Abstract
The abstracts that follow demonstrate the broad range of timely issues addressed in the contributed Oral and Poster presentations at ISBER's 2023 Annual Meeting & Exhibits.
Oral Abstract
Accelerating Translational Research by Enabling Access to Specimens and Datasets
S. Joshi1, E. Matzke2, D. Galipeau3
1Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, Washington, United States, 2Provincial Health Services Authority, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, 3Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, Oregon, United States
Power of Consortium Shared Resources When External Threats Occur
S. Hume4, 1, S. Higgins1, 2, A. J. Mountain1, 3, C. Gilfillan4, W. Ng1, 2
1Victorian Cancer Biobank Consortium, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 2Cancer Council Victoria, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 3Austin Health Tissue Bank, Austin Health, Heidelberg, Victoria, Australia, 4Eastern Health Tissue Bank, Eastern Health, Box Hill, Victoria, Australia
Unplanned events can severely and suddenly restrict biobanking activities, and small biobanks require support to ensure sustainability and business continuity.
This presentation depicts two scenarios (cyber threat and pandemic) which demonstrate the combined use of tools across a networked biobank to reduce risks and impacts from large‐scale organisational disruptions.
Three Consortium‐wide tools were utilised:
1) A robust Business Continuity Plan, incorporating key stakeholders' responsibilities in risk management.
2) A Consortium Business Plan with local (institution) and networked (consortium) goals.
3) Implementation of harmonised Standardised Operating Procedures (SOPs).
1) Central Operations “Hub” provided immediate contingency support as part of a framework for rapid response/recovery, including facilitating communications with stakeholders.
2) A partner “Spoke” Site allowed EHTB staff access to Biobank shared databases, group business communication platforms, and shared biospecimen storage.
3) Harmonised Consortium SOPs allowed large‐scale multisite dispatches to still be completed.
The resources described cannot be underestimated in their effectiveness when an external threat occurs.
The Qualification in Biorepository Science (QBRS) Examination: Progress Report on its Global Reach
B. Schacter1, 2, D. Simeon‐Dubach3
1Medical Oncology and Hematology, CancerCare Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, 2Internal Medicine, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, 3medservice Daniel Simeon Dubach, Walchwil, ZG, Switzerland
While these procedures are proving invaluable to biobanks to ensure that their processes for accessing, processing, and distributing biobanked materials result in reproducibility and quality performance, they do not address the question of quality performance in the biobanking professionals themselves.
Well trained and skilled staff are essential to ensure high quality biospecimens for reproducible results in precision medicine, biomarker development, and biomedical research as a whole, while aiming for sustainable biobanking activities.
A New Tool to Match Organ, Tissue, and Eye Post‐mortem Donors to Research Project Criteria
K. D. Kunkle, G. H. Grossman, T. Cattell, A. Abbott
Precision Ocular Biobank, Advancing Sight Network, Birmingham, Alabama, United States
Determining Pre‐analytical Variables and Molecular Determinants to Ensure High Quality of Luxor Biobank
N. Kordy, S. Ezzat, S. Mahmoud, R. Mohamed, A. Hagag, A. M. Gamal, M. M. Saady, A. Saleh
Research Department, Shefa Al Orman Hospital, Luxor, Egypt
MIRRI‐ERIC: A Pan‐European Research Infrastructure for Making Microbial Science and Innovation Happen
R. Aznar1, M. Bosschaerts2, N. Lima3, L. Soares4
1Departamento de Microbiología y Ecología and Colección Española de Cultivos Tipo (CECT), Universitat de València, Valencia, Spain, 2BCCM Coordination Cell, Belgian Science Policy, Brussels, Belgium, 3CEB‐Universidade do Minho, Micoteca da Universidade do Minho, Braga, Portugal, 4MIRRI‐ERIC Central Coordinating Unit, MIRRI‐ERIC, Braga, Portugal
MIRRI serves the bioscience and the bioindustry communities by facilitating the access, through a single point, to a catalogue of 400,000+ high‐quality microbial resources, such as bacteria, cyanobacteria, archaea, yeasts, filamentous fungi, micro‐algae, bacteriophages, viruses, and other microbiological material, such as microbiomes, plasmids, and genomic DNA. The MIRRI Information System will also provide users with resources' associated data, as available – e.g., taxonomy, ecology, pathogenicity, morphology, physiology, chemical characterization, DNA barcoding, or genomics.
Based on its partner organisations' state‐of‐the‐art facilities/equipment and top‐level expertise, MIRRI also offers its users a diverse catalogue of high‐quality services, including pipelines of integrated, product‐oriented services made available as tailor‐made, turnkey solutions.
MIRRI is continuously engaged in enlarging its coverage in Europe and beyond. EU Member States, associated countries, third countries other than associated countries, and intergovernmental organisations may become a Member or an Observer of MIRRI‐ERIC. Individual organisations may become Partners of MIRRI‐ERIC.
Developing Genomic and Biomaterials Resources for Establishing Nonhuman Primate Models of Human Disease
E. J. Vallender1, 2, S. M. Peterson3, A. Lewis3, A. J. Ericsen4, 5, K. G. Ray3, B. N. Bimber3, B. Ferguson3
1The University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, Mississippi, United States, 2Tulane National Primate Research Center, Covington, Louisiana, United States, 3Oregon Health & Science University Oregon National Primate Research Center, Beaverton, Oregon, United States, 4Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, United States, 5Emory National Primate Research Center, Atlanta, Georgia, United States
AI in Medicine Based on Biobank Data ‐ New Opportunities and (Not) Known Risks
K. Sargsyan
International Biobanking and Education, Medical University of Graz, Graz, STMK, Austria
The possibilities for improving effectiveness and interoperability clearly show the directions in which BBs will develop soon. Today, virtual links between different DAs allow an exchange of data and samples, which previously could only occur with great effort and long waiting times or even rejections of queries, have decreased. Furthermore, the notion of a biological “sample” is extended to imaging samples, which multiplies the amount and dimensionality of the data obtained and thus provides biobanks with a more complete picture of individual patients and entire disease patterns. With the integration of digitalization into biobanks, a steady flow of data is ensured that, in the best case, does not cease for the duration of a patient's lifetime. This steady flow of data updates and exchange enables better tracking of the health status of individual patients and populations and can provide far‐reaching and as yet unknown information for the epidemiology of certain diseases in terms of course, treatment response, and prognosis. Particularly concerning genotype‐phenotype predictions, there is the potential to use genetic traits to develop new personalized therapies or targeted therapies and to identify subgroups that, for example, have an increased risk of developing certain diseases based on their genetic features or to facilitate the early detection of the respective diseases and, among other things, to single out non‐responders and to focus more specifically on their specific needs. The consent forms that patients and donors have to fill out and accept with their signature and consent when providing samples to clinical institutes or biobanks, or similar repositories will also evolve into more flexible, dynamic, digitally accessible forms that enable patients/donors to track their own samples and their informative value or usefulness in research whenever and wherever they are. They can withdraw their consent at any time and thus exercise complete control over their genetic material processing. Thus, they will be better treated, jet better informed, and educated.
Biobanking during War: Experience of Audubon Bioscience
M. Yanovytska, B. Shkurupii, H. Chytaieva, E. Serdyukova, A. Shekhovtsov, I. Voievoda, A. Yudchenko, N. Sobetska‐Koloda, T. Nguyen, A. Giardina, A. Popova, R. Semikov
Audubon Bioscience, Kyiv, Ukraine
On February 24, 2022, the large‐scale Russian army invasion severely interrupted the operations of our biobank in Ukraine. Our team globally and especially in Ukraine faced and is still facing many challenges. Before the events occurred (when risks of the war escalation increased), we prepared our contingency and business continuity plans. They were partially executed. We have since been able to resume operations in Ukraine.
On the first day of the large‐scale war, the Operations team, together with Revenue and HR teams, organized the evacuation of the staff with all documentation and laptops, as well as laboratory equipment and ambient storage specimens to the Western region of Ukraine. We were able to eventually move the ambient specimens to the US. Once in our US operations facility, we reorganized and cataloged every specimen and reestablished our biobank there. For frozen specimens, since we can't relocate them due to the lack of proper transportation at that time, we decided to seal all freezers with specimens and installed surveillance cameras to keep them safe. Together with our temperature monitoring system, we were able to keep track of our freezers' temperature and ensured that the specimens were properly stored during the 2‐month period when only a few members of our team remained at the biobank.
Ongoing Ukrainian projects were immediately transferred to other countries of operations such as Turkey, USA, Armenia, etc. In three months (May 2022) we achieved financial break‐even (monthly) confirming the fact that global organization was stabilized. After two months, when active warfare was stopped in the Kyiv region, new logistic chains were organized and we started to rebuild our workflow. By August 2022, the Ukrainian operations reached the level of pre‐war collection rates. However, we continue to distribute projects among all of our affiliates in other countries to minimize risks for our partners.
In conclusion, the operations of Ukrainian biobanking have been faced with severe difficulties due to the Russian‐Ukrainian war. Although we were not able to execute our contingency and business continuity plans in full, right planning together with good execution and improvisation helped minimize the negative effect. Solutions that we put in place to ensure proper specimen storage were implemented and proved to be effective. Our ability to redistribute projects globally enabled us to continue supporting precision medicine researchers.
Survey of Adolescents Regarding Their Opinion of Research and Vaccination During the COVID‐19 Pandemic
Q. Aujla1, I. Kayda1, A. Ellis1, D. Goldfarb1, 2, J. Bettinger2, 3, L. Mâsse2, 3, J. Bush1, 2, S. Vercauteren1, 2
1Pathology and Lab Medicine, BC Children's Hospital, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, 2Faculty of Medicine, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, 3BC Children's Hospital Research Institute, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Tissue Microarrays: Turning Hidden Resources in Research Gems
A. Yuksel1, M. Krivanek2, D. R. Catchpoole1
1Children's Cancer Research Unit, Kids Research, The Children's Hospital at Westmead, SCHN, Westmead, New South Wales, Australia, 2Anatomical Pathology, The Children's Hospital at Westmead, Westmead, New South Wales, Australia
It is expected that biobanks provide critical tissue resources to researchers to conduct fundamental investigation into disease states and to ensure the best research use of all tissue biospecimens by linking them to key questions being asked in research. Recognizing the rarity of childhood cancers, small tumour specimen volumes, and the burgeoning need for tissue‐directed research, we describe here the impact of a research‐focussed biospecimen resource. The Tumour Bank at The Children's Hospital at Westmead (TB‐CHW) has initiated alongside the main source of all such tissue, our histopathology department. In 2012 we leveraged the hospital's formalin‐fixed paraffin‐embedded (FFPE) tissue block archive to commence a tissue microarray (TMA) construction program. Our purpose was to provide rationalised access to FFPE tissue whilst not impacting on the availability of blocks for future diagnostic or medico‐legal review. Construction of the TMAs that represented a single childhood cancer subtypes required a deep dive into the block archives with blocks selected covering sample collected over a couple of decade‐long periods or more. This resulted in a tissue resource where enough rare paediatric tumours representing all patients seen at a single centre are drawn together to provide meaningful results in their own right. The TB‐CHW TMA selected blocks from the past two or more decades, establishing a workable pipeline for the construction of TMAs involving block selection, pathologist review, block construction, and QA processes; staining and review; digital microscope; and downstream image analyses. The program constructed 25 TMAs which have subsequently supported 21 international studies with a total of 828 individual slides released novel technical evaluation, image analyses, and biological assessment that have shifted beyond routine chromogenic and immunohistochemical staining into spatial assessment of targeted regions for protein and gene expression activity as well as deep learning and artificial intelligence.
Genomic Taxonomy of Bacterial Strains in a Microbial Biorepository: The Instance of the Collection of Institut Pasteur (CIP)
M. Boutroux1, F. Palma1, S. Favre‐Rochex1, C. Bouchier1, T. Bigot2, A. Criscuolo2, O. Chesneau1, D. Clermont1
1Biological Resource Center (CRBIP), Institut Pasteur, Paris, Île‐de‐France, France, 2Bioinformatics and Biostatistics Hub, Institut Pasteur, Paris, Île‐de‐France, France
Reassessing Historical Collections: Finding Novel Uses for Archived Specimens
D. L. Ellisor, C. Davis, T. Schock, A. Bayless
National Institute of Standards and Technology, Charleston, South Carolina, United States
Biobankers are regularly required to make decisions regarding perpetuation of archived collections due to financial, staffing, and space limitations. This can be exceedingly difficult, particularly when the collections may represent valuable resources to help answer future research questions. At the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Biorepository located in Charleston, SC, staff are continually investigating potential uses for archived collections to help management make these difficult decisions. Recently, a collection of fresh frozen human livers was accessed to explore the development of a metabolomics reference material suite. In partnership with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), these livers were collected from decedents between 1980 and 1994 using strict sampling protocols to monitor environmental contaminants in human populations across the United States and have since been stored at the Biorepository. NIST researchers surveyed the historical data to identify subjects from different life history categories (age, sex, health status, etc.) and accessed liver tissues from these subjects to generate three cohorts of fresh frozen liver homogenate: Normal, Fatty, and Congested. Sub‐samples from these homogenates were extracted and analyzed using nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and liquid chromatography high‐resolution mass spectrometry (LC‐HRMS/MS). Results from these analyses demonstrate this reference material suite can be used as a quality control material to harmonize measurements across laboratories and benchmark instrument performance for differential metabolomic analysis. Because NIST researchers have access to this valuable collection of tissues, the metabolomics community will soon be provided with a vital tool for standardizing measurements, thereby instilling greater confidence in their analytical results.
An Ethico‐Legal Analysis of Broad Consent for Biobank Research in South Africa: Towards an Enabling Framework
M. Maseme1, 2
1Biobank, National Health Laboratory Service, Johannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa, 2Steve Biko Centre for Bioethics, University of the Witwatersrand Johannesburg, Johannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa
The South African National Department of Health Ethics Guidelines for health research allows the use of biobank research broad consent while section 13(1) of the Protection of Personal Information Act 4 of 2013 seems to prohibit the use of this consent model because it stipulates that the purpose for personal information collection (which includes biobank sample‐associated data) should be for a specific, lawful purpose that is explicitly defined. This discord creates room for divergent views in interpretation of the latter. The study therefore seeks to answer the question of whether South Africa's current regulatory framework permits the use of broad consent for biobank research. The research question is answered through an analysis of the regulatory framework relevant to broad consent for biobank research. Ethical principles and theories are also used to construct arguments in support of and against broad consent use. Arguments in support of broad consent use for biobank research include: beneficence, autonomy as not being specific to the scope of choices, participant non‐maleficence ensured through biobank ethics committee review, and ongoing communication with participants on material use. Counter‐arguments include: interference with participant autonomy, understanding of information and ethical participant protection, broad consent withdrawal, and limitations of sample anonymisation. Briefly, the regulatory framework amendments that I propose include rectifying the regulatory ambiguity pertaining to broad consent use, ensuring adequate safeguards for research participants through specifying rules for data access, and processing of personal information as well as amendments of the consent template of the Ethics Guidelines.
Challenges and Opportunities for mBRCs in the Era of Regulated Access Policies
P. Rahi, A. Chiarelli, M. Ferrari, D. Clermont, R. Hurtado‐Ortiz, M. Gugger, F. Betsou
Biological Resource Center of Institut Pasteur (CRBIP), Institut Pasteur, Paris, Île‐de‐France, France
Abbreviations:
ABS = Access and Benefit‐Sharing
ICNP = International Code of Nomenclature of Prokaryotes
IRCC = Internationally Recognized Certificate of Compliance
MALDI‐TOF MS = Matrix Assisted Laser Desorption Ionization time‐of‐flight mass spectrometry
MAT = Mutually Agreed Terms
mBRC = Microbial domain Biological Resource Centers
NP‐ABS = Nagoya Protocol on Access and Benefit‐Sharing
PIC = Prior Informed Consent
*De‐replication here refers to the identification of similar strains so that the curator can make a rational decision to keep or remove the replicates of the same microbes.
How Can and Should Biobanking Governance Structures Respond to (Inter)national Political Contexts?
G. Samuel, R. Thompson, A. Lucassen
University of Oxford, Oxford, Oxfordshire, United Kingdom
WITHDRAWN
WITHDRAWN
Surveying the Biobanking Landscape
A. Parry‐Jones, R. Clarkson
Wales Cancer Biobank, Cardiff University, Cardiff, United Kingdom
Data will be analysed for two purposes: specific benchmarking for the WCB, and for publication to create a reference work useful for all biobanks collecting human biospecimens. Analysis is ongoing and results will be presented.
Evolution of Risk Management in Qatar Biobank (QBB)
W. Lobo, E. Jose, S. Al Fadalah
Qatar Biobank ‐ Research Access Office, Qatar Foundation, Doha, Ad Dawhah, Qatar
In 2014, ISMS Risk Register (RR) was implemented. IT asset register provided inputs to assess risks & treatments. RR was categorized into physical, software, information, people, and service assets. Risk assessment was based on asset register values by grouping similar assets, identifying threats and vulnerabilities to grouped assets, and calculating risk rank. Residual risks were monitored if high. This methodology was used until 2020. In 2020, ISMS risk process was revamped and did not depend on asset register. Firstly, risk is identified and its source is submitted in ISMS risk register e‐form. Then, risk is assigned to process owner for evaluation and treatment. In 2021, monitoring of residual risk after treatment was re‐introduced
In 2017, QMS (Strategic) Risk Register was implemented. 4 strategic objectives were the frameworks of RR. Risks were categorized into Operational, People, Hazard, Financial, Legal, Strategic, and Reputation. Risks were further linked with KPI and KRI for objective analysis.
In 2020, during the pandemic, QBB strategic RR was revamped and risks were reevaluated into Operational (data/facility/equipment), People, Hazard, Financial, Environmental, Strategic, Legal, and Technology. In 2021, residual risk monitoring was introduced.
QMS Risks – 10 negative risks +1 positive were reported in 2017. 12 strategic risks were reported in 2021.
Costs and Publication Outputs of an Academic Cancer Biobank Cohort
A. Rush1, 2, D. Catchpoole3, R. Ling4, A. Searles4, P. Watson5, J. Byrne2
1Menzies Centre for Health Policy and Economics, University of Sydney ‐ Camperdown and Darlington Campus Burkitt‐Ford Library, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, 2Statewide Biobank, New South Wales Ministry of Health, Camperdown, New South Wales, Australia, 3Kids Research, Westmead, New South Wales, Australia, 4The University of Newcastle Hunter Medical Research Institute, New Lambton, New South Wales, Australia, 5British Columbia Cancer Agency, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
[1] Rush A, Catchpoole DR, Ling R, Searles A, Watson PH and Byrne JA. Improving biobank sustainability through an outputs focus. Value in Health. 2020; 23(8): 1072 ‐ 1078
[2] Rush A, Christiansen JH, Farrell JP, Goode SM, Scott RJ, Spring K and Byrne JA. Biobank classification in an Australian setting. Biopreservation and Biobanking. 2015; 13(3): 212 ‐ 218
Innovative Technology
An Analytical Method to Determine Quality of Fixation Using Vibrational Spectroscopy and Machine Learning
D. Chafin
Roche Diagnostics International AG, Rotkreuz, Zug, Switzerland
Electromagnetic Heating Technology for the Fast and Uniform Rewarming of Cryopreserved Large‐Volume Samples
Z. Wang1, Z. Shu2, R. Ma1, S. Ren3, 1, D. Gao1
1Mechanical Engineering, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, United States, 2University of Washington Tacoma, Tacoma, Washington, United States, 3Seattle University, Seattle, Washington, United States
OMICS‐QC: Integrative Model of Quality Control of Plasma and Serum Samples for Multi‐omics Approach
A. Michalska‐Falkowska1, 2, J. Niklinski1
1Department of Clinical Molecular Biology, Medical University of Bialystok, Bialystok, Poland, 2Biobank, Uniwersytet Medyczny w Bialymstoku, Bialystok, Poland
The first step (1)‐ visual hemolysis assessment is performed according to the three‐point scale that indicates an absence of hemolysis, suspected hemolysis, or hemolysis at different degrees. The second step (2), a quick, low‐cost technique to monitor hemolysis in serum/plasma, is the spectrophotometric analysis based on oxyhemoglobin absorbance measurements at λ = 414 nm and λ = 385 nm. Distinct values of hemolysis score indicate the presence of free hemoglobin and can be used to disqualify samples affected by hemolysis before time‐consuming and expensive processing. The third step (3) is performed following RNA extraction from serum/plasma and includes the analysis of the efficiency and correctness of RNA purification process using the qPCR method based on a set of synthetic RNA spike‐ins and endogenous microRNA assays. The assessment of RNA Integrity Number represents a critical step for selecting biospecimens, and isolates with RIN ≥7 are qualified for omics analysis only. Key QC parameters of RNA isolated from the serum/plasma samples include the efficiency of RNA extraction, absence of nucleases, and any inhibitors of enzymatic reactions.
