Aspects of Modern Biobank Activity – Comprehensive Review

Abstract

Biobanks play an increasing role in contemporary research projects. These units meet all requirements to regard them as a one of the most innovative and up-to-date in the field of biomedical research. They enable conducting wide-scale research by the professional collection of biological specimens and correlated clinical data. Pathology units may be perceived roots of biobanking. The review aims at describing the concept of biobanks, their model of function and scientific potential. It comprises the division of biobanks, sample preservation methods and IT solutions as well as guidelines and recommendations for management of a vast number of biological samples and clinical data. Therefore, appropriate standard operating procedures and protocols are outlined. Constant individualization of diagnostic process and treatment procedures creates the niche for translational units. Thus, the role of biobanks in personalized medicine was also specified. The exceptionality of biobanks poses some new ethical-legal issues which have various solutions, in each legal system, amongst the world. Finally, distribution and activity of European biobanks are mentioned.

Biobanking in Molecular Biomarker Research for the Early Detection of Cancer

“…The optimal time frame between sample deposition and long-term storage, and the optimal conditions within this time frame, should be defined and standardized within a biobank ( Figure 1). For this short-term storage, it is important to determine how long the samples can be at room temperature or 4 • C before long-term storage [23]. For long-term storage, most sample types are known to remain stable at −80 • C [23].…”

Conception, Implementation, and Integration of Heterogenous Information Technology Infrastructures in the Qatar Biobank

“…The biobanking landscape is continuously evolving from local biorepositories to robust organizations. 3,[5][6][7] Likewise, QBB has been evolving over the years by using highthroughput technologies, adding different types of biospecimens in the data repository to meet the requirements of the different research initiatives in sample collection, processing, and storage, handling large amount of data, ensuring compliance with ethical laws, policies, and standards, and providing data sharing services. The QBB IT department consists of several staff with distinct roles (Table 1) to support QBB business continuity and evolution.…”

“…2 Modern biobanking has become an essential part of biomedical research. 3,4 The mission of QBB is to manage and distribute high-quality biospecimens with appropriate clinical and/or research annotation and the associated phenotypic data to its stakeholders. Moreover, QBB is linked with Qatar's national health care system to exchange information either by receiving medical data or by referring participants to the Hamad General Hospital.…”

Inclusion of Indigenous Australians in biobanks: a step to reducing inequity in health care

“…Biobanks are collections of biological specimens, with accompanying health and demographic information, stored and maintained for research purposes . Research may range from large scale population‐based longitudinal studies or more defined disease and tissue‐specific initiatives.…”

“…B iobanks are collections of biological specimens, with accompanying health and demographic information, stored and maintained for research purposes. 1 Research may range from large scale population-based longitudinal studies or more defined disease and tissue-specific initiatives. In both observational and cohort studies, biobanks provide an invaluable resource that allows researchers to examine the complex range of factors which contribute to disease, without having to devote time to, and source funding for, the collection and storage of samples.…”