Biorepository
The establishment and efficient running of a biorepository requires ethical, legal and social considerations, which can be overwhelming. In addition to all of these considerations, effectively managing the cost and availability of resources such as liquid nitrogen and dry ice is vital. Ethical debates, particularly in Low- to Medium-Income Countries (LMIC), are important but complex. Fear of exploitation is a reality and an important discussion point when considering establishing a Biorepository, no matter what the size. In addition to effective infrastructural planning, it is very important to develop an agreed-upon governance framework at an international level that takes into consideration all aspects of equity, fairness and justice. Collaboration between countries in regions is an important consideration to deal with the cost.
We hope this site will be able to provide some guidelines on establishing a bio-repository that takes into consideration all these important issues and also stimulates discussion that can help guide implementation. We will refer to established guidelines and articles to help build capacity in understanding the requirements for bio-repositories.
Here we aim to:
- Explore the value of Bio-Repositories in LMICs.
- Provide guidelines for developing a Biorepository.
- Explore the regulations linked to operating a Biorepository.
- Identify existing Bio-Repositories in LMICs.
- Stimulate discussions about concerns, value and cost of operating Biorepositories in LMICs.
Guidelines:
- ISBER (International Society for Biological and Environmental Repositories) Best Practices for Repositories (2011)
- OECD Guidelines on Human Biobanks and Genetic Research Databases (2009)
Articles:
- Infrastructure and Facilities for Human Biobanking in Low- and Middle-Income Countries: A Situation Analysis: by Maimuna Mendy, Elodie Caboux, Bakary S. Sylla, Joakim Dillner, Joseph Chinquee, Christopher Wild, BCNet survey participants, Pathobiology, 2014.
- Selecting a Laboratory Information Management System for Biorepositories in Low- and Middle-Income Countries: The H3Africa Experience and Lessons Learned: by Samuel Kyobe, Henry Musinguzi, Newton Lwanga, Dafala Kezimbira, Edgar Kigozi, Fred Ashaba Katabazi, Misaki Wayengera, Moses Lutaakome Joloba, Emmanuel Akin Abayomi, Carmen Swanepoel, Alash’le Abimiku, Talishiea Croxton, Petronilla Ozumba, Anazodo Thankgod, Alan Christoffels, Lizelle van Zyl, Elizabeth Sarah Mayne, Mukthar Kader, Garth Swartz and H3Africa Biorepository PI Working Group, BIOPRESERVATION AND BIOBANKING, 2017.
- Legal & ethical compliance when sharing biospecimen: by Tomas Klingstrom, Erik Bongcam-Rudloff, and Jane Reichel, Briefings in Functional Genomics, 2017.
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