Spa Biobank: A New Type of Biobank
J. Kinkorová1, 2
1Institute of Spa and Balneology, Karlovy Vary, Czechia, 2lab of immunochemical analysis, University Hospital in Pilsn, Pilsen, Czechia
AI and the Metaverse as the Drivers of Change for Biorepositories
J. Fallacara
Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States
Temperature is without a doubt one of the elements that rule the world of biorepositories.
To manage an effective specimen's Cold Chain and be compliant, you must monitor the temperature while the specimens are in storage and transit, and log the results for future review. Today, Cloud‐based technology allows you to manage this from a distance for added confidence, and this is no longer enough.
Artificial intelligence can provide revolutionary methods for material examination that would ensure optimum storage solutions. The large amounts of data processed by AI combined with the performance of leading‐edge computers could open up a world of opportunities and change the face of industrial temperature management forever. As a merging of virtual, augmented, and physical reality, the Metaverse can provide the means to achieve fully integrated cold storage technology and would facilitate access to infographics, data, feedback results, and other accurate information to make smart data‐driven decisions. This could change the way biorepositories handle their samples, enabling them to track their products all throughout their journey. What the Metaverse brings to the table is a greater overlap of the digital and physical life, whether that's through virtual reality, augmented reality, or a computer screen. The data provided through virtual and augmented reality on Meta's platform for real‐time commercial feedback can facilitate the decision‐making process for cold storage users. Information on product delivery, stock, rotation, dispensary, and disposal can be easily accessed at any time, allowing the user to monitor and control any service or operation and make better data‐informed decisions. The mere task of investigating specimen management can turn into an immersive experience. In the event of a critical stock delivery delay, an alarm, or a simple deviation in the freezer's functionalities, Meta could provide instant feedback on the nature of the service interruption.
Therefore, its capabilities go beyond monitoring ultra‐cold temperatures of bio‐freezers, giving businesses full control over their operations.
But the one thing we know for sure is that Meta is going to be a real gamechanger for both organizations and users in all industries. Businesses will be able to address many of their current issues by simply taking advantage of the data and information in the Cloud, and thus ensure higher quality products and services for their consumers.
Bridging the Gap Between Biobanks and Industry
M. Menikou
Human Biological Samples, Scientist.com, Solana Beach, California, United States
Biobanking as a Foundational Component of NIH Research: Sampled Provides a Critical Resource for Research into the Genetics and Epigenetics of Substance Abuse in Humans through its National Institute of Drug Abuse (NIDA) Centers
M. Sheldon1, R. Grimwood2, S. Nahas3
1Scientific Affairs, Sampled, Piscataway, New Jersey, United States, 2CEO, Sampled, Piscataway, New Jersey, United States, 3CSO, Sampled, Piscataway, New Jersey, United States
From 1999 to the present, Sampled, formerly known as RUCDR Infinite Biologics®/ Infinity BiologiX, has continuously been the federal grantee or contractor for a number of NIH institute biobanking awards including NIDA, NIAAA, and NIMH. Sampled established and serves as the NIDA Center for Genetic Studies (NGC) and the biobank for the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development (ABCD) study. While the NGC was conceived as a cell, DNA and clinical data repository designed to facilitate cost‐effective sample sharing among researchers, it has surpassed that original mandate by consistently providing the latest technological services to NIH grantees. This is demonstrated by the implementation of services including cutting‐edge genomics (e.g., genotyping, methylation and transcriptome microarrays, next‐generation sequencing including methylseq and single cells), clinical diagnostics, and iPSC derivation.
To date, the NGC has received more than 100,000 samples from NIDA and NIAAA subjects, producing more than 825,000 aliquots of nucleic acids, plasma, PBMCs, and other biomaterials. NGA analytical services has run and analyzed more than 60,000 samples on Smokescreen arrays, and sequenced >30,000 whole exomes and >1 million samples on Infinium and Axiom arrays. We will consider examples of how these data, available in dbGAP, have contributed to critical progress in important areas such as opioid dependence, addiction susceptibility, and behavioral issues relating to addiction.
As it expands to a new 200,000 square foot facility in 2023, Sampled looks to its partnership with NIH and the future of substance abuse research with excitement, with new projects such as the Healthy Brain and Child Development (HBCD) study coming online. Through the application of a number of modalities, including genomics, toxin and drug exposure assays, imaging, and behavioral assessments, the HBCD study will study a large cohort of pregnant women from regions of the country significantly affected by the opioid crisis and follow them and their children through early childhood. The study will collect information beginning at birth and continuing through early childhood. The central role of the biobank and SMART Lab at Sampled in this effort will be discussed.
Two‐for‐one: Optimizing Histologic Quality Control of Fresh Tissue Disbursement and Simultaneously Banking for Future Use
E. Howington, K. Frankey, S. J. McCall
Pathology, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, North Carolina, United States
Poster Session
Biobanking Tools
Design and Implementation of Nasopharyngeal Specimen Storage in Straws during the Covid‐19 Pandemic in Ivory Coast
R. J. Bouagnon1, 2
1Pasteur Institute of Ivory Coast, Cote d'Ivoire Ministere de la culture et de la Franciophonie Cote d'Ivoire, Abidjan, Lagunes, Côte d'Ivoire, 2Universite Felix Houphouet‐Boigny, Abidjan, Lagunes, Côte d'Ivoire
The Institute Pasteur of Ivory Coast in its mission of surveillance and support to public health participates in the response to the Covid‐19 pandemic in west Africa. It is involved in the diagnosis by RT‐PCR of SARS‐CoV‐2. Through his Biological Resource Center (biobank) which is the regional biobank of ECOWAS, Institute Pasteur of Ivory Coast keeps a priori or a posteriori nasopharyngeal samples of the Covid‐19 pandemic and associated data. This study aims to characterize the key issues driving the high‐security straw storage of Covid‐19 pandemic nasopharyngeal specimens in Ivory Coast, the key determinants of the process (economic, political, and logistical) and the final storage protocol. Planning was used to examine the technical, economic, logistical, and political aspects of the project. This study was designed to include 100,000 samples from Abidjan, the economic capital, and the interior of the country. The biobanking process of nasopharyngeal samples in straws from a primary tube was carried out using two technologies: manual and semi‐automatic. The manual and semi‐automatic technologies performed respectively by SYMS (system manual sealing) and PACE machine (CryoBioSystem, Saint Ouen sur Iton, France) permitted to put in high‐security straws of the biological samples. The average monthly performance of the straws obtained is 1,685 for the manual technique versus 2,820 for the semi‐automatic technique. This performance is in line with the objective set during the design of the present study. The acquisition of the semi‐automated technique (PACE) has allowed the biobank of Ivory Coast to reinforce biosafety measures concerning the handling of samples.
Conducting an Internal Audit Using ISO/IEC 20387
O. Dominiski
American Association for Laboratory Accreditation, Frederick, Maryland, United States
How is your management system performing to meet client and stakeholder needs? How has your biobank's SOPs and technical systems been operating? How is your biobank assessing the performance of these items to verify conformance and to support the organization's overall objectives?
Performing an internal audit is a great way to see what actions your biobank is taking to address these questions. One of the main concerns when performing an internal audit is where to begin and how to review all avenues efficiently and effectively. Here is where ISO/IEC 20387 can help. ISO/IEC 20387 clauses 8.8.1 and 8.8.2 provide an outline of information relevant to performing an internal audit. These clauses are written to provide biobanks with a framework on what to record, implement, perform, and maintain to successfully determine the competency and success of the management system.
While ISO/IEC 20387 sections 8.8.1 and 8.8.2 provide a solid framework, there are other methods that go into a successful internal audit. There are two different methods of audit a biobank can apply under ISO/IEC 20387; one can perform either a vertical audit or a horizontal audit. In addition, there are methods of gathering information a biobank should consider, optimizing the outcome of their internal audit: observations, interviews, and review of records/documented information.
The overarching purpose of an internal audit is to determine the degree to which stated requirements are being met. In this presentation, I aim to discuss the benefits of an ISO/IEC 20387 internal audit along with touching on some methods to make your internal audit more impactful.
How Qatar Biobank is Engaging Young Minds and Supporting Future Biobankers
L. Hannigan1, 2, M. Markovic1, 2
1Qatar Foundation, Doha, Ad Dawhah, Qatar, 2Qatar Biobank, Doha, Qatar
Successful Customer Satisfaction Indices as a Biobank Metric
Z. vonMenchhofen1, D. McGarvey1, R. L. Mandt3, K. Radin2, V. LiVolsi1
1Pathology and Lab Medicine/CHTN, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States, 2Cooperative Human Tissue Network, Columbus, Ohio, United States, 3The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, Ohio, United States
Efforts to obtain feedback can vary, but a common vehicle for gauging satisfaction has been online surveys. Response rates to these surveys can be statistically low. Methods to increase response rates can often be labor intensive.
Originally a mail‐back postcard survey was included with each shipment. Then, with the advent of quality email services, the surveys were emailed shortly after a biospecimen shipment was sent. Response rates to these surveys remained lower than industry standards. Several efforts to raise response rates (shortening the survey; increasing follow‐up emails, etc.) did not produce favorable results. Current response rates are less than 2%.
We were able to achieve a higher and statistically actionable response rate through the use of a Likert scale single‐click survey question which minimizes the time and effort of the respondent. The user opens an email and is asked to click on a 5‐star rating system. The option to click‐thru to a longer survey and provide more feedback is an option but not required to submit the survey.
Along with this new survey format, a computerized, multi‐pronged audit program and the standard operating procedure were implemented. The server communicates daily and quarterly with the technical staff to alert them of CSI metrics and issues. SOPs are in place to immediately address any low‐score responses that are received.
Since implementing this single‐click survey system over the past year, the response rate to surveying has been approximately 17.9% which is consistent with industry standards for statistically accurate customer service indices.
A Robust Quality Management System is Essential for High‐Quality Tissue Acquisition in Biobanking
N. Rastegar1, 2, A. Mejia‐Benitez1, 2, S. Paul2, H. Wagner2, N. Fleshner1, 2
1Princess Margaret Cancer Biobank, University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, 2Biospecimen Services, University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Developed an extended library of standard operating procedures and guidance documents for specimen acquisition.
Conducted an audit of a randomized sample of flash‐frozen specimens banked at different time points, for nucleic acid quantity & quality.
To ensure that the audited samples, have adequate cellularity to provide a valid genomic result, we prepared hematoxylin‐eosin (H&E) slides and assessed the total cellularity, tissue size, and percentage of neoplastic and necrotic cells.
K. B. Engel, S. Greytak, P. Guan, H. Moore
Biorepositories and Biospecimen Research Branch, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, Maryland, United States
Evaluation of Collections for Automated Sample Handling and Storage in a Biobank with Diverse Sample Sets
K. Shea1, J. Gore1, Z. Kogler1, J. Luo1, D. Montano2
1Sample and Repository Solutions, Azenta Life Sciences, Indianapolis, Indiana, United States, 2Azenta Life Sciences, Irlam, Manchester, United Kingdom
Comparison of Spectrophotometric and Fluorometric Findings on DNA Isolated from Shefa Al Orman Biobank Blood Samples
A. M. Gamal, S. Ezzat, R. Mohamed, N. Kordy, M. M. Saady, S. Mahmoud, A. Saleh
Scientific Research, Shefa Al‐Orman oncology Hospital Luxor, Egypt, Luxor, Egypt
Most mutation analysis kits existing in the market do not identify method of DNA estimation in their methodology for preparation of amplification mix. So, we aim to select a reliable quantification method, to avoid wasting low‐volume samples, and to determine the contributors of the differences. This will save the time and the cost of measuring DNA integrity.
DNA was quantified by two optical methods using fluorometric through Qubit4 (by qubit TM ds HS Assay Kit) and spectrophotometric (by Multiskan Sky‐high microplate instrument) where DNA quality was detected using 230/260 and 260/280 absorbance ratio.
Micro Drop reported higher estimates than Qubit, where the measurements were (mean: 45.4 ng/ uL, median:42.1 ng/ uL; range, 4‐118 ng/uL), (mean :36.3ng/ uL, median: 36.5 ng/uL, range, 4‐ 85 ng/uL), respectively.
The ratio of DNA quantity conducted by spectrophotometer and fluorometer was found to be QS/QF 1.25.
In addition, we examine absorbance readings at both the 260/280 and 230/280 ratios for samples by micro drop plate, as the average of results was found to be 1.8 and 1.76, respectively.
Cost Recovery at The Medical Research Council/Uganda Virus Research Institute and London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine Uganda Research Unit Biobank
P. Babirye
Biobank, MRC/UVRI and LSHTM Uganda Research Unit, Entebbe, Uganda
With the increased number of research projects and growing collections at MRC, the biobank has had to attain more equipment and staff to support biospecimen handling and storage. This led to a constraint on the budget plans that had already been established. Despite financial support from MRC, the long‐term sustainability of the biobank remained a major concern.
Quality Management Framework of Biobank: Raising the Standards for Cancer Research
A. Sharma
Biorepository, Department of Research, Rajiv Gandhi Cancer Institute and Research Centre, New Delhi, Delhi, India
During sample processing both internal and external quality assurance systems (EQAS) should be in place. This paper elaborates in detail the internal quality procedures to be followed for duration of all projects. Hemolysis reference palette is followed during plasma separation. QC‐checks for FFPE blocks are performed by two board‐certified pathologists. Re‐blocking for tumor enrichment is part of FFPE blocks quality control process. Gross examination of specimen during collection and checking cryopreserved DTCs and PBMCs for viability and contamination is part of internal quality checks. Feedback from researchers for RNA integrity/protein contamination of frozen samples is part of EQAS. Server‐based LIMS outlining the way that the information produced, stored covers security, ethics and regulation for personal data protection, storage and analysis to big data by making high‐throughput analyses using different modules and audit trail for tracking data manipulation.
Maintaining Manual Laboratory Skills in a World of Automation ‐ The Qatar Biobank Perspective
L. Hannigan1, 2, M. Markovic1, 2
1Qatar Foundation, Doha, Ad Dawhah, Qatar, 2Qatar Biobank, Doha, Qatar
Utilizing Strategic Communications and Social Media to Drive Qatar Biobank's Public Recruitment
M. Al Dosari, M. Boumaraf
Qatar Biobank, Qatar Foundation, Doha, Ad Dawhah, Qatar
Qatar Biobank has been using a multi‐pronged participant outreach strategy, powered with proactive public relations activities, to disseminate the underlying messages to the right target audience. The core pillars of the participant's outreach strategy include: participation in conferences/seminars/symposiums, awareness programs, and national events, sustained media outreach, and continued social media activities.
Towards Virtual SSPA Biobank: New Functionalities Integrated and Tools Developed to Improve Communication with Stakeholders
A. M. Sánchez‐López1, 2, R. Aguilar‐Quesada1, T. Díaz3, 1, M. Hortas4, 1, M. Cobo5, E. Cano6, M. Gómez6, M. Romero Sánchez1, F. Franco1, J. Puerta1, 7
1Biobanco del Sistema Sanitario Público de Andalucía, Granada, Spain, 2Instituto de Investigacion Biosanitaria de Granada, Granada, Spain, 3Instituto de Investigación Biomédica de Málaga‐IBIMA, Málaga, Spain, 4Agencia Sanitaria Costa del Sol, Málaga, Spain, 5Fundación Pública Andaluza Progreso y Salud, Sevilla, Spain, 6Biosoft Innovation S.L., Madrid, Spain, 7Hospital Universitario Virgen de las Nieves, Granada, Andalucía, Spain
Donors: real‐time donations and interface for dynamic consent; participation in the Andalusian Registry of Donors for Biomedical Research.
End‐users: services and projects managed, and samples and associated data provided.
Clinicians: contribution of patients' recruitment and collection rate.
Funders: activity and quality indicators of the SSPA Biobank, cost recovery.
Personnel: processing and storage of samples, incidents management.
The data model is being designed in a standardized and normalized way in compliance with international initiatives on data harmonization.
Conclusions: Through nSIBAI as an integrative solution for the management and traceability of the biobank operations thanks to its great capacity and versatility to incorporate new processes and adapt the data model, the SSPA Biobank allows to show and/or report selective information to distinct stakeholders in response its transparency policy.
Introducing Scientific and Student Communities to the World of Biobanks Through a Massive Open Online Course: The Experience of the Institut Pasteur
R. Hurtado‐Ortiz, M. Pina, M. Ungeheuer, F. Betsou
Centre des Ressources Biologiques de l'Institut Pasteur (CRBIP), Université Paris Cité, Institut Pasteur, Paris, Île‐de‐France, France
General information about biobanking can be easily found online. However, there are only a few available online courses that can give the scientific and student communities more practical information on biobanking. The Institut Pasteur develops digital educational courses, through the production and the replay of Massive Open Online Courses (MOOC), as part of its strategic plan, focusing on the development of courses targeted to strategic scientific priorities.
The Biological Resource Centre of the Institut Pasteur (CRBIP) is a biobank which brings together four entities specialized in collections of biological materials, such as bacteria, viruses, cyanobacteria, and human samples. The mission of the CRBIP is to preserve and provide access to qualified, historical, and newly collected microbiological and human resources, primarily for research in the field of human diseases and quality control.
The “MOOC Biobanking” organised by the CRBIP aims to confront the scientific and student communities to the daily work of a biobank, giving examples related to the application of legislation, the characterization of samples, and the organization of a biobank. It is a transdisciplinary program that includes biobanking of bioresources of both human and microbial origin. Topics such as the operational aspects of sampling, collection, transport, and preservation of different types of biological resources are discussed, as well as the organization and management of a biobank and its equipment. Several sessions are devoted to the quality control, and ethical and safety issues. Likewise, legal, and organizational issues related to the provision and the use of biological resources are addressed.
The “MOOC Biobanking” was offered for the first time in 2021, with 2,319 participants from 101 countries having registered in a first season and 1,829 participants from 97 countries in the second season. Participants had access to expert videos, quizzes, and a forum animated by community managers. In addition, a webinar was organised with a live Q&A session. Registered participants had the possibility to obtain an authenticated certificate upon a successful MCQ exam.
In conclusion, the format of this course allows a wide audience to benefit from it regardless of the place where participants are located. Also, the content and the way of presentation were satisfactory to the great majority of the participants. We intend to significantly expand the contents of this MOOC in the coming years.
Quality Assurance Through Biobanking Standards
T. P. Maranjisi
Biobank and Genomics, National Biotechnology Authority Zimbabwe, Harare, Zimbabwe
To Examine Unapproached/Refusal Metrics Against Self‐Reported Ethnic Diversity of Participants of the McCain GU Biobank
K. Ninawat, M. G. Tinajero, M. Ghany, H. Wagner, N. Fleshner
UHN Biospecimen Services, McCain GU BioBank, Princess Margaret Cancer Biobank, UHN COVID‐19 Biobank, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, UHN, Toronto, Canada, University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Additionally, use of translational services has been a cornerstone of diversity; however, having informed consent forms only available in English limits inclusivity. Furthermore, the ongoing pandemic shifted healthcare entirely virtual which meant missing patients were having their bloodwork collected at community labs. Increasing diversity would therefore entail increasing accessibility. Another proposed solution is to reflect on ethnicity metrics and try to meet a targeted approach for clinics. Inclusivity, accessibility, and using targeted approaches based on metrics, provide just the rudimentary pathways to optimize diversity in biobanks.
