The Need for Research Infrastructures: A Narrative Review of Large-Scale Research Infrastructures in Biobanking

Elucidating Multimodal Imaging Patterns in Accelerated Brain Aging: Heterogeneity through a Discriminant Analysis Approach Using the UK Biobank Dataset

Accelerated brain aging (ABA) intricately links with age-associated neurodegenerative and neuropsychiatric diseases, emphasizing the critical need for a nuanced exploration of heterogeneous ABA patterns. This investigation leveraged data from the UK Biobank (UKB) for a comprehensive analysis, utilizing structural magnetic resonance imaging (sMRI), diffusion magnetic resonance imaging (dMRI), and resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rsfMRI) from 31,621 participants. Pre-processing employed tools from the FMRIB Software Library (FSL, version 5.0.10), FreeSurfer, DTIFIT, and MELODIC, seamlessly integrated into the UKB imaging processing pipeline. The Lasso algorithm was employed for brain-age prediction, utilizing derived phenotypes obtained from brain imaging data. Subpopulations of accelerated brain aging (ABA) and resilient brain aging (RBA) were delineated based on the error between actual age and predicted brain age. The ABA subgroup comprised 1949 subjects (experimental group), while the RBA subgroup comprised 3203 subjects (control group). Semi-supervised heterogeneity through discriminant analysis (HYDRA) refined and characterized the ABA subgroups based on distinctive neuroimaging features. HYDRA systematically stratified ABA subjects into three subtypes: SubGroup 2 exhibited extensive gray-matter atrophy, distinctive white-matter patterns, and unique connectivity features, displaying lower cognitive performance; SubGroup 3 demonstrated minimal atrophy, superior cognitive performance, and higher physical activity; and SubGroup 1 occupied an intermediate position. This investigation underscores pronounced structural and functional heterogeneity in ABA, revealing three subtypes and paving the way for personalized neuroprotective treatments for age-related neurological, neuropsychiatric, and neurodegenerative diseases.

Guidelines for Biobanking of Bone Marrow Adipose Tissue and Related Cell Types: Report of the Biobanking Working Group of the International Bone Marrow Adiposity Society

Over the last two decades, increased interest of scientists to study bone marrow adiposity (BMA) in relation to bone and adipose tissue physiology has expanded the number of publications using different sources of bone marrow adipose tissue (BMAT). However, each source of BMAT has its limitations in the number of downstream analyses for which it can be used. Based on this increased scientific demand, the International Bone Marrow Adiposity Society (BMAS) established a Biobanking Working Group to identify the challenges of biobanking for human BMA-related samples and to develop guidelines to advance establishment of biobanks for BMA research. BMA is a young, growing field with increased interest among many diverse scientific communities. These bring new perspectives and important biological questions on how to improve and build an international community with biobank databases that can be used and shared all over the world. However, to create internationally accessible biobanks, several practical and legislative issues must be addressed to create a general ethical protocol used in all institutes, to allow for exchange of biological material internationally. In this position paper, the BMAS Biobanking Working Group describes similarities and differences of patient information (PIF) and consent forms from different institutes and addresses a possibility to create uniform documents for BMA biobanking purposes. Further, based on discussion among Working Group members, we report an overview of the current isolation protocols for human bone marrow adipocytes (BMAds) and bone marrow stromal cells (BMSCs, formerly mesenchymal), highlighting the specific points crucial for effective isolation. Although we remain far from a unified BMAd isolation protocol and PIF, we have summarized all of these important aspects, which are needed to build a BMA biobank. In conclusion, we believe that harmonizing isolation protocols and PIF globally will help to build international collaborations and improve the quality and interpretation of BMA research outcomes.

Evaluating the German Biobank Node as Coordinating Institution of the German Biobank Alliance: Engaging with Stakeholders via Survey Research

Background: The German Biobank Node (GBN) is the central hub for German biobank activities and coordinates the German Biobank Alliance (GBA) to which 11 biobank sites in Germany belong. GBN, in cooperation with designated members of GBA, has developed various services and products for the German biobank community. To ensure that services and products are well aligned with the needs and interests of relevant stakeholders, GBN actively engages with its diverse stakeholder groups through different methods. Important stakeholder groups are the members of GBA who are generally the first users of developed products and services. Methods and Materials: Members of GBA were surveyed anonymously through a web-based application. The survey was sent to all members registered with an internal communication platform. Participants were primarily asked about their experiences with GBN, developed products and services, their wishes for the future of GBN/GBA, and their attitudes toward intensified cooperation on the European level. Answers were analyzed using descriptive statistics and qualitative content analysis. Results: Overall 63 of 110 registered GBA members (response rate of 57%) finished the survey. Participants were overall satisfied with the work of GBN and developed products and services. They also pointed out room for improvement. Participants, for example, proposed to shorten the survey developed for biobanks to engage with their users. They also shared what additional support wishes they had, for example, uniform cost models or use and access policies for the GBA community. Discussion: The survey was helpful to get a good overview of the experiences and attitudes of GBA members before making services and products available to other actors in the German biobank community. GBN will use the feedback to improve its work and to guide future strategy development. Survey research has shown an adequate method to engage with this particular stakeholder group, but further research on choosing methods for stakeholder engagement might be helpful.

