Raising to the Challenge: Building a Federated Biobank to Accelerate Translational Research-The University Biobank Limburg

Abstract

Irreproducibility of research results is one of the major contributing factors to the failure of translating basic research results into tangible bedside progress. To address this, the University Biobank Limburg (UBiLim) was founded by a collaboration between Hasselt University, the Hospital East-Limburg, and the Jessa Hospital. This paper describes the evolution of this process and the barriers encountered on the way. UBiLim evolved from an archival collection over a single-site biobank into a federated structure, supporting translational research at the founding institutions. Currently, UBiLim is a federated biobank, with an established organizational structure and processing, and storage facilities at each of the three sites. All activities are integrated in an ISO15189-accredited Quality Management System and based on (inter)national biobank guidelines. Common methods for processing and storage of a plethora of sample types, suitable for state-of-the-art applications, were validated and implemented. Because the biobank is embedded in two hospitals, the request of researchers to include certain sample types or enroll specific patient groups can quickly be met. Funding has been a major challenge in each step of its evolution and remains the biggest issue for long-term biobank sustainability. To a lesser extent, the Belgian legislation and the operational cost of information management system are also concerns for smooth biobank operations. Nonetheless, UBiLim serves as a facilitator and accelerator for translational research in the Limburg area of Belgium that, given the fields of research, may have an impact on international patient care.

Keywords: UBiLim; biobank; multi-disciplinary; quality; translational research.

Figure 1

Annual number of samples for the different sample types collected within the hematology collection since the start of the biobank to December 2018. The orange line shows the number of BM smear samples, the yellow line shows the number of plasma samples, the green line shows the number of white blood cell pellets, the brown line shows the number of red blood cell samples. BM, bone marrow; RBCs, red blood cells; WBC, white blood cell.

Figure 2

Annual cost distribution in the federated biobank phase (June 2009 to December 2013). Costs are subdivided in the six main accountancy cost categories: Personnel (green bar), IT infrastructure (yellow bar), Operations (brown bar), Promotion (olive bar), Equipment (orange bar), and Overhead (dark green bar). Percentage of cost coverage by public funding is displayed on the secondary Y-axis (orange line).

Figure 3

Current sample content of the UBiLim catalog in December 2018. (A) Shows the proportional distribution of stored samples per research domain, and (B) shows the distribution of stored samples per sample type. PBMCs, peripheral blood mononuclear cells; RBCs, red blood cells; WBC, white blood cell.

Figure 4

Overview of the sample-based activities, cumulated for all sample collections of UBiLim. (A) Annual number of samples stored (green bar) and released (yellow bar) and annual utilization rate of samples (brown line, displayed on secondary Y-axis). (B) Annual number of studies/collections setup (orange line) and projects for sample use started (yellow line) by UBiLim and annual number of publications using samples derived from UBiLim (green bars, displayed on the secondary Y-axis).