Prior‐Knowledge Assessment of Biobank Science Among South African Health Sciences Postgraduate and Senior Medical Students: Integration of Knowledge in Instructional Design and Curriculum Planning
M. S. Thobela1, 2
1National Biobank, National Health Laboratory Service, Johannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa, 2Haematological Pathology, Stellenbosch University Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Cape Town, Western Cape, South Africa
Biorepositories and Risk Assessment: Incorporating a Novel Tool of Combining Risk Strategies. A Proactive Approach
D. Peterson, S. Micklos, R. Ringer, P. Hicks, V. Tso, C. Winebark
Albuquerque Central Biorepository, Veterans Affairs Cooperative Studies Program Clinical Research Pharmacy Coordinating Center, Albuquerque, New Mexico, United States
Robust quality control steps are needed at every stage of the biospecimen's lifecycle to support the goal of maintaining fitness for purpose. Continuous improvements made through identifying and managing risks can help biorepositories successfully manage biospecimens for valuable research.
Biobanking profiles
BC COVID‐19 Biobank Network; Critical Infrastructure to Support Provincial Research
T. Tarling2, K. Mangat2, S. Au1, S. Cheah1, D. Knight1, M. Chen2, 3
1Medicine, The University of British Columbia Faculty of Medicine, Pemberton, British Columbia, Canada, 2Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, 3Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Vancouver Island Health Authority, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada
The province of British Columbia is made up of five health authorities, all of which function independently. Historically, it has been challenging to conduct research across health authorities but in recent years a harmonized research ethics board review has enabled this possibility.
The COVID‐19 pandemic highlighted the importance, as a province, to pivot and to develop networked approaches across our health authorities to better understand the disease and more rapidly translate the findings from enhanced collaboration.
The BCCBN has multiple benefits to the research community: decreased duplication of biobanking research infrastructure; improved standardization and annotation of biospecimens and their storage across sites; full compliance with local Research Ethics Board (REB) and regulatory requirements; a transparent biospecimen procurement process, which ensures equitable access to biospecimens by all researchers; and high‐quality biospecimens and accompanying phenotypic data.
We developed a provincial recruitment and collection strategy utilizing an electronic consent and data collection form. Biospecimens can be collected in either hospital or private laboratories and subsequently funneled into processing and storage sites across the province and then be distributed for research.
With the COVID‐19 pandemic potentially declining but forever evolving, we have the tools in place to maintain our provincial approach and address other issues facing the province in addition to COVID‐19.
The Busselton Health Study Biobank
J. Hui1, 2, M. Hunter1, 2, K. Murray2, J. Beilby1, M. Knuiman1, A. James1
1The Busselton Population Medical Research Institute, Nedlands, Western Australia, Australia, 2Population and Global Health, The University of Western Australia, Perth, Western Australia, Australia
The Busselton Health Study (BHS) Biobank is a 57‐year database and biospecimen collection on over 30,000 children and adults with in‐depth cross‐sectional and longitudinal data. Established in 1966, the biobank is one of the longest running epidemiological research programs in the world. It has been described by public health experts as a “national treasure.” It currently has over one million biological samples including serum, plasma, DNA, RNA, sputum, throat swabs, and urine stored in ‐80C freezers. Detailed self‐report (e.g., demographics, smoking history, alcohol consumption, general health, diet and nutrition, medication, medical history, ears and hearing, eyes and vision‐, respiratory, food and allergies, sleep, back pain, mood and well‐being, depression, physical activity, information technology, community values), objective clinical measures (e.g., lung function; hearing testing; eye testing; full blood picture; urea and electrolytes; glucose, lipid, and liver function tests), genetics, metabolomics, lipidomics, and microbiome data are stored. Linked health data (hospital morbidity data collection, emergency department data collection, deaths, cancer registrations, and mental health data) are also available on samples in the BHS biobank for approved projects. The BHS data and specimen biobank have provided local, national, and international researchers with a diverse, unique, and immediate resource for targeted studies. The BHS biobank is world‐renowned in scientific circles, as evidenced by the over 500 peer reviewed research publications and ongoing collaborations with international genetics and normative data consortia. In its role as a “population laboratory,” the BHS biobank is a collaborative resource and is almost unique in its capability to accelerate important and topical population health studies and provide translational outcomes in risk prediction, diagnosis, treatment, and patient care. In an economic evaluation on social return of investment conducted in 2017, it was estimated that the annual increase in Australian Population Health attributable to BHS research is equivalent to AUD $24,363,178. BHS also contributed directly to a number of significant career advancements and collected data have been used in education and training of undergraduate and postgraduate students.
The New Fiocruz Covid‐19 Biobank Will Bring Together Human and Non‐Human Biological Materials for Research and Development
C. S. Turco, C. Stefanoff, C. S. Nascimento, R. d. Brum, M. da Silva
Covid‐19 Biobank, Fundacao Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
Recently, ISO 20387:2018 was published, which specifies general requirements for the operation of biobanks. It is applicable to all organizations performing biobanking, including storage of biological material from multicellular organisms and microorganisms.
Within this context, with financial support from the Health Ministry, the Fiocruz Covid‐19 Biobank (BC19‐Fiocruz) started its operations, on an emergency basis, in December 2021. BC19‐Fiocruz will store, preserve, and distribute both human and non‐human biological material. BC19‐Fiocruz Human Samples Collection is derived from patients hospitalized or tested for Covid‐19. BC19‐Fiocruz Virus Collection is constituted from the isolation of potentially existent pathogens in the human samples received, as well as the deposit of previously isolated viruses.
Value of Biobank Non‐Cancer Samples
M. M. Saady, S. Ezzat, R. Mohamed, N. Kordy, A. M. Gamal, A. Saleh
Scientific Research, Shefa Al‐Orman Oncology Hospital Luxor, Egypt, Luxor, Egypt
In 2018 we collected 1040 biobank cases from a total of 5789 SOH cases with a rate of 17.9%.
In 2019 we collected 1043 biobank cases from a total of 5993 SOH cases with a rate of 17.4%.
In 2020 we collected 1715 biobank cases from a total of 4143 SOH cases with a rate of 41%.
As a result of the modified criteria cases increased more than one‐fold.
In 2021 we collected 2130 biobank cases from a total of 5615 SOH cases with a rate of 37%.
In 2022 we collected 1264 biobank cases from a total of 3540 SOH cases with a rate of 35% in 10 months until now.
The consideration that the challenging point faced is the collection of samples from non‐cancer cases. The percentage of non‐cancer cases in SOH biobank is 4.7% (about 365 cases) from 7700 total biobank cases.
Integration and Synergies of Scientific Core Facilities – a Place for Biobanking? The Westmead Experience
K. Pryce1, J. Carpenter1, 2, J. Heads2, X. Wang1, 2, C. Clarke1, 2
1Scientific Platform ‐ Biobank, Westmead Institute for Medical Research, Westmead, New South Wales, Australia, 2University of Sydney, Camperdown, New South Wales, Australia
The Westmead Research Hub (WRH) is a consortium of over 1,400 researchers that study disease mechanisms affecting children and adults. WRH is a long‐standing joint venture of over 11 health and medical research partners. WRH receives grant funding of >$25 million annually across the disease spectrum. A major strength is integration of research with clinical treatment centres, resulting in strong collaborative links between researchers and clinicians, and the hub is recognised for successfully translating its research discoveries into diagnostic, prognostic, and therapeutic solutions. Currently several biobanks are located across the Precinct.
Operationally the hub supports a Scientific Platform model. This comprises 10 core facilities providing cutting edge technology, state‐of‐the‐art instruments, and training and education programs to ensure the best possible scientific support to researchers and beyond. The Westmead Biobank (WB), which operates as a service‐model, is one of the core facilities in the Scientific Platform.
Based on the needs of the biobanks at the Westmead Precinct, the WB was established in September 2018 to consolidate activities into a centralized model to further improve the biobanking quality, efficiency, cost‐effectivity, and sustainability over the long term. It has subsequently evolved to a fully‐fledged service‐model biobank offering sample processing and management of biospecimen collections.
A 5‐year plan was established that will focus on areas such as infrastructure/services, ethics/governance, QM, and certification.
WB works closely/together with the other core facilities in the Scientific Platforms, under a unified governance structure, building interrelated services, equipment, and relationships to deliver biobanking support and connect end‐to‐end scientific services to process and analyze biospecimens. Central biospecimen storage facilities, biospecimen processing services, data management, and other biobank services provided by WB will promote quality and sustainability of biobanking activities at Westmead.
So, what does the future hold for the Westmead Biobank? In line with the 5‐year plan, the WB is undertaking the following activities: certification (specific for New South Wales), expansion of services to cover the management of multiple collections, implementation of a new LIMSand streamlining researcher access to materials to ensure the strengths in biobanking at Westmead are maximally translated into research outcomes.
A Biospecimen and Biomarker Program of the National Biobank of Korea: An Application to the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey
S. Shim, J. Youn, E. Hong, S. Jung, H. Kim, S. Park, Y. Kim, S. Cho, J. Jeon
Division of Biobank, Korea National Institute of Health, Cheongju, Chungcheongbuk‐do, South Korea
The National Biobank of Korea (NBK) established the Biospecimen and Biomarker Programs (BBP) to provide high‐quality biological samples and related biomarker panel data sets for various national health survey studies and cohorts. Here we describe one of the NBK Biospecimen and Biomarker Program for the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES). In 2005, the NBK BBP was first launched for the KNHANES in order to collect biological samples from the participants who consented additionally for the NBK BBP. Until 2021, we had collected biospecimens (DNA, serum and plasma) from over 90,000 participants in NBK BBP for the KNHANES. The NBK generated biomarker panel data sets from 8,248 serum samples that collected in the NBK BBP for the KNHANES VI (2013‐2015) in an effort of increasing the value of biobanked samples. Genetic variant data sets were also produced using the Korean Biobank Array for 16,612 participants in NBK BBP of KNHANES VI and VII (2013‐2018). These biospecimen and biomarker panel data sets can be linked to KNHANES data to be distributed to researchers for the NBK‐approved studies. More than 80,000 vials of biospecimens from the NBK BBP were provided for 41 studies from 2011 to 2021. The NBK BBP will contribute to the advancement of biomedical research and the improvement of the health and welfare of Koreans.
Biobank Mississippi – A Biobank Enriched For African Americans
G. J. Mahajan1, R. Gupta2, J. R. Cerhan2, G. Jenkins2, A. Batzler2, A. Von Eberstein3, S. Bielinski2, R. Summers4, J. E. Olson2
1Department of Pharmacology & Toxicology, The University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, Mississippi, United States, 2Quantitative Health Sciences, Mayo Clinic Minnesota, Rochester, Minnesota, United States, 3Center for Individualized Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, FL, Jacksonville, Florida, United States, 4Emergency Medicine, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, Mississippi, United States
The Aswan Heart Centre Biobank: A Powerful Resource for Precision Medicine in Cardiovascular Science and Practice
B. Shenouda1, A. Nouri1, A. Ratib1, A. Mohamed1, E. Abdelaziz2, M. Othman1, M. Fathy1, F. Mohamed1, S. Shorbagy1, M. Roshdy1, H. Elfawy4, B. Samy1, S. Soliman1, D. Abbas2, A. Atwa3, A. Khaled1, M. Elkhateib1, S. Halawa1, A. Afify1, M. Allouba1, S. Anwar1, M. Sous1, A. Maher1, M. Yacoub1, 5, Y. Aguib1, 5
1Aswan Heart Centre, Aswan, Aswan, Egypt, 2British Columbia Ministry of Education, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada, 3Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan, United States, 4Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, United States, 5Imperial College London, London, London, United Kingdom
University of Mississippi Medical Center Biobank: Growing Biorepository for Collaborative Research
G. J. Mahajan1, T. Rajguru2, V. Seerapu1, A. DeMyers1
1Pharmacology & Toxicology, The University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, Mississippi, United States, 2Cancer Care and Research Institute, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, Mississippi, United States
The Regional Prospective Observational Research in Tuberculosis (RePORT) Brazil Biorepository and its Role in Tuberculosis Research
P. B. Borba1, A. Ramos2, M. Figueiredo8, M. Rocha3, 2, A. Andrade1, 2, E. Netto2, V. Rolla5, A. Kritski4, M. Cordeiro‐Santos6, 7, T. Sterling8, B. Andrade1, 8
1Instituto Goncalo Moniz, Salvador, Bahia, Brazil, 2Fundacao Jose Silveira, Salvador, Bahia, Brazil, 3Multinational Organization Network Sponsoring Translational and Epidemiological Research (MONSTER) Initiative, Salvador, Bahia, Brazil, 4Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil, 5Instituto Nacional de Infectologia Evandro Chagas, Fundacao Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil, 6Fundação Medicina Tropical Doutor Heitor Vieira Dourado, Manaus, Amazonas, Brazil, 7Programa de Pós‐Graduação em Medicina Tropical, Universidade do Estado do Amazonas, Manaus, AM, Brazil, 8Department of medicine, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee, United States
Predict, Prevent, Reverse, Cure – The Benaroya Research Institute Biorepository
M. Smithmyer1, K. Benoscek1, T. Nguyen1, K. Varner1, C. Greenbaum1, J. Buckner2, 3, C. Sepake1
1Center for Interventional Immunology, Benaroya Research Institute at Virginia Mason, Seattle, Washington, United States, 2Benaroya Research Institute at Virginia Mason, Seattle, Washington, United States, 3University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, United States
Biobanking structures
The Role and Challenges for Office of Bio‐Resources Planning at the Cluster of Biological Resource Centers
K. Park, G. Jo, T. Jin
Korea Bioinformation Center, Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Daejeon, South Korea
The bio‐resource is the key material for biotechnological studies and industries. Due to the importance of the bio‐resource, many countries have been encouraged in collection and management of bio‐resources. Recognizing the importance of bio‐resources, Korea has made a considerable effort to acquire these resources since the 2000s. As a result, by 2021, Korea had amassed 16,667,579 bio‐resources and had established 237 biological resource centers. However, due to changes in domestic and international circumstances, such as the forced entry into the Nagoya Protocol and the global pandemic crisis, it is necessary to change the quantitative policies for the acquisition of bio‐resources and the establishment of biological resource centers. The 3rd Korean national strategy for bio‐resources is announced in July, 2020. The main changes of 3rd strategy are the acquisition of biological information and the utilization of bio‐resource. Due to the utilization of bio‐resources, biological resources centers are clustered in 14 units such as human tissues, pathogens, cell lines, experimental animal model, microorganism, plant extracts, and so on. Due to the national strategy for bio‐resources, 14 bio‐resources clusters and 1 general support unit (Office of Bio‐Resource Planning, OBRP) are organized and work together for enhancing the utilization of bio‐resources in Korea. In this presentation, we introduce changes after 3rd national strategy for bio‐resources. In addition, we introduce a harmonized national measure for biological research resources in Korea and the roles of the OBRP for enhancing utilization of bio‐resources.
Biobank Networks in Korea
K. Cho, Y. Jeon, K. Ha
Korea Bioinformation Center, Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Daejeon, South Korea
A national project of the Republic of Korea for supplying qualified bio‐resources had begun in 1995. As the number of biobanks had been increased, the central center controlling the biobanks had been established in 2008. In the need of legal basis, all related ministries had managed their biobanks and organized the ‘Korea Biological Resource Center Alliance’ to manage the biobanks on a national level. However, over the past 10 years, the function of biobank had been supposed to focus more on utilization in the related fields than supply to them. ‘The 3rd Master Plan for National Biological Research Resources' was established to promote the environment for the users and utilization of bio‐resources.
One of the strategies for the users and utilization of bio‐resources is to organize and promote 14 national bio‐resource fields, which we called a ‘cluster.’ The 14 clusters include human‐derived material, stem cell, pathogen, animal model, etc. The 3rd master plan has been established for bio‐resources to be efficiently utilized in research and industry with categorizing biobanks in the related fields into a cluster. Each cluster is composed of central banks and branch banks. The central banks, as control towers which would be more than one, support and manage branch banks in their cluster. For example, animal model cluster has two central banks, which deal with animal, mouse, and related research data. Their branches are primate, drosophila, zebrafish, xenopus bank, etc. Each branch bank collects and manages its own resource for supplying to research and industry fields. Their central banks collect the data of their branches for the integrated system for public service and manage the projects of their branches.
The environment of clusters is supported by the related ministries. For example, the ministry of science and ICT holds ‘network day’ with their central and branch banks to communicate for the political and budgetary supply. Also, the banks in the ministry hold the meetings for the subcommittee for practical issues such as data integration, biobanking standards, and promotion. There is another committee in the banks to list‐up agenda for the network day. Finally, all banks from the related ministries have the government department meeting to communicate their annual performances and plans.
The biobank network in Korea has been expected for the joint response national issue and global network and the convergence project
A Non‐Traditional Approach to Biobanking: When a Non‐Profit Meets a Large Pediatric Medical Center
M. Pauciulo1, 2, N. White3, L. Ramirez3, W. Nichols1, 2
1Division of Human Genetics, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio, United States, 2Department of Pediatrics, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio, United States, 3DownSyndrome Achieves, Columbus, Ohio, United States
Nuts and Bolts of a Cancer Moonshot Biobank for Precision Medicine
L. Agrawal1, V. Gopalakrishnan1, P. Guan1, A. Rao1, H. Ellis1, A. Mohandas2, J. McClean2, M. Jensen2, J. Wanyiri2, S. McDermott2, M. Williams2, P. Ivy1, H. Moore1
1National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, Maryland, United States, 2Leidos Biomedical Research Inc, Frederick, Maryland, United States
MBRIO Project: Identification of Technical and Non‐Technical Needs to Implement Biobanking Practise for Health Research in Indonesia
J. Fachiroh1, L. Lazuardi1, J. Yunus1, E. K. Dwianingsih1, A. Wahdi1, F. Pramatasari1, E. Kurniawan1, N. Rusetiyanti2, W. Hartanti1, T. Prasetiawati3, S. Hariyanto1, A. Utarini1
1Fac Medicine, Public Health, and Nursing, Universitas Gadjah Mada, Yogyakarta, Daerah Istimewa Yogyakarta, Indonesia, 2Dermatology and Venerology, UGM Academic Hospital, Yogyakarta, Yogyakarta Special Province, Indonesia, 3Psychiatry, UGM Academic Hospital, Sleman, Yogyakarta Special Province, Indonesia
Qatar Biobank Connecting Nodes Building Networks in the Pursuit of Precision Health
E. Fthenou, K. M. Al‐Dabhani, N. Afifi
Qatar Biobank, Doha, Qatar
One‐Stop Shopping: Aligning Biobank and Clinical Laboratory Tissue Services to Optimize Quality, Efficiency and Investigator Experience
A. Pifer, M. Griffin, S. J. McCall, T. Ribar, M. Datto
Pathology, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, North Carolina, United States
Overview of Strategic Planning and Progress of Korea Biobank Project (KBP4.0)
H. Nam, B. Heo, S. Cho, J. Yu, M. Hong, H. Min, J. JEON
Korea National Institute of Health, Cheongju, Chungcheongbuk‐do, South Korea
Korea Biobank Project (KBP) is one of the first government‐led human biobank initiatives to foster nationwide biobanking ecosystems for eventually promoting biomedical and healthcare research. Here we describe the evolution of the KBP from the initial phase of the project (KBP 1.0) to the latest phase of the project (KBP 4.0), especially focusing on a strategic plan of KBP 4.0. Since KBP started in 2008, the KBP has supported biobanking of over one million participants in the National Biobank of Korea and hospital‐based biobanks. The KBP 4.0 envisons biobank‐driven R&D innovations in biomedical research and healthcare. Major strategic goals of KBP 4.0 include: strengthening functions, roles, and leadership of the National Biobank of Korea; fostering specific target disease‐oriented biobank subnetworks with encouraging public‐private partnerships; and establishing sustainable biobanking ecosystems to support standardization and education as well as ELSI frameworks. To achieve these goals of KBP 4.0, we designed five funding programs to support 1) the Collaborative Subnetworks for Specific Target Disease‐based Future Biobanking (n = 10 subnetworks), 2) the Biobank Innovation Consortia for Biomedical and Healthcare Research including BICWALZS (n = 2 consortia), 3) the Establishment of Integrated Biobanking Service Platforms for the Korea Biobank Network (n = 2 platforms), 4) Data Generation and Utilization of Legacy Biobanked Samples, and 5) Biospecimen Science and Biobanking Technology Development. The first three of these programs was funded to start in 2021, but the others are underway for funding. The KBP continues to evolve to address national and global challenges and trends in biobanking in order for KBN to become an invaluable bioresource infrastructure to accelerate future medicine.