Liquid materials for biomedical research: a highly IT-integrated and automated biobanking solution

Various information technology (IT) infrastructures for biobanking, networks of biobanks and biomaterial management are described in the literature. As pre-analytical variables play a major role in the downstream interpretation of clinical as well as research results, their documentation is essential. A description for mainly automated documentation of the complete life-cycle of each biospecimen is lacking so far. Here, the example taken is from the University Medical Center Göttingen (UMG), where the workflow of liquid biomaterials is standardized between the central laboratory and the central biobank. The workflow of liquid biomaterials from sample withdrawal to long-term storage in a biobank was analyzed. Essential data such as time and temperature for processing and freezing can be automatically collected. The proposed solution involves only one major interface between the main IT systems of the laboratory and the biobank. It is key to talk to all the involved stakeholders to ensure a functional and accepted solution. Although IT components differ widely between clinics, the proposed way of documenting the complete life-cycle of each biospecimen can be transferred to other university medical centers. The complete documentation of the life-cycle of each biospecimen ensures a good interpretability of downstream routine as well as research results.

The French Health Data Hub and the German Medical Informatics Initiatives: Two National Projects to Promote Data Sharing in Healthcare

OBJECTIVE

The diversity and volume of health data have been rapidly increasing in recent years. While such big data hold significant promise for accelerating discovery, data use entails many challenges including the need for adequate computational infrastructure and secure processes for data sharing and access. In Europe, two nationwide projects have been launched recently to support these objectives. This paper compares the French Health Data Hub initiative (HDH) to the German Medical Informatics Initiatives (MII).

METHOD

We analysed the projects according to the following criteria: (i) Global approach and ambitions, (ii) Use cases, (iii) Governance and organization, (iv) Technical aspects and interoperability, and (v) Data privacy access/data governance.

RESULTS

The French and German projects share the same objectives but are different in terms of methodologies. The HDH project is based on a top-down approach and focuses on a shared computational infrastructure, providing tools and services to speed projects between data producers and data users. The MII project is based on a bottom-up approach and relies on four consortia including academic hospitals, universities, and private partners.

CONCLUSION

Both projects could benefit from each other. A Franco-German cooperation, extended to other countries of the European Union with similar initiatives, should allow sharing and strengthening efforts in a strategic area where competition from other countries has increased.

Mechanisms of B-Cell Oncogenesis Induced by Epstein-Barr Virus

Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) is a ubiquitous gammaherpesvirus which asymptomatically infects the majority of the world population. Under immunocompromised conditions, EBV can trigger human cancers of epithelial and lymphoid origin. The oncogenic potential of EBV is demonstrated by in vitro infection and transformation of quiescent B cells into lymphoblastoid cell lines (LCLs). These cell lines, along with primary infection using genetically engineered viral particles coupled with recent technological advancements, have elucidated the underlying mechanisms of EBV-induced B-cell lymphomagenesis.

Quality Management System in the BBMRI.pl Consortium: Status Before the Formation of the Polish Biobanking Network

Many types of biomedical research projects depend on high-quality biological material with a data set attached. The Quality Management System (QMS) is focused on operational standards for all organizational activities to ensure that the described quality of each procedure, product, or service is guaranteed. The implementation of the QMS is necessary for the provision of both high quality and repeatability of processes in research laboratories. The current status of implementation of the QMS is determined according to the "Organisation of Polish Biobanking Network" within the project "Biobanking and Biomolecular Resources Research Infrastructure BBMRI-ERIC" supported by the Polish Ministry of Science and Higher Education-decision number DIR/WK/2017/01. According to the above, preliminary audits in six Polish institutions were conducted and reports with recommendations concerning the implementation and improvement of the QMS in Polish biobanks were prepared. During all audits, 13 QMS main areas were analyzed. All audited units belong to the BBMRI.pl consortium, which is responsible for the creation of the Polish Biobanking Network within the BBMRI-ERIC structure. Among all 13 analyzed areas, 27 deviations were identified. Eleven of them were implemented in all audited biobanks but defined as the areas for improvement, 16 of them were not implemented correctly or not implemented at all, respectively (areas underlined to corrective procedures).

From engaging publics to engaging knowledges: Enacting "appropriateness" in the Austrian biobank infrastructure

While there is consensus on the essential importance of public engagement in further developments of biobanking, the related investigation of public views predominantly focused on the concerns expressed by the publics, and the concrete formats of public engagement, without delving into the ways these concerns are constituted. In this article, we summarize recent research on public engagement in order to describe the constitution of respective concerns as "engagement of knowledges." By shifting the focus of analysis from "publics" to "knowledges," we draw attention to the interaction dynamic through which citizens embed the new knowledge they receive during expert interactions into the stock of knowledge they already possess. Analyzing our recent investigation of public views on biobanking in the form of citizen-expert panels in the Austrian infrastructure of biobanks (BBMRI.at), we trace this dynamic through citizens' recurrent concerns that the research and consent practices related to biobanking should be "appropriate."