A Novel Approach to High-Quality Postmortem Tissue Procurement: The GTEx Project

Area of Science:

• Genomics
• Molecular Biology
• Biobanking

Background:

• The Genotype-Tissue Expression (GTEx) project aims to link human genetic variation to tissue-specific gene expression.
• High-quality biospecimen collection is crucial for comprehensive genomic analyses in non-diseased individuals.
• Developing a reliable infrastructure for biospecimen procurement presented a significant challenge.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe the development and implementation of a successful biospecimen procurement infrastructure for the GTEx project.
• To provide a model for other research projects seeking to partner with procurement organizations for genomic studies.
• To ensure the availability of high-quality biospecimens, clinical data, and standard operating procedures for the research community.

Main Methods:

• Established a multi-partner infrastructure for prospective biospecimen collection, annotation, and distribution.
• Formed strategic partnerships with rapid autopsy and organ procurement organizations.
• Developed and implemented Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for consistent biospecimen handling.

Main Results:

• Successfully implemented a functional infrastructure supporting the collection and distribution of diverse biospecimens (blood, tissues, cell lines).
• Ensured the collection of high-quality biospecimens and associated clinical data.
• Made biospecimens, genomic data, and SOPs accessible to the broader research community.

Conclusions:

• The GTEx biospecimen procurement model is effective for large-scale genomic research.
• Partnerships with procurement organizations are vital for obtaining high-quality samples.
• The project's resources facilitate future genomic studies and discoveries.