Implementation and Continual Enhancement of a Biospecimen Information Management System at an Academic Medical Center
J. Oetinger1, C. Chen1, M. T. Salpietro2, D. A. Kraemer1, T. R. Campion1, 3
1Information Technologies & Services, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, New York, United States, 2Institutional Biorepository Core, Office of the Research Dean, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, New York, United States, 3Department of Population Health Sciences, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, New York, United States
Streamlining the Collaboration Process for Industry and Academic Requestors
A. Avgoustis, N. Rastegar, A. Mejia‐Benitez, S. Paul, H. Wagner, N. Fleshner
UHN Biospecimen Services, University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Initial Request: Established multiple avenues for requestors to discover and connect with the program such as through global biobanking directories, multiple online websites, or through social media pages. All communication channels are integrated through a shared email account that is reviewed daily.
Feasibility: Standardized Sample Request Form (SRF) is forwarded to potential requestors to provide information on specimen requirements, data, ethics, and timelines. The SRF is reviewed and confirmed by four internal teams: The Data team, Specimen team, Ethics team, and lastly the Financial team to develop a cost‐recovery model.
Confidentiality Disclosure Agreement (CDA): CDA is executed to allow both programs to exchange confidential documents with respect to the project or requested services.
Research Ethics Board (REB) application: REB template provides a detailed summary of all the information and documents required for the REB application.
Material Transfer Release: Approval from REB allows the program to then coordinate material and data transfer and confirm cost recovery of services from the client/collaborator.
Client Survey Feedback: The Client Survey Feedback is completed following the delivery of the requested services. Feedback on sample quality, delivery, and collaboration process ensures that the biobank continues to develop according to industry standards.
Biodiversity/environmental/animal repositories
The First Biobank Internship in Egypt: Focusing on Undergraduates' Hands‐on Experience in LIMCs
A. Ragab, H. Ghonim, S. Farraj, R. Azer, L. Gadelrub
Biomedical research, M.A.R.C for medical services and scientific research, Al‐Jizah, Egypt
Biorepository Capacity for Emerging Infectious Disease Outbreak Research
M. Averill, H. Bouton‐Verville, J. Parsons, T. Gurley, M. A. Moody
Duke Human Vaccine Institute, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, North Carolina, United States
Many CREID Network sites are in areas with limited infrastructure. More than half reported power outages or mandatory utility throttling. Equipment is connected to backup generators in many but not all sites. Thirty‐three sites have liquid nitrogen on‐site. Fuel for generators, LN‐2, replacement parts, and funding to maintain equipment remain serious challenges in lowest resource settings.
Twenty‐five sites reported using SOPs or protocols to collect, process, and store samples. Many agreed to share and train other sites on them. Fifteen sites participate in regular external audits and 11 operate under formal quality systems. Most sites have access to international couriers and can obtain import/export permits. Their priorities for support include material transfer agreements, import/export permits, and biosafety.
Epicatechin Affects Sperm Cryocapacitation through Changes in the Levels of Reactive Oxygen Species
E. Tvrda1, S. Banas1, F. Benko2, M. Duracka3
1Institute of Biotechnology, Slovenska polnohospodarska univerzita v Nitre, Nitra, Slovakia, 2Institute of Applied Biology, Slovenska polnohospodarska univerzita v Nitre, Nitra, Slovakia, 3AgroBioTech Research Centre, Slovenska polnohospodarska univerzita v Nitre, Nitra, Slovakia
An attractive option to prevent sperm cryocapacitation lies in the administration of biologically active substances with motility‐promoting, membrane‐stabilizing, and antioxidant properties. Out of these, epicatechin (EPI), a plant‐derived secondary metabolite, has shown promise in the prevention of the sperm plasma membrane, mitochondria, and DNA deterioration. As such, the aim of this study was to assess the effects of selected EPI doses on the motility and capacitation status of cryopreserved bovine spermatozoa alongside its effects on the production of major reactive oxygen species (ROS), namely superoxide, hydrogen peroxide, and hydroxyl radical. Semen samples from 12 breeding bulls were cryopreserved in a commercial extender containing 25 μM, 50 μM, and 100 μM EPI or carrying no supplement. Sperm motility was evaluated with computer‐assisted semen analysis while the capacitation status was assessed with the chlortetracycline assay. Quantification of superoxide was performed by the nitroblue tetrazolium test, hydrogen peroxide production was assessed with the Amplex Red assay, while the concentration of hydroxyl radical was quantified using the aminophenyl fluorescein reagent. Our results indicate that the presence of 50 and 100 μM EPI resulted in a higher sperm motility (P < 0.001; P < 0.0001) and a concomitant decrease of prematurely capacitated spermatozoa (P < 0.01; P < 0.001). Exposure of cryopreserved spermatozoa to particularly 50 and 100 μM EPI lead to a significantly lower concentrations of hydrogen peroxide (P < 0.01; P < 0.001) and hydroxyl radical (P < 0.01). We may suggest that EPI as an alternative cryosupplement may offer higher protection to premature sperm capacitation, particularly by stabilizing the levels of ROS that may promote cryodamage to male gametes. This publication was supported by the Operational program Integrated Infrastructure within the project: Creation of nuclear herds of dairy cattle with requirement for high health status through the use of genomic selection, innovative biotechnological methods, and optimal management of breeding, NUKLEUS 313011V387, co‐financed by the European Regional Development fund, by the Slovak Research and Development Agency grant no. APVV‐21‐0095 and by the CeRA Team of Excellence.
The STAMP Egg Collection at the NIST Biorepository
J. C. Hoguet, A. Moors, D. Ellisor, J. Ness, R. Pugh
Chemical Sciences Division, National Institute of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, Maryland, United States
Seabird tissues, particularly seabird eggs, have demonstrated a valuable role in the monitoring of environmental pollutants. As such, in 1999, the Seabird Tissue Archival and Monitoring Project (STAMP) was established as a long‐term collaboration between the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) and a multitude of local, state, and federal agencies to monitor trends in Alaskan marine environmental quality. To do so, standardized protocols and practices were implemented including (1) the collection of seabird eggs with minimal contamination, (2) the processing of eggs and cryogenic archival of egg tissue subsamples to ensure chemical stability during long‐term (decadal) storage, (3) the maintenance of sample history records, and 4) the analysis of archived subsamples for monitored contaminants. Since STAMP's inception, target Alaskan species have included common murre (Uria aalge), thick‐billed murre (U. lomvia), black‐legged kittiwake (Rissa tridactyla), glaucous gull (Larus glaucescens), and glaucous‐winged gulls (L. hyperboreus).
In 2010, the 111th US Congress provided funding to NIST in an effort to expand its capabilities and resources into the Pacific region. In response, NIST, in partnership with Hawaii Pacific University, expanded the specimen banking components of several ongoing programs, including STAMP, to the Pacific Islands (i.e., the Hawaiian Islands, and Midway and Palmyra atolls). Target Pacific species have included Laysan albatross (Phoebastria immutabilis), black‐footed albatross (P. nigripes), wedge‐tailed shearwater (Ardenna pacifica), sooty tern (Onychoprion fuscatus), gray‐backed tern (Sterna lunata), masked booby (Sula dactylatra), and brown booby (S. leucogaster).
Over these last 20 years, STAMP has amassed approximately 1850 individual eggs spanning 45 Alaskan colonies and 750 individual eggs spanning 28 Pacific Island colonies. Through its use in many research endeavors, the STAMP egg collection has proven an invaluable resource in environmental monitoring and will remain so for years to come. Use of these samples is highly encouraged and may be requested through STAMP's online tissue access policy.
Implementing the ISO 20387: The Animal Resource Bank Experience, Transition from the ISO 9001 to ISO 20387
S. Choe1, M. Kang1, K. Nam2, K. LEE2, Y. Kee2, M. Lee2, H. Kim2, J. Huh1
1National Primate Research Center, Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Cheongju, Korea (the Republic of), 2Laboratory Animal Resource & Research Center, Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Cheongju, South Korea
Role of Reduced Glutathione in Extender for Liquid Storage of Ring‐Necked Pheasant Semen
B. A. Rakha1, S. Zuha1, S. Akhter1, M. S. Ansari2, K. Waseem1
1Department of Zoology, Wildlife and Fisheries, University of Arid Agriculture, Rawalpindi, Punjab, Pakistan, 2Department of Zoology, University of Education, Lahore, Pakistan
The MARS PETCARE BIOBANK: Establishing a Longitudinal Study of Health and Disease in Dogs and Cats
J. E. Alexander1, S. Filler1, P. J. Bergman2, B. Fulcher3, D. W. Logan1, T. S. Mckee2, J. Morrison4, P. Watson1, C. Woodruff5
1Science and Diagnostics, Mars Petcare Melton Mowbray, Leicester, Leicestershire, United Kingdom, 2Clinical Studies, VCA Animal Hospitals, Los Angeles, California, United States, 3BluePearl Veterinary Partners LLC, Tampa, Florida, United States, 4Banfield Pet Hospital, Portland, Oregon, United States, 5Antech Diagnostics Inc, Fountain Valley, California, United States
Ukrainian Tissue Sample Bank, the Newly Established Zoological Institution
L. Godlevska, P. Gol'din
I.I.Schmalhausen Institute of Zoology, National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, Kyiv, Ukraine
The Ukrainian Tissue Sample Bank (UTSB), including the National Banks of Cetacean and Bat Samples, was established in 2020 in the Schmalhausen Institute of Zoology of National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine in Kyiv, Ukraine. This is the first zoologically oriented tissue bank in the region. The main storage is the freezer facility supporting ‐80°C regime and the emergency power supply capable for 72 h of operations. Also the Bank includes ‐20°C freezers and room‐temperature facilities. Its mission was identified as a regional collection, research, and expert center, the core of a future center of excellence. Good practices for sample sharing were introduced. Promoting the new facility included networking with other tissue banks, communication activities, and listing in the professional lists of institutions and labs. Cooperative agreements on sample treatment were signed with other Ukrainian institutions. Ongoing and planned applications included research projects on pathology, toxicology, population genetics, evolution (including genomics and transcriptomics), embryology, life history, and environmental studies (eDNA analyses). Also, the facility played a critical role for sample collection during the investigation of the environmental crimes. Collecting and archiving the samples included creating an inventory of old collections and samples, obtaining of samples from nature, obtaining of environmental samples (e.g., eDNA), and initiating the system of exchange and backup between tissue banks. Appropriate storage conditions include low (‐80°C, ‐20°C, +8°C) and room temperature under climate control; frozen, RNA later, ethanol, cryoprotector media and other buffer solutions. Future developments will include developing routine, secure, and rapid procedures of samples sharing and cooperative research, following the best standards and providing sustainable environment for conservation research.
Sclerochronology Applications in Sea Turtle Scutes Sourced from Historical Archives
K. S. Van Houtan
Nicholas School of the Environment, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, United States
Conservation scientists have realized that modern datasets are frequently too short to adequately characterize ocean management challenges. This problem contributes to an abbreviated ecological memory, known as “shifting baselines,” and limits our ability to manage ecosystems effectively. The field of historical ecology aims to correct this problem by augmenting contemporary scientific data streams with reliable information mined from historical documents and cultural ephemera. In this seminar, I will review several ways to amend historical ecology research through the sclerochronology (diagnostic analysis of hard tissues) of sea turtle scutes from natural history repositories. I will discuss protocols, tissue preparations, omics techniques, costs, and applications for sea turtle conservation. Here, basic questions of life history, migrations, and habitat use—while critical for defining management priorities—are constrained by inaccessible habitats, low survivorship, late maturity ages, and technological limitations. Multi‐institutional partnerships between researchers, repositories, and resource agencies are important for advancing this field and accelerating basic science and applied use in the conservation of these protected species.
Biospecimen research, science, and outputs
ONCOPassport Diagnostic Service for the Improvement of Lung Cancer Targeted Therapy
A. Michalska‐Falkowska1, 2, J. Niklinski1
1Department of Clinical Molecular Biology, Medical University of Bialystok, Bialystok, Poland, 2Biobank, Uniwersytet Medyczny w Bialymstoku, Bialystok, Poland
The diagnostic algorithm that allowed the formulation of ONCOPassport is based on the results of full‐genomic sequencing and immunohistochemical (IHC) analyses.
The ONCOPassport is built of two main parts with the following panels:
I. ONCOSUP DIAGNOSTICS:
1) NGS_Lung_Cancer_DNA focused on the detection of 31 driver mutations in lung cancer diagnostics at the DNA level.
2) NGS_Lung_Cancer_RNA for detecting driver mutations at the RNA level, including fusion genes and exon‐skipping isoforms of alternative splicing in 14 genes associated with the development of lung cancer.
3) Assessment of PD‐L1 expression by IHC.
II. ONCOSUP ANALYTICS PROTOTYPE with miRNA panel for diagnosis and histopathological evaluation of cancer:
1) Morphological panel of 425‐miR microRNA signature in serum to investigate expression differences between lung adenocarcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma.
2) Panel for the early diagnosis of lung cancer of 28‐miR microRNA signature in serum for expression differences between NSCLC patients and non‐cancer patients.
The tests run within ONCOPassport services are carried out using a custom‐tailored Next Generation Sequencing technology that has been properly optimized and certified for the service. The primary samples used for these assays are formalin‐fixed paraffin‐embedded tissue samples.
Preliminary Study for SNP Array Analysis of DNA Derived from Blood Smears Stored for More Than 50 Years
T. Hayashi1, 2, N. Kato3, M. Mayumi1, Y. Morishita1, N. Yoshida4, O. Tanabe2, W. Ohishi4
1Department of Molecular Biosciences, Koeki Zaidan Hojin Hoshasen Eikyo Kenkyujo, Hiroshima, Japan, 2Biosample Research Center, Koeki Zaidan Hojin Hoshasen Eikyo Kenkyujo, Hiroshima, Japan, 3Department of Statistics, Koeki Zaidan Hojin Hoshasen Eikyo Kenkyujo, Hiroshima, Japan, 4Department of Hiroshima Clinical Studies, Koeki Zaidan Hojin Hoshasen Eikyo Kenkyujo, Hiroshima, Japan
Since 1958, the Radiation Effects Research Foundation and its predecessor, the Atomic Bomb (A‐bomb) Casualty Commission, have been conducting the Adult Health Study (AHS) of 25,000 people, including A‐bomb survivors, with biennial health examinations in Hiroshima and Nagasaki, and a large number of biological specimens, including blood specimens, have been collected and are stored and maintained. Among those blood specimens, the blood smears (smears) of all AHS subjects have been preserved since 1958. Since the specimens of cases who developed cancer immediately after the A‐bombings are also stored, genome analysis using these specimens will enable us to elucidate the mechanisms of radiation‐related cancer development in detail and to identify individual differences in susceptibilities to these cancers. Therefore, a genome analysis of all AHS subjects, including A‐bomb survivors, is planned. For this to happen, it is necessary to investigate the availability of smears prepared from trace amounts of blood specimens, although ethical, legal, and social issues (ELSI) must be solved. In this study, call rates and concordances of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in DNA obtained from the blood specimens of six in‐house volunteers (W‐DNA) and DNA extracted from smears prepared from the blood specimens and amplified with the QIAGEN REPLI‐g DNA amplification kit (amplified‐DNA) were examined using two SNP arrays designed for SNP analysis in a Japanese population, the Axiom Japonica Array NEO (AJAN, about 670,000 SNPs) and Infinium Japanese Screening Array (IJSA, about 710,000 SNPs). As a result, the average call rates of W‐DNA and amplified DNA for AJAN were 99.3% and 97.0%, respectively, and those for IJSA were 99.9% and 96.3%, and the average concordance rates between W‐DNA and amplified DNA were 93.7% for AJAN and 99.7% for IJSA, both of which exceeded 90%. There were 435 SNPs with different identification results in the two SNP arrays, which were identified by the Taq‐Man assay method and were consistent with the results obtained by IJSA. These results showed that whole‐genome amplified DNA prepared from smears represents a similar copy of the genomic DNA template and that a comparable call rate was obtained using high‐throughput SNP genotyping assays, suggesting that smears can be used for GWAS. However, the applicability of old preserved smears for genomic analysis and the selection of the SNP array to be used require further validation.
Cost Assessment of Cryogenic Preservation of Biocollections during the COVID Pandemic at CeReB 2020‐2021
A. K. Edwige
Center of biological resource, Institut Pasteur de Cote d'Ivoire, Abidjan, Lagunes, Côte d'Ivoire
The objective of this study is to evaluate the costs of cryogenic conservation of biocollections during the COVID pandemic at the Côte d'Ivoire Biological Resource Center (CeReB) from 2020‐2021.
Variable costs are higher than fixed costs in both cryovial and chaff collection production. The total production cost of the straw collection is 3.5 times the total production cost of the cryovial collection
Plasma miRNA Profile in High Risk of Preterm Birth during Early and Mid‐Pregnancy
R. Illarionov, O. Pachuliia, E. Vashukova, A. Maltseva, T. Postnikova, A. Glotov
Genomic medicine, FGBNU Naucno‐issledovatel'skij institut akuserstva ginekologii i reproduktologii imeni D O Otta, Sankt‐Peterburg, Russian Federation
The Mathison Centre Neurogenetics Biobank and Advancing in Precision Mental Health
S. Shaheen1, 2
1Medical Genetics, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada, 2Physiology and Pharmacology, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
Precision Medicine in Childhood Cancer: From Tiny Biospecimen to Big Possibilities!
T. Sontag1, S. Langlois1, A. Lefebvre1, C. Richer1, J. Ayotte1, N. Piché2, D. Dal Soglio2, N. Patey2, B. Ellezam2, V. Lavallée2, 6, P. Teira2, 6, R. Santiago3, B. Michon3, M. Lepage3, C. Goudie4, D. Mitchell4, C. Budd4, S. Vairy5, 6, J. Brossard5, J. Babeu5, C. Leblanc‐Desrochers5, G. Cardinal1, T. Tran1, 6, M. Marzouki1, 6, D. Sinnett1, 6
1Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Sainte‐Justine Centre de Recherche, Montreal, Quebec, Canada, 2Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Sainte‐Justine, Montreal, Quebec, Canada, 3CHU de Quebec‐Universite Laval, Quebec, Quebec, Canada, 4McGill University Health Centre, Montreal, Quebec, Canada, 5Centre integre universitaire de sante et de services sociaux de l'Estrie Centre hospitalier universitaire de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, Quebec, Canada, 6Universite de Montreal Departement de Pediatrie, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
Despite improvements in risk‐stratified treatments, ∼20% of childhood cancer patients do not respond to current therapies and ultimately succumb to their disease. It remains the first cause of death by disease among children. However, no significant progress has been noted over the last decade, urging the need for new and more effective therapeutic alternatives. To address these issues, we have launched TRICEPS, a Childhood Cancer Precision Medicine program, which targets hard‐to‐treat pediatric cancers by offering in‐depth multi modal ‐omics investigation of tumour material to identify patient‐specific alterations within a reasonable timeframe (8 weeks). One of the key components was the availability of a biobank containing high‐quality human biospecimens such as tumour material, blood, and saliva along with well‐annotated clinical data. Our Biobank collected, preserved, and provided access in a transparent and quality‐controlled manner in compliance with ethical, legal, and regulatory requirements. This was made possible by a close collaboration between scientists, oncologists, surgeons, pathologists, biobankers, ethicists, and clinical research assistants. From 2014 to 2022 we collected 501 biospecimens from 221 patients enrolled at the 4 main pediatric oncology centres in Québec, Canada. We have faced numerous challenges to offer the study to as many patients as possible. For instance, fresh‐frozen tissue samples (tumour resection [74%], needle biopsy [16%]), although limited in size, are better suited for molecular profiling, downstream application. For 11% of cases we had to develop protocols to isolate DNA from tissue samples in formalin‐fixed paraffin‐embedded (FFPE) blocks when it was the only source of material. An increasing number of specimens are obtained by needle biopsies, leading to sparse material for diagnosis and potential use for research. We also developed protocols to isolate tumour cells from biopsies and bone marrow with tumour content <25% (6% of cases). In conclusion, biobanking played an important role in our precision medicine program. We demonstrated the feasibility of incorporating genomic sequencing into the management of hard‐to‐treat childhood and adolescent cancers. The genomic‐driven molecular profiling led to the identification of potentially therapeutic actionable alterations in most patients tested (86%). The systematic collection of human samples of high quality is a key element to the success of future treatments.
