Helena ellis, Founder and Managing Director

Biobanking Without Borders, LLC

 

Senior Biobanking Consulting Across Research, Clinical, and Commercial Settings

We provide end-to-end biobanking consulting for organizations navigating regulatory, ethical, informatics, and operational complexity.

Our work spans academic research, integrated clinical programs, startups, non-profit research foundations, commercial entities, and large, federally funded initiatives operating under high levels of oversight and scrutiny.

We are engaged when programs need clarity, defensibility, and long-term flexibility — not templates or generic advice.

Call Us When…

  • Your consent language no longer reflects how samples or data are actually being used

  • An IRB, compliance office, or funder raises questions late in the process

  • Your biobank expands in scope, collaborators, or geography

  • Clinical care and research activities begin to blur

  • Informatics systems move faster than governance frameworks

  • A new director or leadership team inherits an existing biobank

  • Accreditation, audit, or external review is approaching

  • Early design decisions may limit future research or commercial use

  • You want an independent senior review before issues escalate

Engagements are discreet, tailored, and led directly by senior consultants.

Contact

➤ LOCATION

Durham, NC

☎ CONTACT

(508) 308-3532

helena.ellis@biobankingwithoutborders.com
 

Areas of Excellence and Experience


Biobanking Informatics and LIMS

 Providing expert guidance on biobank informatics strategy, data stewardship, system selection, implementation, and migration — with a focus on regulatory.


Regulatory, Ethical, and Operational Compliance

We provide senior-level guidance across regulatory compliance, ethical governance, and quality systems essential to sustainable biobanking programs.

Our work includes human subjects protections, governance, GxP-informed practices, quality management systems, and preparation for audits and external review. We focus on translating regulatory expectations into operationally realistic practices that remain defensible as programs evolve.


Informed Consent and eConsent

Designing or optimizing human-subjects consent and assent documents that are clear, defensible, and suited for current and future uses — including multi-site and digital environments. 


Biobank Build, Expansion, and Relocation

Senior guidance for planning, building, upgrading, or relocating biobanking operations — with attention to regulatory commitments, quality systems, infrastructure, and long-term program continuity.


Governance and Policy Frameworks

Clarifying mission, access policies, data sharing, legacy planning, and oversight structures so biobanking decisions are aligned, transparent, and sustainable.


Financial Stability and Cost Recovery

Advising on budget models, cost recovery strategies, and value propositions that support long-term operations without compromising compliance or mission


Accrediation and External Review Readiness

Preparing programs for successful accreditation, audits, and external evaluations with strategic assessments, quality management alignment, and readiness reviews informed by lived experience.


Click Here for more details on the following services

  • Governance and Policy Frameworks

  • Financial Stability and Cost Recovery

  • Biobanking informatics, LIMS, Data Migration

  • Informed Consent, Assent and eConsent

  • Biobank Build and Relocation

  • Regulatory, Ethical, and Operational Compliance

  • Accreditation & External Review Readiness