Research quality and collaborationCan Biobanks contribute?

12/05/2015Loes Linsen

2What can I tell you?Operational manager of University Biobank Limburg (UBiLim)UBiLim:

Collaboration of UH – ZOL – Jessa Director Prof. Dr. JL. RummensSupport activities of Limburg Clinical Research Program

Strong expertise in biobank quality2004: Participation in FP6 CCPRB > Good Biobanking PracticesEmbedded in ISO15189 accredited laboratoryImplementation of CMI quality manual (audit +)

Focus on biospecimen researchEffect of preanalytics on research resultsValidation of processing procedures

Translational Research GapNo confirmation of research results

Sample numbersSample comparisonSample quality

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4Why care about (sample) quality?

May 20101500 glioblastoma samples for Cancer Genome Atlas1 collection claimed for 12 000 samples of which ONLY 18 were acceptable

TraceabilityOriginELSI

Fitness-for-Purpose!

Is it really that bad? 5

Serum spectra profiles (SELDI-TOF MS analysis) in healthy controls and PCa patients collected before 1996 (early) and after 1996 (late)

(McLerran, D. et al. (2008) Clin Chem 54, 44–52.)

What can affect sample quality? 6

Processing delay & temperature: tissue 7

(Spruessel, A. et al. (2004) Biotechniques 36, 1030-1037.)

Processing delay & temperature: tissue 8

(Spruessel, A. et al. (2004) Biotechniques 36, 1030-1037.)

Processing delay & temperature: blood 9

c-fos expression profile in blood over 24h

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0h (zie hoger) 3.5h 7h 24hcyto

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(Clark, S. et al. (2003) Int J Epidemiol 32, 125–130.)

How to control?Impossible!

Minimize damage with good study setup AND

Track typical preanalytical factors: Standard PREanalytical Code (SPREC) (fluid – tissue)7 item code

sample and primary container typeperiods of cold and warm ischemiasubsequent handling steps including speed and temperature of

centrifugation and final storage temperaturePL1-HEP-B-D-N-A-D

Validate code to research needs

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Does it work? 11

PL1-HEP-B-D-N-A-DPL1-HEP-D-D-N-A-DPL1-HEP-F-D-N-A-D

So why do you need a biobank?SPREC: easy to implement; cumbersome to apply manually

Biobank Information System > default

Not only preanalytics affect sample quality!Number of freeze/thaw cyclesStorage/fixation durationSample processing proceduresELSILinked data (verification)…

Biobank has expertise and systems in place to cover full process

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13Why care about the biobank (quality)?

© JH di Donato, 2011

Why care about the biobank quality?Sample (& data) quality is assured & garantueed in long term

Within biobank

Across biobanks in a network Flemish Virtual Biobank (CMI)Belgian Virtual Tumorbank (BVT)

Trusted party for your samples

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Do biobanks contribute to scientifc collaboration?

Number of samples needed for high impact publicationsOmics techniquesRare diseases

Confirmation of results (robustness)Sample quality of collaborators outside biobank?

Built-in trust

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Do biobanks stimulate collaboration?Joined interest in using samples with added value

Specific data present for “all” samplesEnrichment by feedback/availability of results

In silico research on samples/data collected by others

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17Conclusion?Biobanks are key facilitators for translational research

Added value of biobanks Access to a magnitude of samplesNot just a collection of freezers!

Garbage In is Garbage Out (GIGO)

Service provider FOR YOUExpertise, know how & know whyStudy improvement

Research quality and collaborationCan Biobanks contribute?

AcknowledgementsOperational Group

Prof. Dr. JL RummensProf. Dr. P StinissenProf. Dr. V SomersProf. Dr. J Penders

Many others in biobank endavoursFunding:

Biobank TeamT VanbinstC MotmansE MartensI RuttenK Ulenaers

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