Quality Analysis of Residual Genome DNA in Red Blood Cell Samples from Anticoagulated Whole Blood
X. Zhang, Y. Zhu
Department of Biological Repositories, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei, China
Assessment of the Stability of Metabolic Parameters for Creation of Pre‐Analytical Guidelines for Metabolomics
M. Tschaepel2, S. Jonas1, H. Altmann2, A. Funk1, 3
1Institute for Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine, Universitatsklinikum Carl Gustav Carus, Dresden, Sachsen, Germany, 2Universitatsklinikum Carl Gustav Carus Medizinische Klinik und Poliklinik I, Dresden, Sachsen, Germany, 3Nationales Centrum fur Tumorerkrankungen Dresden, Dresden, Saxony, Germany
Method Validation for PBMC Isolation and Cryopreservation: Old and New Preanalytical Variables
E. Roux, D. Cheval, F. Betsou, M. Ungeheuer
Institut Pasteur, Paris, Île‐de‐France, France
Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) are elements of interest to the research community, particularly in the fields of immunology and tumor biology. The methods used for their isolation and freezing vary significantly between different biobank laboratories with subsequent variability in the quality attributes of the PBMCs. These include the yield of cells isolated from whole blood, their viability, as well as the conservation of cell sub‐populations so that they are as close as possible to the physiological state.
In the process of validating our method, we compared different parameters: anticoagulant (EDTA, sodium citrate, lithium heparin and sodium heparin), isolation method (Ficoll®, Sepmate®, Leucosep®, and CPT®), and freezing medium supplemented with 10% DMSO (autologous serum, decomplemented autologous serum, autologous plasma, and fetal calf serum), in order to identify the best combination of conditions. To do this, blood samples were collected from 11 healthy donors.
For each of the methods, consisting in a combination of the above‐mentioned parameters, we measured the PBMC viability using Muse® equipment, and compared by ANOVA. Flow cytometry analyses were carried out on Cytoflex S® to verify the effective preservation of the sub‐populations: Leukocytes (CD45), T lymphocytes (CD3/CD4/CD8), B lymphocytes (CD19), and Monocytes (CD14).
Our first results suggest that the isolation yield, before freezing the PBMCs, is significantly different, in favor of the CPT separation device (SepMate®: 0.841 x10^6 PBMC/mL; Leucosep®: 0.693 x10^6 PBMC/mL Ficoll®: 0.936 x10^6 PBMC/mL, CPT®: 1.047 x10^6 PBMC/mL).We did not observe any difference in pre‐freeze PBMC viability. Furthermore, we did not observe any significant difference in yield or viability between the different anticoagulants used (SepMate®: 99.36%, Leucosep®: 99.35%, Ficoll®: 99.24%, CPT®: 99.15%). We will present the corresponding post‐thawing results, as well as results from comparison of cryopreservation in autologous plasma, with different platelet concentrations, a parameter that has barely been studied until now.
Characterization of Process for Isolation of Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cell (PBMC) Using a Custom Layering Tool and a Custom Hourglass Tube
C. Aparicio, D. Granda, J. Aparicio
CLAS Automation, Inc, Miami, Florida, United States
Investigation of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) responses remain one of the most important steps in the development of pharmaceuticals and invitro diagnostics. However, these studies are often inconclusive because of the poor reproducibility of the isolation process for PBMC. The use of density gradients (still the gold standard) for isolations involves a step for layering diluted blood and a second step for harvesting of the PBMC band that are large contributors to the hands‐on time and poor reproducibility of the overall process. In this study, we evaluated the use of 1) a custom layering tool and 2) an hourglass‐shape tube as a simpler solution to increase reproducibility and reduction of hands‐on time for both critical steps. These two components were evaluated and compared to the results from a 50mL centrifugation tube manually prepared using the standard method for Ficoll‐Pique PLUS. Performance was assessed based on hands‐on time, cell recovery, cell viability, and overall process time. Results showed that the layering tool reduced hands‐on time and overall process time by >95% and 70%, respectively, without an impact on the cell recovery and viability. Similarly, the hourglass‐shape tube showed cell recoveries and viability of >90% and >99%, respectively, when compared to the standard 50mL centrifugation tube. This configuration also reduced the harvest volume and Ficoll volume by 60% and 65%, respectively. Overall, these results showed significant improvement in hands‐on time and overall process time without impacting cell recoveries and viability. Furthermore, this hourglass‐shaped tube may be used with liquid handlers to achieve additional improvement in process/hands‐on time and overall reproducibility.
Optimization of Vitrification Solutions for Dielectric Heating of Cryopreserved Biospecimens
Z. Wang1, Z. Shu2, R. Ma1, S. Ren3, 1, D. Gao1
1Mechanical Engineering, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, United States, 2University of Washington Tacoma, Tacoma, Washington, United States, 3Seattle University, Seattle, Washington, United States
Impact of Serum Indices on Serum Metabolite Profiles and Its Association with Pre‐Analytical Variables of Biobanked Samples
J. Lee, B. Ji, E. Hong, M. Lee, H. Kim, J. Jeon
Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency, Cheongju, Chungcheongbuk‐do, South Korea
The serum indices of hemolysis, icterus, and lipemia (HIL) are known to be important interference factors of clinical chemistry assay results. Here we describe the assessment of the impact of HIL indices on serum metabolite profiles, and an association of HIL indices with pre‐analytical variables of serum samples. To study associations of HIL indices with clinical laboratory test results and pre‐analytical conditions, we selected serum samples (n = 12,196) of the KoGES cohort with measurements of HIL indices and pre‐analytical variables (SPREC parameters). In addition, metabolite profiles were analyzed using Absolute IDQ p180 for the case groups of hemolysed (n = 60), Icteric (n = 60), and lipemic (n = 60) samples with the non‐HIL control samples (n = 60). The hemolysis index was found to be related with over 20 metabolites of glycerophospholipids, and the third (pre‐centrifugation‐delay between processing) and sixth (post‐centrifugation) elements of SPREC. This study would provide an evidence‐based quality control process of serum samples for an application of serum indices to data interpretation in clinical chemistry assays or downstream biomarker assays using biobanked serum samples.
Biobanking in the COVID‐19 Times: Research on Serum Cytokine Profile and Tumor Biomarkers in Relation to Disease Severity Prognosis
M. Karlikova1, 2, M. Pestova1, O. Topolcan1, L. Pecen1, V. Simanek3, D. Sedlacek4
1Department of Immunochemical Diagnostics, Fakultni nemocnice Plzen, Plzen, Plzensky, Czechia, 2Univerzita Karlova Lekarska fakulta v Plzni, Plzen, Plzensky, Czechia, 3Fakultni nemocnice Plzen, Plzen, Plzensky, Czechia, 4Department of Infectious Diseases and Travel Medicine, Fakultni nemocnice Plzen, Plzen, Plzensky, Czechia
Long‐Term Stability and Qualification of an Historical Fungal Collection
M. El‐ghalid1, A. Chiarelli1, M. Boutroux1, E. Boulanger1, S. Brisse3, D. Garcia‐Hermoso2, F. Betsou1
1CRBIP, Institut Pasteur, Paris, Île‐de‐France, France, 2Molecular Mycology Unit, National Reference Center for Invasive Mycoses and Antifungals (NRCMA), UMR 2000, CNRS, Institut Pasteur, Paris, Île‐de‐France, France, 3Université Paris Cité, Biodiversity and Epidemiology of Bacterial Pathogens, Institut Pasteur, Paris, Île‐de‐France, France
However, such precious holdings, when not integrated in the context of professional biobank infrastructures, may be exposed to major risks, ensuing staff's retirement or changes in the institutional strategy with redefined priorities.
Several successful stories of rescued ‘historical’ collections have been reported, and of their utilization towards new discoveries.
At the Biological Resource Center of Institut Pasteur (CRBIP), we undertook the challenge of rescuing the dormant legacy collection of fungal strains, including freeze‐dried and mineral oil‐conserved yeasts and filamentous fungi, by using a polyphasic approach combining morphological features and multi‐locus sequence (MLS) molecular data.
Supporting Diagnostic Research and Development with Biobanking Activities for Infectious Diseases Endemic in Low‐ and Middle‐Income Countries
I. El Idrissi, A. Mantsoki, W. Fransman, A. Albertini, D. Emperador, F. Betsou, D. Allen, S. Ongarello,
FIND, the global alliance for diagnostics, Geneva, Switzerland
FIND, the global alliance for diagnostics, seeks to ensure equitable access to reliable diagnosis around the world. Diagnostic research and development for infectious diseases require the availability and accessibility of well‐characterized, high‐quality clinical specimens. However, this remains a challenge, and biomaterials from diseases that are of pandemic potential or endemic in low‐ and middle‐income countries (LMICs) are often difficult to source.
To contribute to more equitable access to specimens, since 2007 FIND has been building a biobank with fit‐for‐purpose collections of specimens, mainly from LMICs. During this time, FIND biobanking activities have been continuously supporting areas of health inequalities and providing the global health community with a transparent means of sharing clinical specimens.
More recently, in response to the lack of biobanks in LMICs, FIND has also deployed a strategy aimed at building local capacity and investing in on‐site, in‐country infrastructure to deliver a long‐term, sustainable, and adequate biobanking service. FIND integrated biobanks (FIBs) comprise a network of biobanks coordinated by FIND, which conducts specimen collections to support the development of diagnostic tools. Within the FIB network, sites based in LMICs are proactively equipped to rapidly scaleup activities for an efficient response to future pandemics. To ensure standardization of operations, FIND manages FIB sites and FIND centralized biobank as one.
Within the centralized biobank and FIB sites, FIND currently stores more than 600,000 clinical specimens covering 6 disease areas: acute febrile illnesses, antimicrobial resistance, COVID‐19, hepatitis C, malaria, and tuberculosis. Specimens in FIND biobanks were collected in almost 30 different countries and are distributed to a variety of institutions globally, both in high‐income countries and LMICs, and for all stages of diagnostic development and exploratory research.
FIND biobanking activities have been a major asset for the global health community and its efforts in diagnostic research and development. FIND is engaged in an ongoing assessment of the gaps in biobanking and continuously re‐evaluating the inclusion of new diseases and sample types. FIND is also highly in favour of network‐based biobanking systems, an approach that enhances the value of biobanks by increasing their visibility and distribution of specimens as well as fostering collaborations.
Functional DNA Quality Control Implementation in Qatar Biobank Laboratories
N. Hacine, M. Markovic, T. Al Hamad, E. Al‐Khayat, F. M. Qafoud, N. Afifi
Qatar Biobank, Qatar Foundation, Doha, Ad Dawhah, Qatar
Automatic and Robust Extraction of Genomic DNA from Various Leftover Blood Samples
J. You1, J. Osea1, S. Mendoza1, T. Shiomi1, E. Gallego1, B. Pham1, A. Kim1, A. Sinay‐Smith1, Z. Zayas1, L. Boytard2, L. Chiriboga1, P. Cotzia3, A. Moreira1
1Center for Biospecimen Research & Development, NYU Langone Health, New York, New York, United States, 2Diagenode SA, Liège, Belgium, 3Sonic Reference Laboratory, Austin, Texas, United States
A Case Study: Extending Downstream Applications for a Stabilized Whole Blood Collection Tube
A. Pexaras, O. A. Kofanova
Integrated Biobank of Luxembourg, Luxembourg Institute of Health, Dudelange, Luxembourg
Discovery Through Biospecimen Sharing: The NASA Biological Institutional Scientific Collection (NBISC)
J. Varelas1, A. J. French1, E. N. Wong2, S. Reinsch3, S. G. Gebre3
1KBR/Wyle Labs, Moffett Field, California, United States, 2Blue Marble Space Institute of Science, Moffett Field, California, United States, 3NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, California, United States
Sharing of non‐human biospecimens from spaceflight and ground experiments has been an ongoing enterprise since the 1960s, with NASA Ames Research Center leading the effort toward fostering collaborations with other NASA Centers, Universities, and international academic institutions. As a means of promoting awareness of space bioscience research, NASA Open Science initiatives make these unique biospecimens available to researchers worldwide through a formal biospecimen request and proposal review process. In this presentation, we will demonstrate the progress made utilizing these biospecimens in developing measures to safeguard long‐term human space exploration and their contributions to the advancement of life sciences. An initial step in understanding these insights begins with an online request at the NASA Life Sciences Portal (NLSP) for select biospecimens from various NASA flights and studies related to space biosciences research. We will describe the meticulous planning and coordination required to ensure the collection of high‐quality, well‐preserved tissues while practicing modern biobanking methods that provide a comprehensive database of scientific and administrative metadata. By providing 90,000+ unique biospecimens for scientific research, NBISC not only serves as a biorepository for storing and distributing non‐human biospecimens but provides a pathway for future discoveries that will benefit NASA and humankind.
Enhancing RNA Quality from FFPE Tissue through Ultrasonication
S. Kaushal, A. Molinolo, B. Wishart, J. Rull, J. Namkoong, M. Ku, P. Sharma
Biorepository, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California, United States
Pre‐Implementation Qualification Study of Blood‐Based Biomarker Assay Precision to Establish Consistent and Reliable Data Return
K. A. Russ1, 2, D. Franklin1, 2, M. Stecker1, 2, A. Schwefel2, T. Foroud1, 2, J. L. Dage2, 3
1Medical and Molecular Genetics, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana, United States, 2National Centralized Repository for Alzheimer's Disease and Related Dementias, Indianapolis, Indiana, United States, 3Neurology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana, United States
A Multispectral Fluorescence Lifetime Imaging (FLIM) System for
Rapid Biochemical Assessment of Fresh and Frozen Tissue Specimens in Biobank Settings
C. Huynh1, G. P. Tortorelli2, R. Cuenca‐Martinez2, J. A. Jo2, V. Ramanujan1
1Pathology & Laboratory Medicine, Cedars‐Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, California, United States, 2Electrical and Computer Engineering, The University of Oklahoma, Norman, Oklahoma, United States
Role of Biospecimen Science in Cancer Biomarkers: A Funding Opportunity for Basic and Clinical Researchers
L. Agrawal, A. Rao, P. Guan, M. Ossandon, H. Moore
National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, Maryland, United States
https://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PAR-22-049.html
Effect of Different Cryopreservation Temperatures on Recovery of Postmortem Goat Skin‐Derived Fibroblast Cell Populations
M. Singh, C. Henry, X. Ma, A. Abolude, A. Moawad, T. Stephens
Animal Science, Fort Valley State University, Fort Valley, Georgia, United States
The Need for Standardized Cryoprocessing on Preservation Outcomes
L. Underwood, Q. Osgood, N. Chakraborty
BioNexus Cryobiology, American Type Culture Collection, Manassas, Virginia, United States
The Value of a Gift ‐ Understanding the Perceived Value of Post‐Mortem Brain Donation for Research
C. Griffin1, 2, J. Bowen1, 2, M. M. Walker1, 2, J. Lynam3, 1, C. L. Paul1, 2
1College of Health, Medicine and Wellbeing, The University of Newcastle, Callaghan, New South Wales, Australia, 2The University of Newcastle Hunter Medical Research Institute, New Lambton, New South Wales, Australia, 3Medical Oncology, Calvary Mater Newcastle, Waratah, New South Wales, Australia
There are available data for motivations and barriers to PMBD in neurodegenerative and psychiatric diseases, but not for primary brain cancers such as GBM.
A systematic search of Embase, Medline, PsycINFO, Psychology and Behavioural Science, and Scopus extracted relevant studies investigating the motivations, barriers, psychosocial impact, or personal experiences of PMBD among patients, family, and carers. Thirty‐eight studies were identified for data extraction with quantitative and qualitative data grouped into key perceptions of benefit and harm.
The perceived benefits of PMBD were characterised into key themes including: altruism, contributions to science/medical research, comfort/consolation, and control/empowerment. An aversion to ‘waste’ was a key benefit identified across multiple participant groups. Perceived harms included physical harm and emotional distress, disfigurement, delay to funeral, and withdrawal of clinical care to accelerate donation timelines.
Assessing the Quality of Plasma Obtained from Blood Plasma Separation Microdevice for Liquid Biopsy Application
M. Siddiqi
Advanced Centre for Treatment Research and Education in Cancer, Navi Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
Liquid biopsy is rapidly emerging as a promising diagnostic, prognostic, and predictive tool in cancer patient care. Currently, plasma is ubiquitously used as a standard sample for the downstream processing of potential biomarkers such as ctDNA. Therefore, obtaining ctDNA in its pristine state is contingent upon the high quality of plasma. It's also observed that centrifugation‐induced WBCs lysis increases background production of cfDNA, thereby adding to the noise during downstream detection. Hence, the preparation of a good quality sample is an important step in liquid biopsy application.
The Blood Plasma Separation (BPS) micro‐device is a microfluidics chip that extracts plasma from undiluted blood input using hydrodynamic techniques. We propose that low stress involved in plasma separation in BPS may reduce the WBCs lysis and improve the detection of ctDNA in the sample. Our pilot clinical study aims to assess the quality of plasma obtained from BPS and compare it against standard centrifugation. We further proposed that the technology has the potential to reduce the time of the pre‐analytical sample workflow while minimizing manual operation and the human errors and contamination that may be caused by the same.
ΔS‐Cys‐Albumin as a Biomarker of Pediatric Biospecimen Integrity
S. P. Kremer1, 2, V. Shakhnovich3, 4, A. Riffel3, L. Harvey3, C. Borges1, 2
1Biodesign, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona, United States, 2School of Molecular Science, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona, United States, 3Children's Mercy Kansas City, Kansas City, Missouri, United States, 4School of Medicine, University of Missouri Kansas City, Kansas City, Missouri, United States
Ethical, legal, and social issues
Oversight of Tissue Banking Activity in Clinical Trials by SingHealth Tissue Repository
E. Thit, L. Yue, B. Soh, W. Chock, T. Chang
SingHealth Tissue Repository, Singapore Health Services Pte Ltd, Singapore, Singapore
The Human Biomedical Research Act (HBRA) came into effect in Singapore in November 2015 and serves to regulate the conduct of human biomedical research (HBR) and the use of human tissue in research. With the implementation of the Human Tissue Framework (HTF) of the HBRA in November 2019, tissue banking activity (TBA) is defined as an organized activity involving collection, storage, procurement, supply, import, or export of human tissue. If human tissue is collected to meet clinical trial objectives and endpoints, such collections are governed by the Health Product Act or the Medicines Act. However, human tissue collected beyond the scope of Health Sciences Authority‐approved clinical trial protocol or for future unspecified research is regulated by HTF and must be undertaken or overseen by a tissue bank.
Incorporating Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion into a Canadian Biobank
J. LeBlanc, T. Tarling, S. Babinszky, S. Dee, K. Lawrence, S. O'Donoghue, P. Watson
BC Cancer Victoria, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada
determine a defined glossary;
develop a team awareness and learning plan;
develop EDI objectives;
implement EDI sound bites at weekly team meetings (e.g., definitions, institutional EDI information);
update team electronic signatures with pronouns and a land acknowledgement;
create a statement for addition to our websites;
conduct a human resources review (job postings, interview questions, orientation, training);
determine a checklist with an EDI focus for reviewing biobank documents, websites, and offered educational material and use to develop, improve, or modify biobank material to reflect our enhanced understanding of EDI;
share our EDI knowledge.
