Biobanks play a central role in translational biomedical research. Large collections of high-quality samples can help researchers identify clinically useful markers of disease and develop novel drugs. In order to fulfil this role, however, it is essential that the samples are well-documented with upto- date epidemiological, clinical and molecular data. The vast numbers of patients and controls contained in these biobanks needs to be easy to browse and search, too.
At Brussels Free University (VUB), and with the financial support of InnoViris, an online histopathology platform was built that presents a catalogue of tissues available in the biobank. This was done to contribute to the valorisation of the biobank, and to lead to new collaborations between academia and industry. The outcome of this project is a hybrid solution that consists of commercial hardware and software, as well as open source packages. This article provides a brief introduction to digital pathology and how this new technology has significantly enhanced our research and education activities.
What is a biobank?
A ‘biobank’ is an organised collection of physical human material. The material is stored with the intent to facilitate future scientific research, and must be well-documented and annotated. The term is typically used for material of human origin, but can also be used for collections of plants, animals, and microbes. Specimen types include blood, urine, saliva, skin cells, organ tissue, and other materials. The main task of a biobank is to preserve specimens for the future. For this purpose, cryogenic storage facilities are provided for the samples, which can range in size from individual refrigerators to warehouses. Biobanks are maintained by institutions like our own, as well as by pharmaceutical companies. Diseaseoriented biobanks, usually located at a university-based hospital, often have formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) tissue available, next to fresh frozen tissue. Typical problems encountered include (geographical) fragmentation, undefined access rules, lack of uniform quality standards, and the absence of a uniform legal and ethical framework. This may hamper international collaboration.>> Download the full Application Note as PDF
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