Biobanking Security: Proactive Strategies for Preventing Biospecimen Loss

An entrepreneur at heart, Keith DiMarino is the founder and CEO of GenVault, a state-of-the-art biorepository headquartered in West Deptford, NJ. Launched in 2021, GenVault was built to meet the growing demand for secure, scalable biological storage solutions as Greater Philadelphia continues to expand as a global hub for cell and gene therapy. The five-floor facility was designed from the ground up to ensure the highest level of security and reliability for samples stored in conditions ranging from ambient to cryogenic. Prior to founding GenVault, Keith launched DocuVault in 2002, growing it from a local records management company into a network of 10 holding companies with facilities across multiple states. With over two decades of experience in highly regulated storage environments, he has built a career around anticipating client needs and creating infrastructure that prioritizes security, compliance, and scalability. A Philadelphia native, Keith is a graduate of The Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania. He is also a shareholder and board member of the National Record Centers (NRC) and remains active in national peer advisory groups focused on best practices in secure storage.

Heather Olsen is the director of quality and compliance at GenVault, a biorepository designed from the ground up to meet the highest standards of security and compliance for critical sample needs. She has more than 20 years of experience in quality assurance, regulatory compliance, and operational excellence. Before joining GenVault, Heather held senior quality roles at Encompass Elements, Printpack, QPS, and BW Tek, and began her career at Catalent Pharma Solutions. She is passionate about building strong quality systems and reducing risk to protect critical materials and ensure regulatory readiness.

Kelly McCorkell, PhD, recently joined the GenVault team as the new director of biorepository operations. She comes from Thomas Jefferson University Hospital where she was the director of the clinical laboratory for cellular therapy for almost four years. The Cellular Therapy Lab supported all the patient stem cell collection needs, including the processing, storage, and prep for administration, handled all commercial and clinical trial cellular therapeutic products, and was the manufacturing facility for cellular therapy research projects for university investigators. Before joining Jefferson, Kelly was the site manager for the Philadelphia and San Francisco satellite locations for Fairfax Cryobank. Fairfax Cryobank processes and sells reproductive tissue as part of their Anonymous Donor programs but also serves as a small, local biorepository for reproductive tissues, including sperm, eggs, and embryos. Kelly obtained her PhD in genetics and molecular biology from Thomas Jefferson University and continued in an academic research career at the University of Pennsylvania before focusing on operations.