Efforts to Scale Return of Research Results in the Mayo Clinic Biobank
J. E. Olson1, N. L. Larson1, L. Wang1, R. J. Olson1, J. Arroyo1, J. S. Bidwell1, K. J. Kolbert1, J. L. Anderson1, E. Ryu1, J. T. Bublitz1, R. Gupta1, G. D. Jenkins1, J. L. Kemppainen1, J. B. Egan2, K. M. Meagher1, H. Liu1, E. W. Klee1, K. N. Lazaridis1, S. N. Thibodeau1, J. R. Cerhan1
1Mayo Clinic Minnesota, Rochester, Minnesota, United States, 2Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science, Phoenix, Arizona, United States
A Multi‐Prong Operating Model for Balanced Application of Ethical & Religious Directives, Federal Regulations, and Virtual Biobank Operations at CHRISTUS Virtual Biobank
P. Ratti1, 2, P. Everage1, A. Culpepper1, S. Squires1
1CHRISTUS Virtual Biobank, CHRISTUS Health System, Irving, Texas, United States, 2University of California Irvine, Irvine, California, United States
A Successful Minority Outreach Model for Biobanking
S. Kaushal1, A. Molinolo1, P. Sharma1, J. Rull1, B. Wishart1, PB‐062, B. Parker2, M. Martinez2, A. Hasnat3, S. Williams3, R. Shatsky2
1Biorepository, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California, United States, 2Moores Cancer Center, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California, United States, 3El Centro Regional Medical Center, El Centro, California, United States
Despite current efforts to increase minority representation in research, therapeutic trials, mainly biospecimen collection, have historically yielded lower percentages of minority populations in their studies. Academic interest in increasing minority populations has not waned, but there has been little discussion in how to systematically improve representation across research for biospecimen collection. Barriers to participation, like lack of access to research facilities, contribute to this gap in representation. Our current effort is to increase minority outreach in the catchment area of Moores Cancer Center by developing a collaboration model under the California Initiative for Advanced Precision Medicine (CIAPM) for Hispanic triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) patients. This pilot program may enable future biospecimen collection partnerships between minority‐rich community medical centers and comprehensive cancer centers.
The CAP‐accredited UCSD biorepository (BR) developed a successful collaboration with El Centro Regional Medical Center (ECRMC), located in a rural border region with a high proportion of Hispanic residents. This collaboration was enabled by an existing clinical research infrastructure at ECRMC and BR under an IRB‐approved protocol. Standard operating procedures were established for patient enrollment and biospecimen collection from remote collaboration sites. An ECRMC oncologist identified Hispanic TNBC patients. The ECRMC bilingual coordinator then arranged an appointment for remote consenting. The BR coordinator facilitated the informed consenting process in the presence of a licensed medical provider and a certified bilingual translator over Zoom. Consented patients provided a 10mL of blood. The ECRMC coordinator also requested remnant formalin‐fixed paraffin‐embedded (FFPE) tissues from the pathology archival collection. The anonymized blood samples, FFPE tissue blocks, pathology reports, and associated medical records were collected.
This successful collaboration resulted in the collection of biospecimens from 19 Hispanic TNBC patients over a period of 13 months. In all 28 patients were approached for consenting, 4 patients declined consent and 5 patients are still pending appointment. This pilot project established the groundwork for partnerships with regional community centers and may serve as a model for other BRs to improve collection of biospecimens to promote minority participation in cancer research.
Biobank‐Specific Regulatory Requirements and How to Address Them
L. Weiss, C. Pejkovic, M. G. Tinajero, N. Rastegar, M. Ghany, S. Paul, H. Wagner, N. Fleshner
UHN Biospecimen Services, McCain GU BioBank, Princess Margaret Cancer Biobank, University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Biobanking presents unique legal and contracting requirements, such as determining what constitutes identifiable information regarding patient privacy, and whether this includes tissue and genetic information. This creates challenges in determining the economic value of banked samples when drafting a contract with a collaborator or negotiating intellectual property.
Many of the researchers that collaborate with biobanks perform genetic analyses, including whole genome sequencing. These collaborators may be located outside of Canada and the laws governing genetic research differ by country.
Identifiable information is defined differently in different countries. Tissue and genetic information are not likely to be able to identify patients at the current level of sequencing technology.
Contracting issues and genetic laws are addressed on an individual basis in collaboration with the institutional legal team to ensure that our program can continue to operate sustainably.
Differences and Similarities Between Local and Global Genetic Information Law and Regulatory Considerations
L. Weiss, C. Pejkovic, M. G. Tinajero, N. Rastegar, M. Ghany, S. Paul, H. Wagner, N. Fleshner
UHN Biospecimen Services, McCain GU BioBank, Princess Margaret Cancer Biobank, University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Collaborating with researchers outside of Canada requires consideration of these different laws.
What Egyptians Think! Knowledge, Perceptions, and Attitude of Egyptian Stakeholders towards Biobanking
A. S. Abdelhafiz1, E. Sultan2, H. Ziady2, E. Ahmed3, W. Khairy4, D. Sayed5, R. Zaki6, M. Fouda1, R. Labib7
1Clinical Pathology, National Cancer Institute Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt, 2Department of Community Medicine, Alexandria University Faculty of Medicine, Alexandria, Egypt, 3College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, St. John's University, New York, New York, United States, 4Department of Community Medicine, Cairo University Kasr Alainy Faculty of Medicine, Cairo, Egypt, 5Clinical Pathology, Assiut University South Egypt Cancer Institute, Assiut, Assiut, Egypt, 6Cairo University Kasr Alainy Faculty of Medicine, Cairo, Egypt, 7Research Department, Children's Cancer Hospital Egypt 57357, Cairo, Egypt
Consent Tools for Pediatric Research Involving Databases and Biobanks
D. Patrinos, B. M. Knoppers
McGill University Centre of Genomics and Policy, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
Rather than being discarded, residual tissues from clinical procedures, such as biopsies or resections, can be used for research purposes. The same is true for newborn bloodspots. In both cases, consent can be used in conjunction with clinical procedures to harness these resources which provide valuable developmental insights into child health.
Hot topics
The Importance and the Specific Method of Education and Training in Biobanking
K. Sargsyan
International Biobanking and Education, Medical University of Graz, Graz, STMK, Austria
It is widely recognized that global developments in the multidisciplinary field of biobanking are linked to the rising shortage of specialized biobanking workers. Comprehensive education should be provided to address these needs and translate knowledge and experience into applied biobanking science. Exceptional opportunities for integrated and multi‐partner study opportunities in biobanking are created at several universities.
The lecturers are dedicated to transferring their knowledge and first‐hand experience with practical implementation and management of biobanks to educate the next generations of biobankers. Significant is the transfer of the knowledge not only theoretically but in practical active work within biobanks as well in workshops and interactive group work. The main advantage of the method in biobanking education is the involvement of specialists in the management of national and international biobanks, quality management, risk assessment, sustainability, budgeting, and cooperation (academic and industrial).
The specific modular education offers to secure the future of successful and sustainable biobanks, cooperating within networks and with international partners, representing the best confirmation of the benefits of education and practice.
Prostate Tumor Collection for the National Tumor Bank of the National Cancer Institute – INCA/RIO DE JANEIRO/BRAZIL: Our Experience with the Validation of a New Protocol
M. T. Accioly1, N. C. Bastos1, D. J. Gomes de Paula1, D. P. De Oliveira1, M. L. Monteiro1, L. O. Coelho2, F. Lott3, I. M. de Oliveira2, P. S. de Faria2, L. W. Pinto2, A. S. de Rezende2, V. G. Moreira2, D. d. Siqueira2, F. G. Frederico2, T. F. Alvarenga2, E. O. da Fonseca2, F. S. de Campos3, F. C. de Macedo2, A. T. Dias3
1National Tumor Bank, National Cancer Institute, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, 2Pathology Division, National Cancer Institute, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, 3Urology Section, National Cancer Institute, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Pre and Post‐COVID‐19 Biospecimens Trend at Princess Margaret Cancer Biobank
A. Mejia‐Benitez, N. Rastegar, S. Paul, H. Wagner, N. Fleshner
Princess Margaret Cancer Biobank, University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
The Medical Research Council/Uganda Virus Research Institute and London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine Uganda Research Unit Biobank Experience and Continuation during Coronavirus Disease of 2019 in Uganda
P. Babirye
Biobank, MRC/UVRI and LSHTM Uganda Research Unit, Entebbe, Uganda
New opportunities and challenges were faced by the biobank at the unit. The biobank supported ethically approved COVID‐19 research projects by availing storage space for the collected biospecimens and temperature monitoring of the storage equipment. With the influx of biospecimen collections that required storage, the workload increased as the biobank still supported other research studies at the unit.
The unit received a limited number of movement permits from the Ministry of Health which were handed out to some of the prioritized staff. The biobank's emergency plans focused on maintaining the cryopreservation of the biospecimens in their custody and continuing temperature monitoring of equipment.
One new biobank staff was hired to specifically handle biospecimen storage of the approved COVID‐19 research project that requested to store biospecimens with the unit biobank. The biobank was also able to outsource consumables that were available in the country.
Harmonization of Electronic Medical Records Diagnoses Between Hamad Medical Corporation and Qatar Biobank
K. M. Al‐Dabhani, E. Fthenou, N. Afifi
Scientific and education, Qatar Biobank, Doha, Qatar
Now that access to EMR is available to QBB, data harmonization between the medical records and QBB data is necessary to enable QBB to have as much information about the medical history of a participant to be used for research purposes.
A master diagnosis catalog was provided from HMC with 13 different diagnosis standards for all the subjects. SNOMED CT and ICD‐10 diagnosis standards represented the biggest amount of diagnoses codes in the master catalog. ICD‐10 CM was used for the classification of diseases and all diagnosis standards were harmonized against it. Challenges identified related to the formatting of the codes, multiple ICD‐10 CM codes for a single diagnosis code, and mismatch between the code ID and the diagnosis name were curated after applying Mapping files found for ICD‐9 CM, ICD‐10 CA, ICD‐10 AM, and SNOMED and/or by discussion between the two reviewers. QBB Data catalog was updated, including the description and the business rules related to the harmonized data.
Biospecimen and Data Resources from the Cancer Moonshot Biobank
P. Guan1, V. Gopalakrishnan1, J. McLean2, A. Mohandas2, M. Jensen2, H. Ellis3, L. Agrawal1, S. McDermott2, B. Fevrier‐Sullivan2, J. Freymann2, A. Rao1, J. Wanyiri2, M. Williams2, H. Moore1
1National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, Maryland, United States, 2Leidos Biomedical Research, Inc., Frederick, Maryland, United States, 3Biobanking Without Borders, LLC, Durham, North Carolina, United States
What Happens to Recruitment Rates at a Biobank When Healthcare Goes Virtual?
P. Gill1, L. Jeans1, M. G. Tinajero1, H. Wagner2, N. Fleshner2
1UHN Biospecimen Services, University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, 2UHN Biospecimen Services, McCain GU BioBank, Princess Margaret Cancer Biobank, UHN COVID‐19 Biobank, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
A Proposal to Investigate the Impact of the COVID‐19 Pandemic on Willingness to Participate in Scientific Research Among Participants of a Biobanking Initiative
M. G. Tinajero1, C. Pejkovic1, T. Sildva1, H. Wagner2, N. Fleshner2
1McCain GU BioBank, University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, 2UHN Biospecimen Services, McCain GU BioBank, Princess Margaret Cancer Biobank, UHN COVID‐19 Biobank, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Rationale for a Hybridized Consent Workflow in a Biobank Adapting to Virtual Health Care
A. Tyler, T. K. Paton, M. G. Tinajero, H. Wagner, N. Fleshner
UHN Biospecimen Services, McCain GU BioBank, Princess Margaret Cancer Biobank, UHN COVID‐19 Biobank, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, UHN, Toronto, Canada, University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Refining Approach Strategies Using Pre‐ and Post‐COVID Consent Metrics at the McCain GU Biobank
T. A. Adeyemi, M. G. Tinajero, H. Wagner, N. Fleshner
University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Lessons Learned from the COVID‐19 Pandemic: The Need for Flexible Biobanking of Healthy Control Samples
T. Paton1, A. Syed1, M. Ghany1, M. G. Tinajero1, H. Wagner1, N. Fleshner1, 2
1UHN Biospecimen Services, University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, 2Division of Urology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Whole Community Living Microbiome Biobanking
D. Chernikhova
Environment and Natural Resources, Haskoli Islands, Reykjavik, Iceland
Cryobanking offers hedges against rapid biodiversity declines. Repositories of tissue and gamete samples can be used to improve genetic bottlenecks in captive breeding. Stored seeds and shoots can help restore forests and agricultural crops. Repositories can also be sources of vouchered reference samples for research. For example, biobanked collections of marine samples give us the comparison data to allow for in‐time monitoring of ecosystem health.
Biodiversity biobanking must expand in scope. We are still at the start with regards to what biodiversity material is chosen and how it is stored. And there are important gaps. We know that most ecosphere and living organism functions are mediated by microbes. Microbiome dysbioses are implicated in aquaculture damage, coral diseases, severe mammal and amphibian health issues, and more. As yet, most collections preserve the host part of a holobiont, but not the associated microbial communities. And when microbiomes are biobanked, it is often as genomic and metabolomic sequences, rather than living material.
Human specimen repositories
Synergizing Biobanking Processes Between Academia And Commercial Biobanks
S. Lim2, V. Guneta2, S. Chow1, K. Wong1, T. Chua1, J. Chui1, A. Hor1, L. Xu1, C. Eng1
1National University Health Systems (NUHS), Singapore, Singapore, Singapore, 2Cryomics Pte Ltd, Singapore, Singapore
Academic and commercial biobanks have their strength and weaknesses. Here we described a multi‐center study in Singapore whereby academic biobanks in hospitals, research institutions, and cancer consortium worked in tandem with a commercial biobank. The CADENCE (CAncer Detected Early caN be CurEd) study, a large 10,000‐participants cohort 3‐year study, coordinates across multi‐centers for participants recruited, with a central biobanking process for the development of a blood‐based multi‐cancer screening test for the detection of the nine most prevalent cancers in Singapore: lung, breast, colorectal, liver, stomach, esophageal, ovarian, pancreatic, and prostate.
Biobanking in East and Central Africa: A case of the Integrated Biorepository of H3Africa Uganda
G. Nsubuga
Makerere University, Kampala, Kampala, Uganda
Biorepositories are essential because they guarantee the proper storage and distribution of biospecimens and their associated data for current and future research. In Eastern and Central Africa, the Integrated Biorepository of H3Africa Uganda (IBRH3AU) at Makerere University in Uganda was the first of its kind. It is strategically located at Makerere University College of Health Sciences, which is home to some of Uganda's most relevant and impactful infectious and non‐infectious disease research. Since its inception as a pilot project in 2012, the IBRH3AU biorepository has grown into a state‐of‐the‐art facility serving the H3Africa consortium and the rest of the scientific community. IBRH3AU has built a solid infrastructure over the past 10 years with cutting‐edge methods and technologies for the collection, processing, quality control, handling, management, storage and shipment of biospecimens. H3Africa researchers, local researchers, postgraduate and postdoctoral students, and the greater scientific community in Eastern and Central Africa and beyond have benefited from IBRH3AU's exceptional biobanking services.
Audit of Biospecimens at Medical Research Council/Uganda Virus Research Institute and London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine Biobank in Uganda
E. Nabanoba
MRC/UVRI and LSHTM Uganda Research Unit, Entebbe, Wakiso, Uganda
This created space in the freezers, a clean database was created, and an actual count of the number of stored samples was established.
Overview of Shefa Al Orman Hospital Biobank in Upper Egypt
R. Mohamed, S. Ezzat, N. Kordy, A. M. Gamal, M. M. Saady, N. Hassan, A. Saleh
Scientific Research, Shefa Al‐Orman Oncology Hospital Luxor, Egypt, Luxor, Egypt
An Experience of Organizing and Maintaining the First National Tumour Tissue Repository (NTTR) in India
S. Desai1, M. B. Kulkarni2, A. Deshpande3, L. Choughule2, A. Patil3, K. Tanawade3, S. Menon2, R. Badwe4
1Prof. and Head, Pathology, Tata Memorial Centre, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India, 2Pathology, Tata Memorial Hospital, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India, 3National Tumour Tissue Repository, Tata Memorial Hospital, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India, 4Director, Tata Memorial Centre, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
To Keep or Not to Keep – Minimizing Biohoarding in a Resource‐Limited Setting
J. Tayal, A. Mehta, A. Sharma
Biorepository, Dept of Research, Rajiv Gandhi Cancer Institute and Research Centre, New Delhi, Delhi, India
Recruitment Strategies for a Non‐Hospital‐Based Academic Biobank in South Africa: The Journey of the CHM Biobank
E. H. Conradie, M. Dercksen, B. C. Vorster
Centre for Human Metabolomics, North‐West University, Potchefstroom, North‐West Province, South Africa
Evaluating the Efficacy of Density Gradient Centrifugation for the Biobanking of Malignant Cells in Patients with Hematological Disorders
O. Bigun1, K. Czibere1, A. Misura1, D. Gowlett‐Park1, 2, D. Chadwick1, 3, S. Chow2, 4, H. Tsui5, 6
1Sunnybrook Biobank, Department of Laboratory Medicine and Molecular Diagnostics, Precision Diagnostics and Therapeutics Program, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, 2Hematology Site Group, Odette Cancer Centre, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, 3Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, 4University of Toronto Temerty Faculty of Medicine, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, 5Department of Laboratory Medicine and Molecular Diagnostics, Precision Diagnostics and Therapeutics Program, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, 6Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology, and Department of Immunology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Ensuring Sustainability for Clinical Laboratory Support of Biospecimen Procurement
M. Griffin, A. Pifer, S. J. McCall, M. Datto
Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, North Carolina, United States
Van Andel Institute's Biospecimen Core Resource for the NCI Cancer Moonshot Biobank
S. Jewell1, D. Rohrer1, T. Evans1, M. DeHollander1, G. Hostetter1, L. Agrawal2, H. Ellis2, R. Abhi2, P. Guan2, S. McDermott3, J. McLean2, G. Aberts3, A. Mohandas3, M. Williams3, H. Moore2
1Pathology and Biorepository Core, Van Andel Institute, Grand Rapids, Michigan, United States, 2Biorepositories & Biospecimen Research Branch, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, Maryland, United States, 3Biomedical, Leidos Inc, Reston, Virginia, United States
Rapid Establishment of a Biospecimen Resource to Study the Global Impact of COVID‐19 Vaccines
K. Berliner1, T. Ezzelle2, T. Klenk2, G. Dunn2, J. Sischo2, D. Campbell2, K. McKee2
1BioIntegrity, LLC, Glenwood Springs, Colorado, United States, 2Allucent, Houston, Texas, United States
The emergence of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus‐2 (SARS‐CoV‐2) in late 2019 and its subsequent explosive spread highlighted the need to rapidly develop curated biobanks containing specimens that can be used to inform etiology, diagnosis, and treatment options for such large‐scale global outbreaks of communicable diseases. Recently, we undertook a project to develop a repository of biospecimens from individuals aged 12 and older who were scheduled to be vaccinated against coronavirus‐19 (COVID‐19) with one of the vaccines whose development was supported by the United States (US) Government. We planned to establish 40 or more clinical study sites in at least six countries and associated territories to collect biospecimens from approximately 1,000 individuals, at least 75% of whom were to be SARS‐CoV‐2 naïve at the time of enrollment. These specimens would be used to: 1) ensure quality control of future diagnostic tests; 2) serve as standards to calibrate serologic assays; 3) provide reference reagents in the development of new assays, new drugs, new biologics, or new vaccines in response to SARS‐CoV‐2; 4) understand immune response to multiple COVID‐19 vaccine platforms; and 5) be available for future, as yet undetermined, uses. Biospecimens to be collected included: serum, plasma, and whole blood by venipuncture, and nasal secretions by mid‐turbinate nasal swab. Large‐volume collections of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) and defibrinated plasma by apheresis were also planned for a subset of study subjects. Repeat sampling of those consenting to participate was planned at pre‐defined intervals prior to, and following, receipt of designated COVID‐19 vaccines over a one‐year period. Here, we describe the selection of global clinical sites for specimen collection and processing, SOP development, design of an informatics system to track participant metadata, design of training materials and systems for tracking specimen quality, and transport of specimens to a central repository for interim storage. Our approach allowed us to enroll our first participants within 21 weeks from the study's initiation. Lessons learned from this experience should benefit the development of biobanks in response to future large‐scale global epidemics.
