Sunday, September 30
Collaboration and Biospecimen Sharing between Multiple Biorepositories
1:30 pm Short Course Registration
Few biorepositories contain sufficient numbers of samples to perform large research studies, necessitating collaboration between multiple sites. The mass availability of high-quality biological specimens for research requires the development of standardized methods for collection, long-term storage, retrieval and distribution. The use of standard operating procedures (SOPs) is fundamental and widespread. However, standardized data collection, rigorous data management, and uniform informed consent procedures are becoming increasingly valuable for collaboration between researchers in this network. This workshop is designed to discuss a new standard for successful collaboration, providing scientists and clinicians with methods to simplify specimen sharing, with complete phenotypic and clinical information associated with samples.
2:00 Chairperson’s Opening Remarks
Mary Ann Brown, Executive Director, Conferences, Cambridge Healthtech Institute
2:20 The NCI Cancer Human Biobank (caHUB): A National Center for Biospecimen Science and Standards Development
Latarsha Carithers, Ph.D., Project Manager, Office of Biorepositories and Biospecimen Research, National Cancer Institute
The Office of Biorepositories and Biospecimen Research (OBBR) at the National Cancer Institute (NCI) was established in 2005 to address the lack of high-quality human biospecimens available for disease research. The cancer Human Biobank (caHUB) is OBBR’s main infrastructure for conducting biospecimen research and consists of a network of medical centers, a comprehensive data center, pathologists, and molecular analysis facilities. caHUB carries out specialized tissue and data procurements, within a stringent ethical, legal, and regulatory framework, using standardized protocols and a comprehensive quality program to generate high-quality and well annotated biospecimens. This presentation provides an overview of how caHUB is being used as a tool to develop evidence-based standard operating procedures for optimal collection, processing, and storage of biospecimens
2:45 Talk Title to be Announced
Liz Horn, Ph.D., Director, Genetic Alliance Registry and Biobank, Genetic Alliance
3:20 Networking Coffee Break
3:35 Talk Title to be Announced
Alex Sherman, Director, Systems, Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital
4:10 Collaboration Brainstorming Session
Moderator: Alex Sherman, Director, Systems, Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital
4:45 Short Course Wrap-Up and Take Home Message
Alex Sherman, Director, Systems, Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital
5:00 End of Short Course