Hello everyone! I hope you’re having a great week! Here are some TBRS Community updates from this week:

• More researchers interested in the TBRS Biorepository!

• • • Several more researchers have requested patient samples from the TBRS Biorepository, for a total of 5 ongoing studies using our samples!
      • This large interest shows just how important our Biorepository is for fueling research!
    • I’ll have more information on these studies in the upcoming newsletter.

• Opportunities to donate to the Biorepository

• • • With the growing interest in our samples, we will be needing more patient donations soon!
      • The TBRS Biorepository is a collection of patient samples that is readily accessible for research.
    • Below are the dates for upcoming rare disease conferences where you can donate to the Biorepository:
      • July 27-28 – Philadelphia, PA
      • July 28-30 – Seattle, WA
      • September 25-28 – Atlanta, GA
      • October (TBD) – Nashville, TN
      • December 5-6 – Los Angeles, CA
    • If you are interested in donating to the TBRS Biorepository at any of these locations, please contact [email protected]. 

• Photos for website – call for high quality photos

• • • We’re redesigning the TBRS Community website – and we’d like to include new photos of our patients and families!
    • Do you have high-quality photos to include? Follow the steps below!:
      • Click here to sign the photo release form – this MUST be completed by everyone in the photo to allow us to use these photos!
      • Click here to upload to the shared album!

• REMINDER: Creating a map of TBRS patient and family locations!

• • • I have been working on a map that shows the general locations of TBRS patients and families, to show how our patients are globally spread and help others to see who might be in their area. 

• This map is different from the previous Facebook map. This map will be published on the website without names or specific addresses.

• • • If you are interested in being included on this map, please consider completing our contact registry, Count Me In for TBRS!
    • Here is the full map!

• REMINDER: New Family Welcome Packet – Looking for Translations!

• • The TBRS Community New Family Welcome Packet is a resource that details all of the programs and research opportunities available to TBRS Community families.
  • We know our global community would benefit from translations of this resource, and others.
    • Currently, the New Family Welcome Packet is translated into Spanish
    • We also have our intern, Kaho, translating this resource into Japanese, which will be available soon.
  • If you are available to translate this resource into other languages, please consider volunteering! This would greatly benefit members of our community who speak other languages!
  • Click here to read the full news story and download the New Family Welcome Packet!

Thank you, and I hope you have a great weekend!

Kit Church, CARE Manager