Pandemic Response Requires Research Samples: A U.S. Safety-Net Hospital's Experience and Call for National Action

Area of Science:

• Infectious Diseases
• Public Health
• Biorepository Science

Background:

• Biorepositories are vital for understanding emerging infectious diseases and responding to outbreaks.
• The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the need for biorepositories, as centralized national efforts were absent, placing the burden on individual institutions.
• Safety-net hospitals like Boston Medical Center (BMC) play a key role in ensuring research representation for underserved urban populations.

Purpose of the Study:

• To provide a realistic overview of the experience of establishing a COVID-19 biorepository at BMC during the initial surge of the pandemic.
• To share challenges and solutions encountered during biorepository implementation to assist other institutions.
• To emphasize the importance of biorepository support for future pandemic preparedness.

Main Methods:

• The article details the practical steps and considerations undertaken by BMC to establish a COVID-19 biorepository.
• Focus on the challenges faced during the early stages of the pandemic, including resource allocation and logistical hurdles.
• Describes the institutional response to create a functional sample repository amidst an active public health crisis.

Main Results:

• BMC successfully established a COVID-19 biorepository, supporting critical research and ensuring representation from its diverse patient population.
• The experience provided valuable insights into the operational aspects of creating a biorepository under pandemic conditions.
• The initiative underscored the importance of institutional commitment to scientific advancement and health equity.

Conclusions:

• Biorepository implementation is an essential component of pandemic preparedness, requiring support from funders, policymakers, and public health communities.
• Decentralized, institutional efforts are necessary when national strategies are lacking, particularly for serving vulnerable populations.
• The BMC COVID-19 biorepository serves as a model for other institutions facing similar public health emergencies.