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Radboud Biobank
Project summary
The Radboud Biobank was implemented by the Radboudumc Executive Board as part of the “University research infrastructure” in 2012. Since its establishment, it has stored more than 1,4 million samples (e.g. DNA, plasma, serum and tissue) from more than 135,000 unique patients. Up to 89 collections use the central biobank facility (among which collections on rheumatoid arthritis and arthrosis, oncology, Parkinson’s disease).
The aim of the Radboud Biobank is to make research material of good quality available to increase scientific knowledge, so new possibilities for prevention, diagnosis and treatment become available sooner.
Next to handling and storing samples the Radboud Biobank supports all Radboudumc researchers and their external partners in performing ground-breaking and reproducible translational research by:
A. Providing pre-analysis of samples (e.g. sample type, sampling time and sample handling) according to uniform, evidence based, state-of-the-art protocols that align with those used (inter)nationally.
B. Supporting researchers with the collection of correct and complete (meta)data according to internationally agreed data standards.
C. Assisting scientists with legal and ethical issues related to biobanking according to national and international legislation and codes of conduct.
Social impact
A central biobank facility such as the Radboud Biobank makes research material of good quality available to accelerate scientific knowledge, so that new possibilities for prevention, diagnosis and treatment become available sooner.
Furthermore, standardized, and validated sample processing following ISO standards makes a collection valuable and interchangeable, and ultimately prevents valuable samples from being unused.
FAIR objectives
By centralizing the biobank activities at the Radboudumc, knowledge is now pooled in the field of pre-analysis, data management, legislation and regulations, which results in:
- Innovation regarding centralized solutions, such as: lab orders and e-consent via electronic health record and development of evidence-based SOPs.
- Quality assurance and continuity of biobank processes by following ISO standard 20387 for biobanking, implementation of evidence-based SOPs in laboratories, internal audits of laboratories and compliance with legal and regulatory requirements.
- Streamlining of the communication processes with cooperating laboratories and information management.
- Prevention of research waste. After all, the use of protocols that are suitable for the purpose and the consistent application of SOPs leads to research results that are reliable, comparable, generalizable, and reproducible.
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FAIR elements involved
Findable
Accessible
Interoperable
Reusable
Key facts
- Wide range of sample types collected: body fluids (e.g. DNA, plasma, serum, urine, cerebrospinal fluid and PBMC) and fresh frozen and Formalin-Fixed Paraffin-Embedded (FFPE) tissue.
- Sample handling and storage following ISO standard 20387 for biobanking to guarantee samples of high and reproducible quality.
- Extensive (meta)data for the samples
- Associated clinical data for the samples (e.g. patient, disease-specific and phenotypic data).
- Supporting researchers with the collection of correct and complete (meta)data according to internationally agreed data standards.
- Assisting researchers with legal and ethical issues related to biobanking according to national and international legislation and codes of conduct.
Data type
- Clinical data
- Biomaterials
Organizations
Radboudumc
Funding
Radboudumc
