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Cardiogeneticsbank@UZA: A Collection of DNA, Tissues, and Cell Lines as a Translational Tool
Maaike Alaerts1, Gerarda van de Beek1, Ilse Luyckx1
1Center of Medical Genetics, Antwerp University Hospital, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium.
Insights
The Cardiogeneticsbank@UZA biobank offers a valuable collection of cardiogenetic patient samples, including DNA, tissue, and cell lines, for research. This resource, linked with clinical data, supports advancements in understanding and diagnosing heart conditions.
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular Genetics
- Biobanking
- Genomic Medicine
Background:
- Cardiogenetic disorders represent a significant health burden requiring extensive research.
- Integrated biobanks are crucial for collecting and managing patient-derived materials for scientific inquiry.
- The Cardiogeneticsbank@UZA facilitates the collection of diverse biological samples from patients with inherited heart conditions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To describe the Cardiogeneticsbank@UZA, an academic hospital biobank.
- To highlight the types of samples and data available for research.
- To emphasize the accessibility of the biobank's resources for academic and commercial researchers.
Main Methods:
- Collection of aortic tissue, blood, cell lines (fibroblasts, vascular smooth muscle cells, peripheral blood mononuclear cells, induced pluripotent stem cells), and DNA from patients.
- Adherence to a quality management system with standard operating protocols for sample processing.
- Integration into the Biobanking and Biomolecular Resources Research Infrastructure Belgium (BBMRI.be).
Main Results:
- The biobank holds over 8,700 DNA samples, 380 tissue samples, and 500 cell lines from 7,578 patients.
- Samples are linked with extensive clinical data, enhancing their research value.
- Established access procedures facilitate sample availability for researchers.
Conclusions:
- Cardiogeneticsbank@UZA provides a substantial and well-characterized collection of cardiogenetic resources.
- The biobank supports diagnostic and research purposes, contributing to the understanding of heart diseases.
- The availability of these samples and data can drive innovation in cardiogenetics research.
Abstract:
Cardiogeneticsbank@UZA is an academic hospital integrated biobank that collects aortic tissue, blood, cell lines (fibroblasts, vascular smooth muscle cells, peripheral blood mononuclear cells, and induced pluripotent stem cells), and DNA from patients with cardiogenetic disorders, for both diagnostic and research purposes. We adhere to a quality management system and have established standard protocols for the sampling and processing of all cardiogenetic patient related materials. Cardiogeneticsbank@UZA is embedded in the Biobanking and Biomolecular Resources Research Infrastructure Belgium (BBMRI.be) and samples from this biobank are available for commercial and academic researchers, through an established access procedure. Currently, the extremely valuable cardiogenetics collection consists of more than 8,700 DNA samples, 380 tissue samples, and 500 cell lines of 7,578 patients, and is linked with extensive clinical data. Some interesting potential research applications are discussed.