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Biobank for Translational Medicine: Standard Operating Procedures for Optimal Sample Management
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Biospecimen Complexity and the Evolution of Biobanks.
Victoria Hartman1, Lise Matzke1,2, Peter H Watson1,2
11 Biobanking and Biospecimen Research Services, Deeley Research Centre, British Columbia Cancer-Victoria Center and University of British Columbia, Victoria, Canada.
Biopreservation and Biobanking
|June 13, 2019
Summary
Researchers need more than just high-quality biospecimens; they require complex qualities for fit-for-purpose research. Biobanks must adapt to meet this growing demand for complex biospecimens to ensure research success and sustainability.
Area of Science:
- Biomedical Research
- Biobanking Operations
- Health Informatics
Background:
- Biospecimens are essential for health research, but increasing demand strains biobank resources and sustainability.
- Current quality focus is on intrinsic biospecimen features and associated data.
- Biospecimen research influences biobanking standards and process optimization for higher quality.
Purpose of the Study:
- To highlight crucial quality features beyond intrinsic characteristics that determine biospecimen 'fit for purpose' for researchers.
- To define 'complex qualities' of biospecimens, focusing on extrinsic factors.
- To analyze the growing demand for complex biospecimens in cancer research and discuss biobanking challenges.
Main Methods:
- Literature review focusing on biospecimen quality attributes relevant to researchers.
- Definition and conceptualization of 'complex qualities' in biospecimens.
- Analysis of demand trends for complex biospecimens in cancer research biobanks.
Main Results:
- Researchers require biospecimens with 'complex qualities,' which are largely extrinsic to the individual sample and its data.
- There is a documented increase in demand for such complex biospecimens within cancer research biobanks.
- Biospecimen complexity presents challenges for biobank operations and the utilization of existing collections.
Conclusions:
- Biobanks need to address extrinsic quality features to meet researcher needs for 'fit for purpose' biospecimens.
- Strategies for enhancing focus on complex biospecimen qualities are crucial for biobank sustainability.
- Anticipated continued expansion in researcher demand for complex biospecimens necessitates proactive adaptation by biobanks.
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