Abstracts
We invite you to submit an abstract for the following topics:
Quality Matters
High quality biospecimens and data are critical components for reproducible basic and clinical research. The quality of biospecimens and associated data must be consistent and collected according to standardized practices in order to prevent spurious analytical results that can lead to artifacts being interpreted as valid findings. Establishing preanalytics processes for quality check, following Best practices and standards and applying standard operating procedure around harmonisation of data are some of the ways to ensure quality.
Precision Medicine and Clinical Trials
There is value to having large collections of high-quality samples; however, the exponential added value is in the linked data and the clinical information that relates to them. Medical research in the era of precision medicine is based on the analysis of samples with clinical data – and, because the associations are often weak, both these samples and data are required in large quantities.
ELSI
Changes in the scientific and health research environment have raised complex ethical, legal, and societal issues related to biobanking. These might include the challenge to identify the most appropriate consent model for a specific biobank or collection purpose, to inform research participants if and why commercial research purposes are supported, to ensure the return of individual research results to biobank participants or to address issues of ownership. In addition, COVID-19 has added another layer of complexity and requires revisiting notions of urgency, solidarity, appropriate safeguards, anti-discrimination, privacy, or vulnerability. How is this addressed in theory and practice? We want to hear your ELSI challenges and perspectives in times of crisis.
Biobanking Educational Resources
The personnel who operate a biomedical biobank should function as a unit to efficiently manage the numerous types of biospecimens that are to be utilized for both clinical and research purposes. Therefore, education and training for researchers and biobankers is key to ensure the best quality outcomes and a competent workforce. There are multiple resources available such as, work force development, competency and assessment programmes, continuous professional/training programs. What has worked in your biobank? What other training modules or processes have you used in your workplace?
Adapting to a new biobanking reality
With the COVID-19 pandemic that hit in early 2020 and continues, biobanks have had to adapt to a new reality and develop new collaborations and networking opportunities. In this category, we focus on the impact of the COVID 19 pandemic on precision medicine initiatives. Pandemic related changes in your operations, biobank management, adaptability and sustainability, biobanking in response to global crises are welcomed.
Innovative Technology and Information Technology
Thanks to developments in medical IT, new systems are being built to not only manage biobanking or clinical data but to support researchers in combining them, while ensuring patient data protection. These complex, integrated software solutions are designed in ways that protect patients while providing comprehensive information, opening vast amounts of valuable data to researchers and biobanks. Present the role of information technology in biobanking, new approaches to the analysis of large scale clinical and genomic data, Cloud technology, Artificial Intelligence and Data Mining.
Biospecimens and Data Sharing
Highlight your local, national, and international Collaborations across different sectors including industry, academia, and non-profit organisations.