Building blocks for better biorepositories in Africa
Abstract Background Biorepositories archive and distribute well-characterized biospecimens for research to support the development of medical diagnostics and therapeutics. Knowledge of biobanking and associated practices is incomplete in low- and middle-income countries where disease burden is dispr...
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BMC
2023-11-01
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| Series: | Genome Medicine |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s13073-023-01235-x |
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| author | Talishiea Croxton Emmanuel Jonathan Kareemah Suleiman Olasinbo Balogun Petronilla J. Ozumba Sharley M. Aloyo Gideon Nsubuga Rogers E. Kamulegeya Lwanga Newton John Mukisa Mukthar Kader Vuyo Damaneite Sunji Nadoma Ezenwa James Onyemata Abbas Abel Anzaku Emmanuel Nasinghe Jennifer Troyer Bonnie R. Joubert Christine Beiswanger Moses L. Joloba Elizabeth Mayne Alash’le Abimiku H3Africa Biorepository PI Working Group |
| author_facet | Talishiea Croxton Emmanuel Jonathan Kareemah Suleiman Olasinbo Balogun Petronilla J. Ozumba Sharley M. Aloyo Gideon Nsubuga Rogers E. Kamulegeya Lwanga Newton John Mukisa Mukthar Kader Vuyo Damaneite Sunji Nadoma Ezenwa James Onyemata Abbas Abel Anzaku Emmanuel Nasinghe Jennifer Troyer Bonnie R. Joubert Christine Beiswanger Moses L. Joloba Elizabeth Mayne Alash’le Abimiku H3Africa Biorepository PI Working Group |
| author_sort | Talishiea Croxton |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Biorepositories archive and distribute well-characterized biospecimens for research to support the development of medical diagnostics and therapeutics. Knowledge of biobanking and associated practices is incomplete in low- and middle-income countries where disease burden is disproportionately high. In 2011, the African Society of Human Genetics (AfSHG), the National Institutes of Health (NIH), and the Wellcome Trust founded the Human Heredity and Health in Africa (H3Africa) consortium to promote genomic research in Africa and established a network of three biorepositories regionally located in East, West, and Southern Africa to support biomedical research. This manuscript describes the processes established by H3Africa biorepositories to prepare research sites to collect high-quality biospecimens for deposit at H3Africa biorepositories. Methods The biorepositories harmonized practices between the biorepositories and the research sites. The biorepositories developed guidelines to establish best practices and define biospecimen requirements; standard operating procedures (SOPs) for common processes such as biospecimen collection, processing, storage, transportation, and documentation as references; requirements for minimal associated datasets and formats; and a template material transfer agreements (MTA) to govern biospecimen exchange. The biorepositories also trained and mentored collection sites in relevant biobanking processes and procedures and verified biospecimen deposit processes. Throughout these procedures, the biorepositories followed ethical and legal requirements. Results The 20 research projects deposited 107,982 biospecimens (76% DNA, 81,067), in accordance with the ethical and legal requirements and established best practices. The biorepositories developed and customized resources and human capacity building to support the projects. [The biorepositories developed 34 guidelines, SOPs, and documents; trained 176 clinicians and scientists in over 30 topics; sensitized ethical bodies; established MTAs and reviewed consent forms for all projects; attained import permits; and evaluated pilot exercises and provided feedback. Conclusions Biobanking in low- and middle-income countries by local skilled staff is critical to advance biobanking and genomic research and requires human capacity and resources for global partnerships. Biorepositories can help build human capacity and resources to support biobanking by partnering with researchers. Partnerships can be structured and customized to incorporate document development, ethics, training, mentorship, and pilots to prepare sites to collect, process, store, and transport biospecimens of high quality for future research. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-7c51a89033f745b0bcaf2e13f873a4dd |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1756-994X |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2023-11-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Genome Medicine |
