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Tarling TE, Byrne JA, Watson PH. The Availability of Human Biospecimens to Support Biomarker Research. Biomark Insights 2022; 17:11772719221091750. [PMID: 35464611 PMCID: PMC9021506 DOI: 10.1177/11772719221091750] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2021] [Accepted: 03/15/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Preserved biospecimens held in biobank inventories and clinical archives are important resources for biomarker research. Recent advances in technologies have led to an increase in use of clinical archives in particular, in order to study retrospective cohorts and to generate data relevant to tissue biomarkers. This raises the question of whether the current sizes of biobank inventories are appropriate to meet the demands of biomarker research. This commentary discusses this question by considering data concerning overall biobank and biospecimen numbers to estimate current biospecimen supply and use. The data suggests that biospecimen supply exceeds current demand. Therefore, it may be important for individual biobanks to reassess the targets for their inventories, consider culling unused portions of these inventories, and shift resources towards providing prospective custom biobanking services.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tamsin E Tarling
- Biobanking and Biospecimen Research Services, Deeley Research Centre, BC Cancer, Victoria, BC, Canada.,Canadian Tissue Repository Network, Vancouver, Canada
| | - Jennifer A Byrne
- New South Wales Health Statewide Biobank, New South Wales Health Pathology, Camperdown, NSW, Australia.,School of Medical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW, Australia
| | - Peter H Watson
- Biobanking and Biospecimen Research Services, Deeley Research Centre, BC Cancer, Victoria, BC, Canada.,Canadian Tissue Repository Network, Vancouver, Canada
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Matzke LA, Tarling TE, Gali B, Dee S, LeBlanc J, Vercauteren S, Watson PH. Finding the Value in Biobanks: Enhancing the CTRNet Locator. Biopreserv Biobank 2021; 20:132-137. [PMID: 34252293 DOI: 10.1089/bio.2021.0043] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Biobanks are a critical piece of Research Infrastructure (RI). However, biobanks need to accept the reality of a life cycle for RIs. Until recently, strategies to sustain biobanks have been commonly focused on ways to maintain current operational models. However, sustaining biobanks as they exist today may be increasingly challenging in the face of the disruption in health and research priorities caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. In this opinion article, we review the current and emerging future drivers of biobank value for their researchers, institutions, and funders, highlighting utilization and impact of research performed using the biobank as key measures of future value. While biobanks can only indirectly influence the specific impact of the research performed, they can transform themselves to more actively redefine utilization to their advantage. Utilization means more than the balance of samples and data in versus out. Utilization means redirecting expertise to best support end users, and importantly, closing the operating gap between biobanks and their end users who seek to find the right biospecimens and data to pursue their research. We discuss the specific role of locators (those created by public investment) in closing this gap and the need for additional tools for researchers, before and subsequent to connecting with locators. For the former, we specifically propose that more support is needed to assist researchers in the decision as to how to best obtain biospecimens and navigate the options as to whether finding existing biospecimens and data held by a biobank is the optimal solution for a given project, or whether the optimal solution is either contracting with a biobank to collect samples or creating a new biobank. We believe this type of biospecimen navigator platform will help to maximize utilization of current biobank resources, and also promote the services and expertise in biobanks to better serve researchers' needs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lise A Matzke
- Office of Biobank Education and Research, Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Tamsin E Tarling
- Office of Biobank Education and Research, Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Brent Gali
- Biobanking and Biospecimen Research Services, Deeley Research Centre, BC Cancer, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Simon Dee
- Biobanking and Biospecimen Research Services, Deeley Research Centre, BC Cancer, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Jodi LeBlanc
- Biobanking and Biospecimen Research Services, Deeley Research Centre, BC Cancer, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Suzanne Vercauteren
- Haematology, British Columbia Children's Hospital, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Peter H Watson
- Office of Biobank Education and Research, Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.,Biobanking and Biospecimen Research Services, Deeley Research Centre, BC Cancer, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada.,Canadian Tissue Repository Network, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
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