Updating cancer research with patient-focused networks

Multidisciplinary patient-centered networks offer access to difficult-to-get samples and initiate projects from human material. Improving such networks to include 'living' samples could be transformative, not only for research but for clinical trial design, especially when focused on unmet clinical needs, such as brain metastasis.

RAICEX: A Successful Story of the Spanish Scientific Diaspora

RAICEX (Red de Asociaciones de Investigadores y Científicos Españoles en el Exterior), the Network of Associations of Spanish Researchers and Scientist Abroad, consists of more than 4,000 Spanish researchers distributed in 18 countries in 5 different continents. RAICEX was established in July 2018 by 15 foundational members: the associations of Spanish Researchers in the USA, México, Ireland, Sweden, Denmark, France, Italy, Japan, Australia, China, UK, Germany, Switzerland, Belgium, and Norway. Since then, 3 more associations have joined: Emirates, Netherlands and South Africa. RAICEX was born with the main goal: “promoting the exchange of experiences and knowledge between Spanish researchers and scientists abroad and all the stakeholders of the Spanish System of Science, Technology and Innovation (SECTI), serving as an advisory body, information channel and catalyst for international relations in scientific matters, contributing to the progress of science.” Their main objectives are: (1) to provide support to researchers and scientists in mobility and personal development, offering training, information and guidance, as well as providing contact with all the other associations that make up the global network; (2) to disseminate and give visibility to the value of Science and the work of researchers and scientists, promoting communication of the advances of knowledge in all areas of society; (3) to promote international relations and cooperation between researchers / scientists and public and private organizations, from a global perspective; (4) to share the acquired knowledge and experience in different research and science systems abroad to advise, provide feedback and contribute to the progress of the whole SECTI. In this Case Study a particular scenario of the Spanish scientific diaspora, including history, reasons for going abroad, and consequences for the Spanish R&D system, shall be introduced to readers. The impact that RAICEX and its foundational members have had in the Spanish National System since the creation of the first community in the UK by 2012 will also be discussed. RAICEX's activities range from providing advice to newcomers and carrying out science dissemination, to becoming an advisory body to governments and institutions. The Spanish scientific diaspora is an extensive network committed to cooperation and brain connection.

Novel genes and sex differences in COVID-19 severity

Here we describe the results of a genome-wide study conducted in 11 939 COVID-19 positive cases with an extensive clinical information that were recruited from 34 hospitals across Spain (SCOURGE consortium). In sex-disaggregated genome-wide association studies for COVID-19 hospitalization, genome-wide significance (p < 5x10-8) was crossed for variants in 3p21.31 and 21q22.11 loci only among males (p = 1.3x10-22 and p = 8.1x10-12, respectively), and for variants in 9q21.32 near TLE1 only among females (p = 4.4x10-8). In a second phase, results were combined with an independent Spanish cohort (1598 COVID-19 cases and 1068 population controls), revealing in the overall analysis two novel risk loci in 9p13.3 and 19q13.12, with fine-mapping prioritized variants functionally associated with AQP3 (p = 2.7x10-8) and ARHGAP33 (p = 1.3x10-8), respectively. The meta-analysis of both phases with four European studies stratified by sex from the Host Genetics Initiative confirmed the association of the 3p21.31 and 21q22.11 loci predominantly in males and replicated a recently reported variant in 11p13 (ELF5, p = 4.1x10-8). Six of the COVID-19 HGI discovered loci were replicated and an HGI-based genetic risk score predicted the severity strata in SCOURGE. We also found more SNP-heritability and larger heritability differences by age (<60 or ≥ 60 years) among males than among females. Parallel genome-wide screening of inbreeding depression in SCOURGE also showed an effect of homozygosity in COVID-19 hospitalization and severity and this effect was stronger among older males. In summary, new candidate genes for COVID-19 severity and evidence supporting genetic disparities among sexes are provided.

The Biobanking Analysis Resource Catalogue (BARCdb): a new research tool for the analysis of biobank samples

We report the development of a new database of technology services and products for analysis of biobank samples in biomedical research. BARCdb, the Biobanking Analysis Resource Catalogue, is a freely available web resource, listing expertise and molecular resource capabilities of research centres and biotechnology companies. The database is designed for researchers who require information on how to make best use of valuable biospecimens from biobanks and other sample collections, focusing on the choice of analytical techniques and the demands they make on the type of samples, pre-analytical sample preparation and amounts needed. BARCdb has been developed as part of the Swedish biobanking infrastructure (BBMRI.se), but now welcomes submissions from service providers throughout Europe. BARCdb can help match resource providers with potential users, stimulating transnational collaborations and ensuring compatibility of results from different labs. It can promote a more optimal use of European resources in general, both with respect to standard and more experimental technologies, as well as for valuable biobank samples. This article describes how information on service and reagent providers of relevant technologies is made available on BARCdb, and how this resource may contribute to strengthening biomedical research in academia and in the biotechnology and pharmaceutical industries.