Biobanks

- Overview

Biobanks hold significant value in medical research by providing large collections of human biological samples and associated data, enabling researchers to study disease mechanisms, identify biomarkers, and develop new treatments, but they also face challenges regarding sample quality, data privacy, ethical considerations, and financial sustainability to maintain their effectiveness.

A biobank is a biorepository that accepts, processes, stores and distributes biospecimens and associated data for use in research and clinical care. From animals including humans and many other living organisms, It manages specimens. Examples can be like vertebrates, invertebrates, arthropods and other life-forms etc can be studied by preserving and storing samples. Samples of material, such as urine, blood, tissue, cells, DNA, RNA, and protein from humans, animals, or plants. Biospecimens are stored in a biorepository and are used for laboratory research.

The field of biobanking has changed tremendously over the past thirty years. It started with small, predominantly university-based repositories that were developed for the research needs of specific projects. There gradually evolved institutional and government supported repositories, commercial (for profit) biorepositories, population based biobanks and most recently, virtual biobanks. 

The data associated with stored biospecimens have increased in complexity from basics, such as date of collection and the diagnosis, to extensive information sets encompassing many aspects of participant or patient phenotype, now rapidly extending into genetic, proteomic, and other “omics” information.

- The Types of Biobanks

Biobanks are collections of biological samples and associated information that are stored for research purposes. There are several types of biobanks. Including those that are disease-centric, population-based, genetic or DNA/RNA, project-driven, tissue versus multiple specimen type, commercial, and virtual biobanks.

Biobanks can be categorized in a number of ways, including: 

• Purpose: Biobanks can be disease-oriented, population-based, or project-driven. Disease-oriented biobanks collect samples from patients with specific conditions, while population-based biobanks collect samples from a large number of people.
• Type of sample: Biobanks can store a variety of biological samples, including human fluids, cells, nucleic acids, and tissues.
• Storage: Biobanks can use different methods to store samples, such as freezing or formalin paraffin embedding.
• Location: Biobanks can be located in hospitals, universities, nonprofit organizations, or pharmaceutical companies.
• Virtual: Virtual biobanks are electronic repositories that integrate data from biospecimens with other data.

Other types of biobanks include: Tissue biobanks, Twin biobanks, Organ biobanks, and Nonhuman biobanks. Biobanks are maintained by institutions that have established governance mechanisms to allow outsiders access to resources.

Examples of biobanks:  

• Mayo Clinic Biobank 

- Biorepository and Biospecimen Science

The field of biorepository and biospecimen science has evolved in response to the changing needs of investigators and projects using specimen banking, as well as to external regulatory and related pressures. This changing environment can be attributed in part to emerging fields such as proteomics, genomics and personalized medicine as well as to the increasing precision of the associated fields of science. 

This process has increased the demand for high quality specimens with accurate, reliable, standardized clinical and laboratory data. Thus, optimum collection, processing, storage, tracking and shipment of biospecimens are key to the outcome of a multitude of studies. 

- The Value of Biobanks

Biobanking is the practice of collecting, storing, and distributing biological samples, or biospecimens, for research and clinical care. Biospecimens can include cells, body fluids, DNA, RNA, and microorganisms. Biobanking is a foundation for life science research and advancement, contributing to: healthcare, biotechnology, disease control and prevention, and bio-conservation. 

The value of biobanks include:

• Accelerated Research: Biobanks allow researchers to access diverse samples quickly, significantly reducing the time needed to recruit participants for studies and enabling faster research progress.
• Personalized Medicine: By linking genetic information with clinical data, biobanks contribute to the development of personalized medicine approaches, tailoring treatments based on individual genetic profiles.
• Disease Understanding: Studying large sample sets from biobanks can provide insights into disease progression, risk factors, and potential therapeutic targets.
• Large-Scale Analysis: Biobanks facilitate complex, large-scale genomic and molecular analyses, enabling the identification of novel genetic variants associated with diseases.
• Public Health Impact: Research using biobank data can inform public health policies and preventive measures.

The value of a biobank can also vary depending on the stakeholder's goals. For example, funders and policymakers may value the extent of translational research support, while researchers may value large, open-access biospecimen collections.

- Measuring The Value of A BioBank

Biobanks are institutions that collect, process, and store biological samples and related health information for research purposes. These samples can be used to help researchers identify drug targets, test the safety and efficacy of drugs, and validate diagnostic tests. 

"Measuring the value of a biobank" refers to the process of assessing the worth of a biological sample collection by analyzing factors like the quality of specimens, the richness of associated data, the number of researchers utilizing the samples, the impact of research conducted using the biobank, and the overall contribution to scientific discovery, considering both quantitative metrics (like sample usage) and qualitative aspects (like the significance of research findings enabled by the biobank).

Key aspects considered when measuring a biobank's value: 

• Sample quality: The condition and integrity of the biological samples stored, including factors like proper collection, processing, and storage procedures.
• Data quality: The comprehensiveness and accuracy of associated clinical and phenotypic data linked to the samples.
• Cohort diversity: The breadth of the population represented in the biobank, including demographics and disease states.
• Accessibility and usability: How easily researchers can access samples and data from the biobank, including streamlined request processes and clear documentation.
• Research impact: The number and quality of scientific publications resulting from studies using the biobank samples, including their citation impact.
• Utilization rate: The frequency with which researchers request and utilize samples from the biobank.

- The Challenge of Biobanks

• Ethical Concerns: Managing informed consent, data privacy, and ensuring participant confidentiality are crucial ethical considerations, especially when dealing with sensitive genetic information.
• Sample Quality: Maintaining high-quality biological samples over time requires rigorous collection, storage, and processing protocols, which can be challenging and costly.
• Data Management Complexity: Integrating diverse data types from various sources, including clinical data, genetic information, and environmental factors, presents significant data management challenges.
• Financial Sustainability: Funding biobanks can be difficult, particularly for non-profit institutions, as the cost of sample collection, storage, and data management can be high.
• Regulatory Compliance: Biobanks must adhere to complex regulations regarding sample collection, storage, and access, which can vary depending on location.
• Access and Sharing: Balancing open access to biobank data with protecting privacy and intellectual property rights can be challenging.
• Public Perception: Building trust with potential participants and addressing concerns about the use of their biological samples is vital for successful biobank operation.

- Virtual Biobanks

Biobanks have amassed impressive quantities of human tissue, biofluids and cells that scientists can study to discover treatments and cures. 

Population-wide biobanks have been developed in several countries, including Iceland, UK, Sweden, Denmark, Lativa, Estonia, Canada, South Korea, Japan, Singapore and USA. These large-scale repositories have been created in order to collect, analyze and store phenotypic and genetic information on representative samples of their source populations. 

Virtual biobanks are developed to assist investigators locate biospecimens for testing and data mining from multiple biobanks in dispersed locations. Such virtual biobanks are accessed using specialized software or web portals designed to connect biobanks and investigators throughout the world. 

[More to come ...]