Genetics

The purpose of this study is to collect biospecimens (fecal, urine, blood, oral swab) and clinical data to serve as a resource for future research on Parkinson’s disease and other movement disorders. The careful collection, storage and retrieval of biospecimens and medical information for research projects are critical for improving understanding of healthy development and disease mechanisms and the subsequent development of effective treatments. Biospecimens from this biobank will be made available for ethically-approved studies.

The purpose of this study is to test whether a specific combination of biomarkers discovered during previous studies can help predict how someone experiencing a major depressive episode will respond to treatment. The study will also explore other possible biomarkers that may predict treatment response, which may help in the future development of tests that can guide treatment choice more effectively and more quickly.

The purpose of this study is to identify inheritable mutations among male breast cancer participants by performing genetic testing on their cancer samples, instead of blood samples (such as tumour testing). This testing will allow researchers to identify inheritable mutations when blood samples are not available. This study will evaluate the clinical utility and the feasibility of offering the tumour testing in newly diagnosed male breast cancer patients.

The purpose of this study is to understand the ability of genetic testing to identify familial hypercholesterolemia among patients with acute cardiac event in hospital settings and to investigate the impact of genetic diagnosis on physician behaviour, medication use and decreasing cholesterol to an acceptable level.