanking?

And why is it important to so many laboratories worldwide? We found this great video by our friends at the Hunter Medical Research Institute (HMRI), a medical research institute based in Wales, Australia, that does a great job answering these questions and showing the importance of biobanking for anyone curious or unfamiliar with the process.

Improving human health is a global effort shared by scientists and doctors throughout history, so we are happy to highlight efforts by members of that global community to raise awareness of the science and processes behind this important work, from our laboratories to theirs.

Used to store biological samples from animals, plants or humans, bi...

09/10/2026

Scientists can now see how DNA is organized at nearly the scale of the double helix itself!

New fluorescent probes are giving researchers an incredibly detailed look at how DNA is packaged inside cells, helping reveal how its structure may influence gene activity and disease.

That deeper view of how genetic information functions inside cells complements the research Coriell helps make possible. Through our biobanks and repositories, scientists worldwide can access well-characterized human cells and DNA to study genetic variation, disease mechanisms, and potential treatments.

Read more ➡ https://e3.eurekalert.org/news-releases

09/09/2026

September is Leukemia and Lymphoma Awareness Month, a time to recognize the need for continued research to better understand and treat these complex blood cancers.

At Coriell, our scientists are advancing understanding of blood cancer biology, including research from the Jian Huang Lab on drug resistance in acute myeloid leukemia (AML), which can contribute to disease relapse. Coriell also provides researchers with well-characterized blood cancer cell lines to support studies of cancer biology, genetic changes, and treatment response.

This month, we recognize those affected by leukemia and lymphoma, as well as the scientific community working to improve understanding and treatment of these diseases.

Explore Coriell's research into leukemia and treatment resistance:

Explore the cutting-edge research conducted at The Jian Huang Lab, a cornerstone of Coriell Institute's scientific investigations. Discover how our team drives innovation in genomics, genetics, and biomedical research.

07/30/2026

What if a tiny, lab-grown brain could help unlock the secrets of autism? At Yale, Dr. Flora Vaccarino's team is using mini-brains made from patient stem cells to dive deep into the genetics of ASD. Their discoveries—like the crucial role of FOXG1—are possible thanks to partnerships like the one between Coriell and the FOXG1 Research Foundation. Together, we're building an incredible Biobank of patient samples, accelerating research, and bringing new hope to families affected by FOXG1 syndrome and autism.

Read more about this discovery on our blog ➡https://www.coriell.org/1/About-Us/Press-Room/Coriell-Blog/2026/07/29/Unlocking-the-Mysteries-of-FOXG1-Syndrome-From-Genetic-Discovery-to-Global-Research-Collaboration

07/20/2026

Last week, some of Coriell's team attended the Skraban-Deardorff Syndrome (SKDEAS) family meeting at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. Our team worked alongside phlebotomists to collect over 40 samples from affected individuals and their families, helping support SKDEAS research. Skraban-Deardorff syndrome is a neurodevelopmental disorder caused by variants or microdeletions in the WDR26 gene. Thank you to the Skraban-Deardorff Syndrome Foundation and the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia for having us.

07/10/2026

Chediak-Higashi syndrome (CHS) is a rare recessive autosomal disorder that damages all body systems but particularly immune system cells, leaving them less able to fight off bacteria and viruses. CHS is characterized by abnormally light pigmentation of the skin, hair, and eyes, known as oculocutaneous albinism.

In 1996, researchers from Millennium Pharmaceuticals, led by Deborah L. Nagle, PhD, made a groundbreaking discovery in Chediak-Higashi syndrome. Through DNA isolation, they identified mutations that cause CHS and found that CHS may be heterogeneous, with multiple root causes rather than a single cause in all affected patients.

The same cell lines used in this study remain available today through Coriell's NIGMS biobank for other scientists to continue using to advance critical research.

To read more, check out our blog ➡

Chediak Higashi syndrome (CHS) is a rare recessive autosomal disorder that damages all body systems but particularly immune system cells, leaving them less able to fight off bacteria and viruses. CHS is characterized by abnormally light pigmentation of the skin, hair, and eyes, known as oculocutaneo...

07/06/2026

In 2010, a collaborative project between researchers from the Salk Institute for Biological Studies, the University of California, San Diego, and Penn State University investigated whether induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) could be utilized to study complex neurodevelopmental disorders, like autism spectrum disorder (ASD), to develop better targeted therapies.

By employing cell lines obtained from Coriell, the team successfully transformed skin cells, or fibroblasts, from patients with Rett syndrome (RTT), a genetic disorder that was formerly considered part of the autism spectrum, into iPSCs.

From these iPSCs, the researchers generated neurons to better understand their structure and function in individuals with RTT and, more broadly, ASD.

To learn more, check out our blog ➡

In 2010, a collaborative project between researchers from the Salk Institute for Biological Studies, the University of California, San Diego, and Penn State University, investigated whether induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) could be utilized to study complex neurodevelopmental disorders, like a...

06/19/2026

Happy birthday to Dr. Lewis Coriell, the incredible man and scientist whose name we proudly carry and whose work blazed a trail for us and for biomedical research! Best wishes to his family and loved ones.

06/16/2026

Dr. Coriell's legacy lives on in South Jersey. Thank you to for recognizing the role he played in Camden's history.

Discover more of the South Jersey figures who shaped the region's history — poets, a governor and a soup inventor.

06/15/2026

From 1978 to 2002, Dr. Nancy Wexler led a Huntington's Disease research project in Venezuela’s Lake Maracaibo region. She and her team collected samples from families with a high risk for the disease. In her recent book, My Life, My Science: Pursuing a Cure for Huntington’s Disease, Dr. Wexler describes how they traced the disease back to one woman, Maria Conception, who lived there in the early 1800s.

The Coriell Institute has stored the samples Dr. Wexler collected in Venezuela in its Biobanks for more than 50 years. These blood samples have also helped researchers map genes linked to other diseases, such as familial Alzheimer's disease, kidney cancers, two types of neurofibromatosis, Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), and others.

Her decades of work on Huntington’s disease helped lead to the creation of a genetic test for the devastating condition. Why didn’t she take it herself?