Biobanking is the process by which samples of bodily
fluids or tissues are collected for research purposes to advance understanding
of health and diseases. Biobanks are large collections of human biological
materials that are linked to relevant personal and health information and can
include health records, family history, and lifestyle and genetic information,
among others. Biobanks are considered as legal entities or parts of a legal
entity that perform biobanking.
Biobanking is the process of acquisitioning and storing along with other
activities that are related to collection, preparation, and preservation and
testing og define biological material and related information and data. Over
the last decade, field of biobanking has rapidly grown alongside advancements
in precision medicine and biobanks have been linked to advancement in screening
and treating any disease, starting with cancer.
Modern biobanks allow large-scale analysis for
assessing individual markers of specific diseases from biological or digital
material with well-annotated clinical and biological data. These features play
an important role in improving personalized medical approaches, where effective
biomarker identification plays a crucial part in disease diagnosis and
prognosis. Modern biobanks function as complex infrastructure where
professionals such as clinicians, biologists, nurses, technicians, and
bioethicists work together to guarantee the right to use human biological
materials. Over the last few decades, technological advances such as automated
sample processing, computerization, and the advent of internet revolutionized
the management of biobanks. Biobanks can exist within research centers,
hospitals, pharmaceutical companies, and patient advocacy organizations.
In a recent news, in April 2022, Al Jalila Foundation,
which is a member of the Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Initiatives,
announced its plan to establish U.A.E.’s first robotic biobank in collaboration
with Mohammed Bin Rashid University of Medicine and Health Sciences (MBRU) and
the Dubai Health Authority (DHA). The partnership aims to advance medical
research in the field of genetic disorders, cancer, and other chronic diseases
and pandemics. The biobank is scheduled to open in 2023 with a capacity to
manage and process seven million specimens and is set to be the largest biobank
in terms of sample capacity in the world.
In a breakthrough study published in the journal
Animals, it was suggested biobanking
and assisted reproduction will help captive breeding programs to maintain
genetic diversity and save koalas from extinction. This PhD research carried
out at The University of Newcastle is the culmination of years spent in
developing and analysing robust model of biobanking and assistive reproduction
for various species that are endangered and was found to be more beneficial for
koala bears.
Over the years, increasing advancements have been done
to improve biobanking owing to a rapid surge in genomic research, regenerative
medicines, and stem cell therapeutics. Major companies have invested in R&D
and this has led to an increasing need for biobanking. Key companies in the
market include K. Biobank Limited, Medizinische Universitat Graz, Hamilton
Company, ASKION, Azenta Life Sciences, Qiagen, Promega Corporation, Integrated
Biobank of Luxembourg (IBBL), Isenet Biobanking, and Thermo Fisher Scientific,
Inc. In April 2021, Monash University launched first-of-its-kind industry
focused storage facility for biological material in Australia. Biobanking
Victoria is a state-of-the-art facility that aims to serve as a valuable link
between researchers and industry and is backed by the Victorian Government.
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