| spelling | doaj-art-7c51a89033f745b0bcaf2e13f873a4dd2025-08-24T11:42:13ZengBMCGenome Medicine1756-994X2023-11-0115111010.1186/s13073-023-01235-xBuilding blocks for better biorepositories in AfricaTalishiea Croxton0Emmanuel Jonathan1Kareemah Suleiman2Olasinbo Balogun3Petronilla J. Ozumba4Sharley M. Aloyo5Gideon Nsubuga6Rogers E. Kamulegeya7Lwanga Newton8John Mukisa9Mukthar Kader10Vuyo Damaneite11Sunji Nadoma12Ezenwa James Onyemata13Abbas Abel Anzaku14Emmanuel Nasinghe15Jennifer Troyer16Bonnie R. Joubert17Christine Beiswanger18Moses L. Joloba19Elizabeth Mayne20Alash’le Abimiku21H3Africa Biorepository PI Working GroupI-HAB, Institute of Human Virology NigeriaI-HAB, Institute of Human Virology NigeriaI-HAB, Institute of Human Virology NigeriaI-HAB, Institute of Human Virology NigeriaI-HAB, Institute of Human Virology NigeriaIntegrated Biorepository of H3Africa UgandaIntegrated Biorepository of H3Africa UgandaIntegrated Biorepository of H3Africa UgandaIntegrated Biorepository of H3Africa UgandaIntegrated Biorepository of H3Africa UgandaClinical Laboratory Services, Wits Diagnostic Innovation Hub, University of the WitwatersrandClinical Laboratory Services, Wits Diagnostic Innovation Hub, University of the WitwatersrandI-HAB, Institute of Human Virology NigeriaI-HAB, Institute of Human Virology NigeriaI-HAB, Institute of Human Virology NigeriaIntegrated Biorepository of H3Africa UgandaNational Human Genome Research Institute, National Institutes of HealthNational Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Institutes of HealthUniversity of Maryland School of Medicine, Institute of Human Virology, University of Maryland BaltimoreIntegrated Biorepository of H3Africa UgandaDivision of Immunology, Department of Pathology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, National Health Laboratory ServiceI-HAB, Institute of Human Virology NigeriaAbstract Background Biorepositories archive and distribute well-characterized biospecimens for research to support the development of medical diagnostics and therapeutics. Knowledge of biobanking and associated practices is incomplete in low- and middle-income countries where disease burden is disproportionately high. In 2011, the African Society of Human Genetics (AfSHG), the National Institutes of Health (NIH), and the Wellcome Trust founded the Human Heredity and Health in Africa (H3Africa) consortium to promote genomic research in Africa and established a network of three biorepositories regionally located in East, West, and Southern Africa to support biomedical research. This manuscript describes the processes established by H3Africa biorepositories to prepare research sites to collect high-quality biospecimens for deposit at H3Africa biorepositories. Methods The biorepositories harmonized practices between the biorepositories and the research sites. The biorepositories developed guidelines to establish best practices and define biospecimen requirements; standard operating procedures (SOPs) for common processes such as biospecimen collection, processing, storage, transportation, and documentation as references; requirements for minimal associated datasets and formats; and a template material transfer agreements (MTA) to govern biospecimen exchange. The biorepositories also trained and mentored collection sites in relevant biobanking processes and procedures and verified biospecimen deposit processes. Throughout these procedures, the biorepositories followed ethical and legal requirements. Results The 20 research projects deposited 107,982 biospecimens (76% DNA, 81,067), in accordance with the ethical and legal requirements and established best practices. The biorepositories developed and customized resources and human capacity building to support the projects. [The biorepositories developed 34 guidelines, SOPs, and documents; trained 176 clinicians and scientists in over 30 topics; sensitized ethical bodies; established MTAs and reviewed consent forms for all projects; attained import permits; and evaluated pilot exercises and provided feedback. Conclusions Biobanking in low- and middle-income countries by local skilled staff is critical to advance biobanking and genomic research and requires human capacity and resources for global partnerships. Biorepositories can help build human capacity and resources to support biobanking by partnering with researchers. Partnerships can be structured and customized to incorporate document development, ethics, training, mentorship, and pilots to prepare sites to collect, process, store, and transport biospecimens of high quality for future research.https://doi.org/10.1186/s13073-023-01235-xH3Africa consortiumBiorepositoryCapacity building |
| spellingShingle | Talishiea Croxton Emmanuel Jonathan Kareemah Suleiman Olasinbo Balogun Petronilla J. Ozumba Sharley M. Aloyo Gideon Nsubuga Rogers E. Kamulegeya Lwanga Newton John Mukisa Mukthar Kader Vuyo Damaneite Sunji Nadoma Ezenwa James Onyemata Abbas Abel Anzaku Emmanuel Nasinghe Jennifer Troyer Bonnie R. Joubert Christine Beiswanger Moses L. Joloba Elizabeth Mayne Alash’le Abimiku H3Africa Biorepository PI Working Group Building blocks for better biorepositories in Africa Genome Medicine H3Africa consortium Biorepository Capacity building |
| title | Building blocks for better biorepositories in Africa |
| title_full | Building blocks for better biorepositories in Africa |
| title_fullStr | Building blocks for better biorepositories in Africa |
| title_full_unstemmed | Building blocks for better biorepositories in Africa |
| title_short | Building blocks for better biorepositories in Africa |
| title_sort | building blocks for better biorepositories in africa |
| topic | H3Africa consortium Biorepository Capacity building |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s13073-023-01235-x |
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