Translational‐ANZGOG (TR‐ANZGOG): Enhancing Translational Research Capacity in Gynaecological Cancer Clinical Trials to Optimize Research Impact
C. Davies1, A. DeFazio2
1Australia New Zealand Gynaecological Oncology Group, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, 2Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
Translational ANZGOG, ‘TR‐ANZGOG,’ aims to support collection of ANZGOG trial biospecimens, provide enduring custodianship, and maximise trial outcomes by facilitating future translational research.
1) Support for ANZGOG Trial Investigators to plan and manage translational research aspects of clinical trials.
2) A national network of laboratories to support biospecimen collection, processing, and management.
3) A mechanism for researchers to access trial biospecimens and data.
4) An online Information and Resource Portal.
Following TR‐ANZGOG's launch in 2020, the implementation stage demonstrated multiple ethical, legal, and operational barriers, highlighting the challenges of this initiative, to build translational research capacity and enable maximal research from ANZGOG trials for optimal impact.
The first ANZGOG trials to implement TR‐ANZGOG are in start‐up. Next steps will include the procurement and development of IT platforms and processes for sample tracking and data management, to establish a valuable biospecimen resource with associated study data.
Effective Biobanking of Tissue Biopsies through Vaccum Sealing Method
S. Govindan1, 3, A. Sudarshan1, B. Tharakan1, H. K. Jayan1, L. Krishnan1, M. A. Kuriakose1, 2, V. Ramachandran3, A. Nambiar1, 3
1Karkinos Healthcare, Ernakulam, Kerala, India, 2Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center, Buffalo, New York, United States, 3Karkinos Foundation, Mumbai, India
Cancer Screening and Biobanking: Insights from Community Wellness Initiative in India
R. Pengal1, M. Chabra2, G. Tendulkar2, S. Govindan1, S. Rao2, V. Ramachandran2, K. Oswal2
1Biobank, Karkinos Healthcare, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India, 2Karkinos Healthcare, Mumbai, India
Biobank at Indus Hospital & Health Network, Pakistan
N. J. Hussain, D. Aijaz
The Indus Hospital Korangi Campus, Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan
Informatics & technology
Implementing Natural Language Processing Technology in the Department of Pathology and Biorepository Using the eLearning for Staff Training
A. I. Khramtsov2, A. Casapu3, G. F. Khramtsova1, 2
1Biorepository, Stanley Manne Children's Research Institute affiliated with Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, United States, 2Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, United States, 3MediaLab, Inc & LabCE, Lawrenceville, Georgia, United States
Application of Natural Language Processing in the Current and Future Work in the Department of Pathology and Institutional Biorepository
A. I. Khramtsov1, J. Gulliver1, N. Arva1, G. F. Khramtsova1, 2
1Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, United States, 2Biorepository, Stanley Manne Children's Research Institute affiliated with Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, United States
SIMBIOX, an In‐House Data Management System for Biobanks in Indonesia
E. K. Dwianingsih1, 3, L. Lazuardi2, 3, F. Sitanggang3, S. Hariyanto3, J. Yunus4, 3, A. Wahdi5, F. Pramatasari3, E. Kurniawan3, J. Fachiroh6, 3
1Department of Anatomic Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, Public Health and Nursing, Universitas Gadjah Mada, Yogyakarta, Indonesia, 2Department of Health Policy and Management, Faculty of Medicine, Public Health, and Nursing, Universitas Gadjah Mada, Yogyakarta, Indonesia, 3Biobank Unit, Faculty of Medicine, Public Health, and Nursing, Universitas Gadjah Mada, Yogyakarta, Indonesia, 4Department of Anatomical Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, Public Health, and Nursing, Universitas Gadjah Mada, Yogyakarta, Indonesia, 5Center for Reproductive Health, Faculty of Medicine, Public Health, and Nursing, Universitas Gadjah Mada, Yogyakarta, Indonesia, 6Department of Histology and Cell Biology, Faculty of Medicine, Public Health, and Nursing, Universitas Gadjah Mada, Yogyakarta, Indonesia
pccm_db: A Sophisticated High Granularity Breast Disease Dataset Created Utilizing an Easily Implementable Data Entry Too
D. A. Kelkar1, 2, S. Kadu1, 2, P. Kanase1, 2, D. Yadav1, 2, J. John1, 2, R. Banale1, 2, R. Unde1, 2, D. Ansari1, 2, L. Busheri1, 2, R. Mishra1, 2, S. Joshi1, 2, B. Verghese1, M. Kulkarni1, 2, L. Shashidhara3, 4, C. B. Koppiker1, 2
1Prashanti Cancer Care Mission, Pune, Maharashtra, India, 2Centre for Translation and Cancer Research, Pune, India, 3Indian Institute for Science Education and Research (IISER), Pune, India, 4Ashoka University, Sonepat, India
Data Profiling of HuBIS_Sam SPREC data of the Korea Biobank Network
B. Heo, H. Nam, S. Cho, J. Yu, M. Hong, H. Min, D. Kim, J. Jeon
Korea National Institute of Health, Cheongju, Chungcheongbuk‐do, South Korea
The Korea Biobank Network (KBN) is one of the pioneering infrastructures to support the Korea Biobank Project. The KBN consists of various hospital‐based biobanks and a central government‐affiliated biobank (National Biobank of Korea). Since 2013, the KBN has used the self‐developed biospecimen inventory system (HuBIS_Sam, currently version 3.8) to manage storage information and pre‐analytical variables (SPRECs) of KBN biospecimens. In order to examine the data quality of the SPREC records, we conducted data profiling of the SPREC records housed in the HuBIS_Sam database. As of December 2020, the inventory data for 17 million biospecimen vials were housed in the HuBIS_Sam database. Of these vials, SPREC‐containing biospecimen vials account for about 44% (4.3 million vials out of 9.72 million vials) in the central biobank and 30% (2.45 million vials out of 8 million vials) in the KBN biobanks. Among 6.75 million biospecimen vials with SPRECs, about 499k biospecimen vials (131k vials for hospital‐based biobanks, and 367k vials for NBK) were found to have a specific code of ‘ZZZ’ or ‘Z’ in one or more elements of the SPREC. Therefore, about 7.4% (499k/6750k) of biospecimen vials with SPRECs remains unmapped to the SPREC 3.0. Data profiling of the HuBIS_Sam inventory data would improve data quality of the SPREC records for the KBN biospecimens.
A Review of COVID‐19 Lockdown Across Different Countries During 2020: Characterization of Risk Factors and Severity of COVID‐19 in Egyptian Patients
H. H. Sayed
Biotechnology, The American University in Cairo, New Cairo, Cairo, Egypt
On March 12, 2020, The World Health Organization (WHO) announced the new coronavirus 2019 as a global pandemic. In January 2022, the number of COVID‐19 cases reached 300 million confirmed cases with a total death count of 5.5 million cases. Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus‐2 (SARS‐CoV‐2) was identified in a seafood wholesale market in Wuhan, China. At the time of the outbreak, there was no effective treatment to protect from the novel coronavirus; the only way to control the pandemic was through reducing person‐to‐person contact and taking preventive measures based on the severity of the disease among the population. The first aim of this thesis is to visualize the confirmed cases, deaths, and recovered cases across the most affected countries and to analyze if non‐pharmaceutical interventions (NPI), such as government interventions, are effective in flattening the curve. The second aim of this thesis is to use machine learning models to predict the severity of COVID‐19 and clinical outcomes based on demographic, epidemiological, comorbidities, and laboratory findings among the Egyptian population during the lockdown period.
Innovative technology
Investigating the Labeling Workflow and Incorporation of Automation for Increased Collaborations
A. Armstrong, E. Novotny, W. Marin
Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc, Waltham, Massachusetts, United States
An Analytical Method to Determine Quality of Fixation Using Vibrational Spectroscopy and Machine Learning
D. Chafin
Roche Diagnostics International AG, Rotkreuz, Zug, Switzerland
Sensitive Internal Thermal Monitoring Provides an Indication of Tank Health and Advance Alert for Impending Tank Failure
M. R. Rusnack
Research and Development, AmericanPharma Technologies Inc, Boise, Idaho, United States
Impact Statement: Most current methods for monitoring cryostorage Dewar performance do not provide insights into Dewar health and do not provide significant lead time in the event of a Dewar failure, exposing patient samples to the risk in the event of a loss. The novel findings presented here present a robust and easily integrated internal system for 24/7 monitoring of each Dewar's health and performance.
A New Cohort Study Management Application: Improvements to Efficiency and Morale in the Two Months Following Adoption
R. Martin1, K. Kazmierczak1, D. Dudas2, C. Lichtman2, A. Patel2
1Manifold, Newton, Massachusetts, United States, 2American Cancer Society, Atlanta, Georgia, United States
Workflows and data management associated with running such cohort studies are highly complex and labor‐intensive. Although the past decade has seen rapid advances in tools for data management (such as participant management and synchronization of data captured from a variety of sources including participant reports, triennial surveys, sub‐studies, and pre‐/post‐analytical biospecimen data), scientific organizations like ACS have continued to use practices that lack adoption of cutting‐edge tools and technologies due to lack of funding, capacity, or expertise to develop, implement, and maintain modern data infrastructure for research‐based systems.
Fully Automated, Non‐Destructive Processing and Imaging of Intact Tissue Samples
R. Torres, M. Levene
Applikate Technologies, Fairfield, Connecticut, United States
Justifying an Automated Biobank in Your Business Plan
C. Tiller, P. Lomax
Product Management, SPT Labtech, Oakland, California, United States
Initial investment, service costs, and infrastructure changes attributed to automated systems can be hard to justify; however, other factors to consider when weighing the advantages and disadvantages of automation. Labor costs, energy costs, and space considerations are easily assessed by quantitatively evaluating current usage and predicting future needs. Other “softer” factors such as sample security and integrity are more difficult to quantitate yet are extremely significant to the biobank's success. Advances in automated sample storage and processing have focused on improving these more intangible needs to ensure that biobanks are able to contribute the highest quality samples to research.
Repository management
Brain Tumor Biobanking in the Postmortem Setting
K. McCortney1, J. Walshon1, A. Steffens1, R. Javier3, M. Drumm1, M. Flowers1, C. Horbinski2, 1
1Neurological Surgery, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois, United States, 2Pathology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois, United States, 3The University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, United States
While biobanking brain tumor specimens is common across many institutions, collecting matched tissue in postmortem cases is much rarer. Yet, such tissues are valuable, as they can provide a unique perspective on end‐stage, post‐therapy gliomas. Such material yields insights into patterns of disease spread and why all currently employed therapies inevitably fail. However, the logistics of postmortem tissue collection are complicated, requiring the coordination of teams outside of the biobank as well as the patient's family and/or loved ones. The Nervous System Tumor Bank (NSTB) at Northwestern University established a postmortem tissue collection protocol in 2015, focusing on glioma patients. Our postmortem glioma program designed standard operating procedures that are implemented by the hospital teams, the funeral homes, and the patient's families. Each of these aforementioned groups receives role‐specific instructional documents and communication prior to the patient's passing. Since 2015, the NSTB has collected biospecimens from 70 adult brain and spinal cord autopsies. These materials have already led to a surprising discovery regarding how most gliomas spread at the end stages of disease, which was published in 2020 (PMID: 31711239). (A follow‐up study involving the genomic and epigenomic patterns of end‐stage gliomas is ongoing.) Furthermore, many patients and their families have embraced the program with great enthusiasm. Thus, with the appropriate infrastructure and protocol in place, postmortem biospecimen collections are feasible for human tissue biobanks and can serve as invaluable resources.
Implementing Technology to Enhance Sample Quality and Expedite Workflows at the National Centralized Repository for Alzheimer's Disease and Related Dementias (NCRAD)
M. C. Edler1, 2, C. Mitchell1, 2, M. M. Ng‐Almada3, M. A. Denton1, 2, S. N. Smith1, 2, E. Ayres1, 2, T. B. Shaffer1, 2, R. Case1, 2, J. M. Jackson1, 2, K. Nudelman1, 2, T. Schwantes‐An1, 2, C. Hobbick1, 2, K. Faber1, 2, T. Foroud1, 2
1Medical and Molecular Genetics, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana, United States, 2National Centralized Repository for Alzheimer's Disease and Related Dementias, Indianapolis, Indiana, United States, 3Hamilton Storage Technologies, Franklin, Massachusetts, United States
Alzheimer's disease and related dementias (ADRD) pose a growing public health crisis that requires a collaborative effort by both public and private stakeholders to meet the challenge. The National Centralized Repository for Alzheimer's Disease and Related Dementias (NCRAD) was established in 1990 at Indiana University with the mission to support research focused on the etiology, early detection, and development of therapeutics for ADRD. NCRAD has been funded by the National Institute on Aging (NIA) since 1990 and is an international resource for clinical information and biological materials. As ADRD research has advanced, NCRAD and the NIA have worked together to expand the number and type of biological samples available to the research community. Use of NCRAD samples has resulted in over 700 peer reviewed publications. NCRAD currently houses DNA, RNA, CSF, plasma, serum, stool, brain tissue, LCLs, PBMCs, fibroblasts, and stem cells from individuals with ADRD as well as healthy controls. Additionally, NCRAD and the NIA have invested in technologies to standardize sample processing, enhance sample quality, and increase the number of samples distributed to researchers. Since 2017, all DNA samples are run on a custom SNP fingerprinting platform (Standard BioTools, Inc.) upon intake and distribution to ensure sample identity is maintained. In 2019, APOE genotyping was added to provide researchers banking samples with valuable ADRD‐related genetic information. As part of a standardization effort, all DNA extractions from various source materials were moved to the Chemagic360 platform (PerkinElmer, Inc.) in 2020, resulting in increased throughput and better DNA quality. Recently, the NIA funded the construction of a Hamilton BiOS M automated storage system at NCRAD to manage the increasing number of samples. Limited building space is an ongoing issue and the automated high‐density format permits storage of more samples, allowing for onboarding of additional studies. Compared to a manual ‐80C freezer, automation reduces the daily handling of samples that could introduce warming events, contributing to confounding preanalytical variables. Most importantly to many researchers, the automated picking and placing of samples reduces the time from proposal approval to sample distribution, supporting faster research discovery. Recent investments in new technologies will allow NCRAD to accelerate ADRD research to reduce risk, increase detection, and raise care.
Increased Requests for Fresh Samples Impact the Workflow for The Cooperative Human Tissue Network (CHTN) Midwestern Division
R. L. Mandt1, D. Nohle1, M. Couce2, R. Dhir3, K. Shilo1, L. W. Ayers1, A. V. Parwani1
1Pathology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, United States, 2Pathology, UH Cleveland Medical Center, Cleveland, Ohio, United States, 3Pathology, UPMC, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States
total number of shipped samples and shipments;
number of investigators receiving samples and number receiving rush shipments (samples that are fresh or floating in formalin);
number of rush vs. non‐rush shipments and number of samples in rush vs. non‐rush shipments.
Although the overall number of investigators receiving rushed samples each quarter has remained steady during this period (ranging from 42 – 68 setting aside 2Q20 with 27 when the pandemic began), the number of rushed samples has increased 205.0% (from 393 in 3Q14 to 1,199 in 3Q22) as have rushed shipments increasing 218.7% (from 283 in 3Q14 to 902 in 3Q22), with the largest increase occurring in the most recent two quarters of 2022.
Although the overall number of shipments per quarter has increased 165.1% (from 364 in 3Q14 to 965 in 3Q22), the number of non‐rush shipments per quarter has declined 62.8% (from 121 in 3Q14 to 45 in 3Q22).
A Robust, Inexpensive Solution for Alarm Monitoring of Freezers, Incubators, and Other Biobank Equipment Based on Readily Available, Easy to Deploy Home Alarm Equipment
J. E. Katz1, 2
1Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, United States, 2Ellison Institute LLC, Los Angeles, California, United States
ALL of these issues are compounded in academic and non‐profit institutions that cannot afford routine replacement of monitoring infrastructure.
When connected via cellular networks or WiFi to an alarm company, equipment status can be monitored via web browsers and cell‐phone apps and the response to alarms becomes highly configurable, everything from sending text messages and emails through triggering a human to work through a call list until a person acknowledges the alarm.
These systems are easy to install (often wireless), inexpensive, and highly tolerant to failure. They use interchangeable sensors and controllers that have been supported for decades. They are battery powered and actively monitored (low batteries and disconnected wires/sensors all trigger alarms).
This presentation will walk through all the steps and configuration required to deploy this solution.
Satellite Lab Concept to Reduce Processing Turnaround Time
G. J. Welch1, A. Bridgeman2, R. Root1, T. Maran3, C. Meloche4, H. Miller5, S. Bakkum‐Hansen1, M. Yrjo4, M. Cicek1, 4
1Biospecimen Accessioning and Processing, Mayo Clinic Research Rochester, Rochester, Minnesota, United States, 2Advanced Diagnostics Laboratory, Mayo Clinic Research Rochester, Rochester, Minnesota, United States, 3Strategy Consulting, Mayo Clinic Research Rochester, Rochester, Minnesota, United States, 4Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, Mayo Clinic Research Rochester, Rochester, Minnesota, United States, 5Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, Mayo Clinic Research Rochester, Rochester, Minnesota, United States
An Inside Look into Biobank Sustainability at UHN Biospecimen Services
S. Ding, M. K. Jagdev, S. Paul, H. Wagner, N. Fleshner
University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
The Utilization of Sample Confirmation Testing (SCT) in Improving Quality Assurance and Quality Control in the eyeGENE Biorepository
R. Al Rawi, N. Moore, C. Bender, A. Naik, M. J. Reeves, K. E. Goetz, R. B. Hufnagel, S. J. Tumminia
NEI, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, United States
Communication with Participants: From the Report of the 3rd Biobank Open Forum “Biobank and Participation” Held in Japan
J. Ikeda1, S. Ogishima3, T. Tomita2, T. Morisaki4, F. Nagami3
1Council for Industrial use of Biological and Environmental Repositories, Chiyoda‐ku, Tokyo, Japan, 2Kokuritsu Junkankibyo Kenkyu Center, Suita, Osaka, Japan, 3Tohoku Medical Megabank Organization, Tohoku Daigaku, Sendai, Miyagi, Japan, 4Tokyo Daigaku Ikagaku Kenkyujo, Minato‐ku, Tokyo, Japan
After the forum, we compiled these results and published them as a report on the website (https://biobank-search.megabank.tohoku.ac.jp/v2/). We also shared the post‐forum questionnaire with the speakers to provide feedback on the forum.
Fuelling Local Cancer Research by Establishing Biorepository Best Practices for Quality Samples at The University of Texas at El Paso
M. K. Chatterjee1, S. Paul1, L. Contreras2, R. A. Kirken2, E. R. Escajeda2
1CloudLIMS Lab Solutions (India) Pvt. Ltd., Indore, M.P., India, 2The University of Texas at El Paso, El Paso, Texas, United States
Evacuation of the Cryobank during Military Aggression
M. Petrushko1, 2
1Institute for Problems of Cryobiology and Cryomedicine of the NAS of Ukraine, Kharkiv, Ukraine, 2ART Clinic of Reproductive Medicine, Kharkiv, Ukraine
Cryobank management is known to affect the success of infertility treatment by the assisted reproductive technology using cryopreserved biological material.
Effective management involves constant monitoring of the processes, ensuring safe and efficient storage of biological samples. Selection of cryopreservation equipment and documentation of biomaterial storage processing, together with audit of components, all need to be properly and regularly managed.
However, military aggression against Ukraine has significantly impacted the routine management of cryobanks in many clinics of our country.
Honestly, such a procedure as an emergency evacuation of the cryobank was not prescribed in the standard operating procedures and we simply did not know what to do. Everything was done quickly with one purpose, thanks to the bank, which stores hundreds of lives of future Ukrainians.
The aim of the report was to supplement the existing requirements for quality management biobanking, namely the procedure for organizing the evacuation of cryopreserved samples during military operations based on our own experience.
