Thursday, December 18, 2008

Tissue samples collect, store and analyze

[Source: Luxemburger Wort (via Google Translate)] - (fh) - About 200 biobanks exist in Europe. The new Integrated biobank of Luxembourg (IBBL), which yesterday the press was presented, differs in two respects from other tissue banks: in addition to the collection and storage of biological samples (tissue, tumors, blood, urine, saliva ...) leads the IBBL also analyzes and stores this addition is a national project, which represents an independent unit. The samples or data of research made available. The IBBL is part of the biotechnology project in the field of molecular medicine, the 140 million euros over five years will cost and also the creation of a Center for Systems Biology and the implementation of a cancer research project covers. The goal of the biotech project is among other things, one day, drugs and therapies targeted to be able to treat patients more efficiently and reduce costs. Founded as the IBBL by CRPs Santé, Henri Tudor and Gabriel Lippmann and the University of Luxembourg. Has inspired a look at biobank model of the company "Translational Genomics Research Institute (TGen), by Dr. Jeffrey Trent, which, in Phoenix in the U.S. state of Arizona is located. The IBBL has the shape of a foundation. Your Board includes nine persons.Chairman of the Board is Dr. Jean-Claude Schmit, director of the CRP Santé. IBBL to include also a Board of Directors, an external ethics committee, a scientific project evaluation committee, a scientific council and a monitoring committee for the hospitals and the National Health Laboratory. Hospitals are important partners of the country and the wider region.

Strict conditions

The biobank itself has no research. It mainly manages data to interested researchers. If samples are made available, then only under very strict conditions. Each research project must be ethically tested and approved. The donations are voluntary, donors may withdraw their consent at any time.

If desired they can test for a special project available. The data of the donors are encrypted on several levels - the technology is called de-identification. It plays a so-called trusted third party, it still applies to define an important role. This alone can, if necessary, the data back together. This could for example be necessary if one for the health of the donor beneficial discovery is made.

In contact with the doctors

In Luxembourg, 200 people are annually diagnosed with lung cancer, but only a few surgery. These operations are carried out in two hospitals of the country. The IBBL is in contact with the concerned physicians, their patients about a possible use by the tissue biobank information. In addition, samples of healthy individuals to be collected. This is a call made via the press. Soon more information www.ibbl.lu available.

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