Establishing and sustaining a biorepository network in Israel: challenges and progress

Area of Science:

• Biomedical research infrastructure
• Biobanking and biorepository management
• Public health policy

Background:

• Biobanks have emerged in Israeli hospitals over the last 5 years, mirroring European and North American models.
• The development of a national biorepository network in Israel has been slow due to funding limitations and the absence of specific biobanking legislation.
• Grass-roots efforts by a few individuals have sustained the initial establishment of these biobanks.

Purpose of the Study:

• To outline the challenges faced by Israeli biobank managers in establishing and sustaining a national biobank network.
• To provide insights and guidance for other small nations with limited resources aiming to build similar biobanking infrastructure.
• To highlight the recent governmental allocation of funds and the ongoing establishment of a national biorepository network.

Main Methods:

• Review of the establishment process of biobanks in Israeli teaching hospitals.
• Analysis of factors contributing to slow progress, including funding and legal frameworks.
• Identification of challenges in network formation, such as lack of support and harmonization issues.

Main Results:

• Despite initial slow progress, a national biorepository network structure is now being established in Israel with government funding.
• Key challenges include insufficient support, the need for harmonized standard operating procedures, centralized databases, and a common informed consent form.
• The Israeli experience offers valuable lessons for resource-limited countries developing biobanking networks.

Conclusions:

• Establishing a functional national biobank network requires addressing challenges in funding, legal frameworks, operational harmonization, and stakeholder support.
• The Israeli biobanking initiative, though facing hurdles, is progressing towards a national network, offering a model for other developing nations.
• Collaboration and strategic planning are crucial for overcoming resource limitations in building robust biobanking infrastructure.