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Biobanking in times of crisis - The COVID-19 Autopsy and Biosample Registry Baden-Wuerttemberg
Lisa M Domke1, Isabel M Klein2, Laura Hartmann2
1Institute of Pathology, Heidelberg University Hospital, Im Neuenheimer Feld 224, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany.
Insights
The COVID-19 Autopsy and Biosample Registry in Germany collects vital tissue samples and data from deceased patients. This biobanking initiative supports research to better understand and combat COVID-19 (coronavirus disease 2019).
Area of Science:
- Pathology
- Infectious Diseases
- Biobanking
Background:
- Biobanking is crucial for disease diagnostics, biomarker research, and developing new treatments.
- The COVID-19 pandemic (coronavirus disease 2019) highlighted the urgent need for robust biobanking, data sharing, and management.
- High-quality tissue biospecimens and data are essential for advancing research and public health initiatives.
Purpose of the Study:
- To establish a comprehensive biobanking and registry system for COVID-19 related autopsies and biosamples in Baden-Württemberg (BW), Germany.
- To collect, register, and make accessible autopsy biospecimens and associated clinical/diagnostic data for research.
- To support tissue-related research aimed at increasing the understanding of COVID-19 (coronavirus disease 2019) pathogenesis and outcomes.
Main Methods:
- Establishment of the COVID-19 Autopsy and Biosample Registry BW, integrating expertise from five university hospital pathology institutes.
- Collection of tissue samples from autopsies of deceased patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection and/or vaccination.
- Systematic registration and management of biospecimens and associated clinical and diagnostic data.
Main Results:
- The BW network has fostered multiple collaborations and supported numerous publications.
- The registry successfully collects and provides high-quality tissue biomaterials and data for COVID-19 research.
- The initiative has significantly contributed to a deeper understanding of COVID-19 disease.
Conclusions:
- The COVID-19 Autopsy and Biosample Registry BW serves as a successful model for disease-specific biobanking.
- The network's achievements provide a potential blueprint for future biobanking and registry efforts in response to diseases.
- Continued biobanking and data sharing are vital for advancing medical research and public health preparedness.
Abstract:
Biobanking plays a critical role in diagnostics, biomarker research and development of novel treatment approaches for various diseases. In urgent need of understanding, preventing and treating coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2), the importance of biobanking including data sharing and management further increased. To provide high quality tissue biomaterials and data for research and public health, the COVID-19 Autopsy and Biosample Registry was established in the state of Baden-Wuerttemberg (BW) in Germany, combining expertise and technologies of the Institutes of Pathology of the five university hospitals in BW (Heidelberg, Tübingen, Ulm, Freiburg, Mannheim). The COVID-19 Autopsy and Biosample Registry BW comprises tissue samples from autopsies and associated data of deceased patients in the context of SARS-CoV-2 infection and/or vaccination against SARS-CoV-2. The aim is to collect autopsy biospecimens, associated clinical and diagnostic data in a timely manner, register them, make them accessible for research projects and thus to support especially tissue-related research addressing COVID-19. By now, the BW network holds multiple collaborations and supported numerous publications to increase the understanding of COVID-19 disease. The achievements of the BW network as a landmark biobanking model project represent a potential blueprint for future disease-related biobanking and registry effort.