If there is a threat or need to evacuate the cryobank, a disaster recovery algorithm should be developed, to maintain normal storage conditions for oocytes, spermatozoa, and embryos.
The first main problem was lack of an amount of LN in the storage. Thus, the following conclusions were made: Thus, the following conclusions were made. There was a need for: access to equipment for liquid nitrogen generation; access to a back‐up source of liquid nitrogen for emergency evacuation; and making a clear decision about sample packing density of the container because of the possibility for liquid nitrogen overconsumption.
At the time of evacuation, all the documents were placed into a separate container. Therefore, we made another conclusion about the mandatory maintenance of the electronic register of the cryobank. So the next point for emergency of cryobank transportation is that: all bank databases should be in electronic version and stored at independent server.
We believe that due to our experience, the documents regulating the cryobanks management should be supplemented with the above items for proper and safe storage of specimens.
Risk Management of Total Inventory and Operations Transfer to a New Biobanking Space: A Case Study
R. Humeida, W. T. Beals, A. Baez
AstraZeneca PLC, Cambridge, Cambridgeshire, United Kingdom
Operations relocation risks included: a) active clinical trials requiring co‐ordinated updates to statements of work globally without disrupting study delivery, b) outdated contact information with commercial HBS vendors, c) HBS users not identified who required notification, and d) organizing short timelines.
Inventory relocation risks included: a) sample integrity compromise; b) multiple transportation method/timeline possibilities; c) safety, health, and environmental considerations; d) sample inaccessibility to researchers; e) database updates reflecting move; and f) staffing coverage interruptions.
Initial planning for the relocation of samples required a comparison of different transportation methods taking into account carbon‐negative goals, minimizing sample compromise, research timelines, and space constraints. A mass single‐day transfer was selected and numerous companies specializing in biologics shipping were consulted to compare logistics. Throughout the move, the US Biobank partnered with AZ Safety Health and Environment, Laboratory Operations, Shipping and Receiving, and Procurement to ensure success.
Data Management Pipeline Implementation as a Tool to Foster 3.0 Biobanking
A. Soler‐Ventura, J. Sabaté‐delRío, F. Lugo, R. Mas, L. Lopez‐Suarez, H. Biobank, A. Rodríguez‐Vilarrupla, T. Botta
Institut d'Investigacions Biomediques August Pi i Sunyer, Barcelona, Catalunya, Spain
Alessandria Biobank. Creation of Breast Cancer Collection
G. Oliveri, R. Libener, V. Amore, P. Bonvicini, A. Maconi
Dipartimento Attività Integrate Ricerca Innovazione (DAIRI), Azienda Ospedaliera SS. Antonio e Biagio e Cesare Arrigo, Alessandria, Italy
‐ patients older than 18 years of age
‐ patients with breast cancer
‐ signing of informed consent
The exclusion criterion is the lack of informed consent.
Anonymized data collection was structured through the creation of a new database on the user‐friendly web interface REDCap.
A total of 270 patients, comprised 2 males, with breast cancer were included in the database, and of these there were 51 biopsies, stored at ‐80°C.
According to the database it turns out that the most frequent tumor type is ductal carcinoma followed by invasive lobular carcinoma. This result is in line with the worldwide incidence. In our study, we evaluated the province and municipality of both birth and domicile, trying to identify a geographical arrangement of incidence.
From our data, there is an average age of 64.5 years, with the youngest patient being 27 years old and the oldest being 93 years old.
Sung H. et al, (2021), “Global Cancer Statistics 2020: GLOBOCAN Estimates of Incidence and Mortality Worldwide for 36 Cancers in 185 Countries,” DOI: 10.3322/caac.21660
Kinkorová J, Topolčan O. Biobanks in Horizon 2020: sustainability and attractive perspectives. (2018) doi:10.1007/s13167‐018‐0153‐7
Utilization of Study Specific Workflows in Conjunction with Standard Operating Procedures and/or Study Specific Laboratory Manuals to Manage Multiple Studies in a GCLP Biorepository
R. Osborne
Surgery, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, United States
Intraoperative Collection of Neurosurgical Biorepository Tissue
B. Hermes1, S. Bowen1, R. Singh1, L. Neylon1, R. Alfonso1, J. Eschbacher2
1Biobank Core Facility, Barrow Neurological Institute, Phoenix, Arizona, United States, 2Pathology, St. Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center, Phoenix, Arizona, United States
High‐quality biospecimens are critical to research. To deliver useful tissues to researchers, it is necessary to develop strategies for increasing the viability of human biospecimens while preventing their contamination. One method involves flash freezing biospecimens as close to their resection as possible. This will decrease the amount of time biospecimens are exposed to environmental factors, but it will also arrest their metabolic functions—preserving cellular proteomes and transcriptomes. In the Biobank Core Facility (BCF) at Barrow Neurological Institute (BNI), we have implemented an intraoperative collection procedure to markedly decrease the time to freezing. While still in the sterile field, OR staff divide tissue for clinical diagnosis and biobanking. Biobank portions are immediately frozen in LN2. To accomplish this, we established a satellite biobank adjacent to the OR suites, sourced sterile collection kits, and collaborated closely with OR staff to ensure their compliance. Currently, greater than 75% of neurosurgical specimens are flash frozen in under three minutes; of those biospecimens more than 66% are frozen in one minute or less.
A Collaborative Communication Model to Support Quality Culture
A. De Wilde
MIPRO, Universiteit Antwerpen Faculteit geneeskunde en gezondheidswetenschappen, Wilrijk, Belgium
This model creates clarity by the separation of observations from judgments, feelings from thoughts, needs from strategies, requests from demands. It proposes self‐empathy, honest expression, and empathic listening. Shifting from a paradigm of power‐over to power‐with, it promotes collaboration.
The poster/talk illustrates the application of the model in a biobank context with an example of an incident during sample storage. A non‐judgmental honest expression (cfr meeting theme ‘come as you are’) facilitates mutual empathic listening (cfr meeting theme ‘building bridges’). Focusing on the needs at play supports a profound understanding of the issue. This facilitates addressing the root causes of the issue whilst engaging the personnel in the quality culture.
1: Mann J et al. (2020), DOI: 10.1080/13561820
2: Azgin, B. (2018). DOI: 10.7596/taksad.v7i2.1550
A Ten‐Year Review of a Prospective Procurement Biospecimen IRB and the Influence on Specimen Procurement and Distribution at the Cooperative Human Tissue Network (CHTN) Midwestern Division
S. Belcher1, R. L. Mandt1, D. Nohle1, L. W. Ayers1, M. Couce2, R. Dhir3, A. V. Parwani1
1Pathology, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, Ohio, United States, 2Pathology, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio, United States, 3Pathology, UPMC, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States
Distributed samples overall decreased by 22% in 2015 and 20% in 2016 (patient consent), leveled off briefly with a sharp decrease in 2018 (38%) before showing a 28% increase in 2019 and 19% increase in 2021 (waiver non‐human subject).
The Development and Implementation of an Overhauled Biospecimen Collection Database Within a Mature Biobank
M. Yuan1, M. Ghany1, M. Burns1, H. Wagner1, N. Fleshner1, 2
1UHN Biospecimen Services, University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, 2Division of Urology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Moving the Duke Human Vaccine Institute (DHVI) Accessioning Unit and Biorepository During the COVID‐19 Pandemic
T. Gurley, G. Massey, S. Stager, A. LaTorre, C. Kuykendall, A. Tritz, B. Montgomery, R. Zoeller, M. A. Moody
Accessioning Unit and Biorepository, Duke Human Vaccine Institute, Durham, North Carolina, United States
The Duke Human Vaccine Institute (DHVI) Accessioning Unit and Biorepository is a multipurpose unit that has two different functions: 1) receipt, accessioning, processing, and storage of fresh and frozen human and non‐human primate specimens and samples (Accessioning Unit) and 2) maintenance of the over 1,000,000 samples stored in multiple cold‐storage units (Biorepository).
To accommodate the needs of new funding awards, the DHVI Accessioning Unit and Biorepository started planning to move to a bigger facility off campus. The planning involved the design of shipping and processing labs along with a larger biorepository space. The process began in 2019, and design work initially involved in‐person meetings with architects, facility planners, movers, and vendors. Infrastructure planning included specifying electric load requirements and the locations for outlets, piping for water and gasses, and space needs. With the start of the COVID‐19 pandemic, these meetings became virtual and the timeline was stretched due to pandemic restrictions, including limited construction materials.
The move commenced in July 2021. For the Accessioning Unit we moved laboratory equipment and the Biorepository we moved 40 ULT cold‐storage units, 10 refrigerators, and 14 LN2 cold‐storage units over the span of 3 days. There were no interruptions of Accessioning Unit and Biorepository operations. In general, the move went smoothly; however, when moving in the 40 ULT cold‐storage units we discovered the power in the ULT freezer room was not working. Facility management quickly restored power and the remaining movement of cold storage units proceeded without interruptions. The startup of our piped LN2 system revealed a low‐pressure problem which was quickly resolved and there were no further problems with the LN2 freezer room.
In order to move laboratory equipment and cold‐storage units for the Accessioning Unit and Biorepository we undertook extensive planning and coordination. This work was made more difficult during the COVID‐19 pandemic due to restrictions on in‐person meetings and limitations in supply chains which delayed renovations. Despite planning and coordination, multiple problems were identified during the move that required rapid response from all involved parties, highlighting the need to have facilities, movers, and lab staff involved throughout the process.
Metamorphosis in an Online Era: Migration of Consent Collections to a Paperless System by Digitization of Information
M. Cruz, A. Kalantari Dehaghi, T. A. Adeyemi, S. Ding, M. K. Jagdev, S. Paul, H. Wagner, N. Fleshner
University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
As a biobank affiliated with regional hospitals, the workflow for accessing and uploading consent information was restricted due to the availability of the physical consent documents by hospital staff and the COVID‐19 pandemic. Additionally, if these consents were unavailable during upload, the program's consented individuals were missed, or biobank staff were required to undergo prolonged means of verifying this information.
To improve the current workflow, centralized digital consent databases were established. Guidance documents and example cases were used to train staff prior to the new system's implementation, ensuring a smooth transition. The data fields in the consent databases were edited to include more options as the workflow evolved; this highlights the flexibility of the digital platform to match the varying biobanks' consent forms and form versions. In June 2022, participant records were digitized which removed uploading restrictions.
Exhuming Forgotten Treasures: Digitizing Archived Samples for the Future Generation
J. Ng‐Siva, M. Cruz, D. Singha, S. Ding, M. K. Jagdev, S. Paul, H. Wagner, N. Fleshner
University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Building a Better Biorepository, Block by Block
K. M. Peterman, R. C. Jochim
Life Sciences ‐ Science & Technology, Merrick & Company, Arlington, Virginia, United States
What square footage will the facility occupy?
Will activities beyond sample storage occur within the facility or within the storage area, i.e., sample preparation or laboratory space?
How many people will occupy each section of the facility? The sample storage area?
Will there be intermittent workers in the facility?
What are the access and egress requirements for the facility/sample storage area?
What are the temperature requirements for the storage of the samples?
What are the power requirements for the facility/sample storage area?
The responses to the questions are converted to building blocks, which represent a requirement for the design. The building blocks are then arranged in a graphical representation to meet the user's needs and to meet building code and access/egress requirements. The use of this graphic compilation of responses to the initial/foundational design questions informs the final project architectural scope. This integrated block‐by‐block approach generates an informed down selection presented to the user for the final facility design options.
When the Decision to Close a Repository Is Reversed: The Ontario Tumour Bank Experience
D. Chadwick1, 2, I. Lungu1, A. Huston1, R. Cox1, M. Albert3, L. Stein1, 2
1Ontario Tumour Bank, Ontario Institute for Cancer Research, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, 2University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, 3Centre for Biodiversity Genomics, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, Canada
In the spring of 2021, OICR was faced with a significant budget shortfall. The decision was made to wind down OTB operations and search for a Canada‐based biorepository to assume custody of the OTB collection. However, a suitable organization could not be identified. Other factors resulted in a reversal of the decision to close in 2022. There were expressions of concern from the research community about the loss of this important bioresource, OTB's cost recoveries surged to their highest level ever in 2021, and potential opportunities for charitable fundraising were identified.
Unfortunately, uncertainty around OTB's future had consequences. Exacerbated by personal and work disruptions caused by the COVID‐19 pandemic, the Director and other staff left OTB to pursue other opportunities. Further adding to the challenges was an urgent need to identify a new bioinformatics information management system (BIMS) as vendor support of the existing BIMS was ending.
Use of The College of American Pathologists Competency Assessment Program to Maintain and Document Staff Training
A. Butler, L. Kalman, T. Parris, M. A. Revelez, J. Chaitram
CSELS/IDSB, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia, United States
How Collections Management Helped Transform the CDC Biorepository
M. A. Revelez, T. Soniat, R. Davidson, L. Kalman, J. Chaitram
CSELS/IDSB, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia, United States
Biobanking in Challenging Times: Sustainability Plan of Research Guidance
S. Gramatiuk1, 2, K. Sargsyan2
1Biotechnology, Ukraine Association of Biobank, Kharkiv, Ukraine, 2Medizinische Universitat Graz Zentrenunabhangige Institute, Graz, Steierrmark, Austria
The costly kind of unique samples/cell lines, data, and also other high‐pitched value biobanking products and services such as cell‐based drugs and biologically active pharmaceutical materials call for tremendously precise planning—including the full spectrum of risks.
So what happens if your biobank suddenly finds itself in the middle of a dangerous situation like an earthquake or even a war zone?
Well, let's look at our biobank again. Based on our experience, we have identified the main tasks and challenges that the Biobank faces in an emergency. The highest need is TIME.
a) Give the location of the emergency: building; specify the wing, if known.
b) Give the extent and nature of injury, if known.
c) Provide any details that may be relevant: building integrity, availability of water and electricity, backup generators running, whether toxic fumes are present, etc.
The second task is the place of evacuation of the biobank: evacuation within the country or abroad.
At the evacuation stage, you have to solve a number of tasks: 1. Transport and driver, as well as transport boxes, dry ice, liquid nitrogen, temperature control during transportation, compliance with sterility conditions, and contamination prevention; 2. Compliance with ethical and legal standards; 3. Compliance with safety for personnel; 4. Evacuation and uninterrupted operation of the biobank database; 5. Analysis of SOPs and documentation to determine the temperature regime and the maximum amount of time for transporting various types of biological samples.
The primary task during the evacuation of the biobank is the sorting of biological material and collections. We have applied the principle of “sorting” the wounded in relation to bio‐samples. This principle is the most complex measure of the military medical administration. At the Ukrainian Association of Biobanks, sorting bio‐samples proved to be the most difficult task and required clinical thinking and medical composure.
Repository standards
Qatar Biobank's (QBB) Journey for ISO 20387:2018 Accreditation
W. Lobo2, V. Aguana1, E. Al‐Khayat1, S. Al Fadalah2
1Qatar Biobank ‐ Clinic & Lab, Qatar Foundation, Doha, Ad Dawhah, Qatar, 2Qatar Biobank ‐ Research Access Office, Qatar Foundation, Doha, Ad Dawhah, Qatar
Mar 22, 2022: QBB registered itself as a customer in the A2LA portal.
March 27, 2022: QBB formulated a working group consisting of the director, functional managers, lab quality officer, research and training specialist, scientists, and ISO coordinators and met weekly until all mandatory clauses were met. In the initial gap assessment, it was found that out of 355 clauses, 215 (61%) were met, 11 (3%) were unmet, 78 (22%) were partially met, and 48 (14%) were to be confirmed.
March 29, 2022: The working group met for the first time to discuss incompliant clauses. Clauses were assigned to relevant managers to embed the new requirements in their processes and accordingly create/update required manuals, procedures, work instructions, and templates.
April 11, 2022: As some clauses needed more focus, sub‐working groups were created, e.g., the Lab & Research Office met to develop a detailed report to satisfy clauses 7.12.2.1. content of the report for samples provided to the researchers. QBB's Action Request committee initiated their group meetings to revise the procedures and incorporate risk assessments.
June 01, 2022: Clauses were assigned to relevant managers and were given two months to fulfill the requirements.
August 08, 2022: Out of 355 clauses, 320 (90%) were met and 36 (10%) were partially met. Partially met were not mandatory clauses.
August 18, 2022: QBB submitted its documents to the A2LA portal and awaited document review assessment.
August 24, 2022: QBB submitted the scope of accreditation to the A2LA portal.
High‐Quality BioBanking in Belgium: The Road Towards ISO20387 Accreditation (B3‐ISO)
A. De Wilde1, 2, A. Debucquoy1, J. Guns3, A. Merhi4, P. Moons5, 7, E. Van Rossen6, M. Huizing5, 7, K. Emmerechts1, E. Smits5, 7
1Belgian Cancer Registry, Brussels, Brussels, Belgium, 2MIPRO, Universiteit Antwerpen, Antwerpen, Antwerp, Belgium, 3Central Biobank, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussel, Belgium, 4Institute de Pathologie et Génétique, Gosselies, Belgium, 5Biobank Antwerp, Universiteit Antwerpen, Antwerpen, Belgium, 6BELAC, Federal Public Service Economy, Brussels, Belgium, 7Biobank Antwerp, Antwerp University Hospital, Antwerp, Belgium
A large part of the irreproducibility of research on human body material originates from the biospecimens used and has been identified as a major undermining factor regarding the translation of research results into clinical applications. As, since the new Royal Decree on the biobanks in 2018, all human body material used for research has to pass via a Belgian biobank, such biobanks can play an important role in reducing research variation by providing high‐quality, fit‐for‐purpose samples and associated data.
The European infrastructure for biobanking BBMRI‐ERIC is reflected in the National Node BBMRI.be, established in 2013 at the Belgian Cancer Registry and connects 18 Belgian biobanks. Many of these biobanks arose from existing sample collections, sometimes with limited quality management systems (QMS). These biobanks are now aiming toward further professionalization and implementation of a QMS according evidence‐based guidelines and/or standards. The biobank standard (ISO 20387), which was recently published but not yet included in the portfolio of the Belgian accreditation organization BELAC, will allow biobanks to formalize their competences and because of its international recognition will allow the Belgian biobanks to demonstrate their readiness to support (inter)national translational research.
To harmonize and enhance the quality management activities of the BBMRI.be biobanks, BBMRI.be will develop a stepwise quality improvement program that can be implemented at the individual biobanks. This quality improvement program will facilitate the road towards ISO 20387 for the BBMRI.be biobanks by guiding them step by step. At the same time, an accreditation program will be established together with BELAC, ultimately leading to ISO accreditation. The setup of this program and the implementation of the ISO 20387 standard will substantially contribute to (inter)national translational research and foster collaborations between industry and academia in the biomedical sector.
Acknowledgements: The B3‐ISO project is financed by BELSPO in the framework of the ESFRI‐FED call.
Biorepository Processing Data Standards and Data Validation as an indicator of Standard Operating Procedure Compliance and Biospecimen Quality
M. Joshi
Surgery, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, North Carolina, United States
The National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases Central Repository Resources for Research (NIDDK‐CR R4R): Enabling FAIRness and TRUSTworthiness with Data & Specimen Standards
M. Keller1, A. Shlionskaya1, A. Dabic1, R. M. Rodriguez2
1Health, Booz Allen Hamilton Inc, McLean, Virginia, United States, 2National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, Bethesda, Maryland, United States
R4R continues to make significant system and process improvements, it and its users can benefit from additional steps that streamline these processes, improve data and specimen annotation, and encourage wider recognition of its achievements by the scientific community. New technology advances and informatics capabilities offer an opportunity to expand the research community's awareness of the existence and increases reuse in innovative research.
Preparation of panels for the External Quality Assessment of COVID‐19 laboratories in Côte d'Ivoire: Pilot Phase
A. K. Kintossou1, K. J. Coulibaly2
1Biobank, Institut Pasteur de Cote d'Ivoire, Abidjan, Lagunes, Côte d'Ivoire, 2Environment and Health, Institut Pasteur de Cote d'Ivoire, Abidjan, Lagunes, Côte d'Ivoire