Purpose, Partnership, and Possibilities: The Implementation of the Dog Aging Project Biobank

Abstract

Background: Biobanks have been supporting longitudinal prospective and retrospective studies by providing standardized services for the acquisition, transport, processing, storage, and distribution of high-quality biological material and associated data. Here, we describe how the Dog Aging Project (DAP), a large-scale longitudinal study of the domestic dog (Canis familiaris) with translational applications for humans, developed a biobank of canine biospecimens and associated data.

Design and methods: This was accomplished by working with the Cornell Veterinary Biobank, the first biobank in the world to receive accreditation to ISO 20387:2018-General Requirements for Biobanking. The biobank research team was involved in the early collection stages of the DAP, contributing to the development of appropriate workflows and processing fit-for-purpose biospecimens. In support of a dynamic strategy for real-time adjustment of processes, a pilot phase was implemented to develop, test, and optimize the biospecimen workflows, followed by an early phase of collection, processing, and banking of specimens from DAP participants.

Results: During the pilot and early phases of collection, the DAP Biobank stored 164 aliquots of whole blood, 273 aliquots of peripheral blood mononuclear cells, 130 aliquots of plasma, and 70 aliquots of serum, and extracted high molecular weight genomic DNA suitable for whole-genome sequencing from 109 whole blood specimens. These specimens, along with their associated preanalytical data, have been made available for distribution to researchers.

Conclusion: We discuss the challenges and opportunities encountered during the implementation of the DAP Biobank, along with novel strategies for promoting biobanking sustainability such as partnering with a DAP quality assurance manager and a DAP marketing and communication specialist and developing a pilot grant structure to fund small innovative research projects.

Keywords: Biobanking; canine; fit-for-purpose; longitudinal study; translational.

Figure 1.

Summary of the life cycle of whole blood specimens collected from DAP participants with initial processing and temporary storage at the DAP Lab at TAMU and final processing and long-term storage at the DAP Biobank at CUCVM.

Figure 2.

Relationships between adjusted DNA amount extracted from EDTA whole blood specimens and (A) temperature of blood on arrival to the DAP Biobank and (C) processing interval (N = 109). Regression analysis (B) does not find evidence that arrival temperature is associated with adjusted DNA, but (D) finds evidence that longer processing intervals are associated with lower adjusted DNA.

Figure 3.

Relationships between DIN of DNA extracted from EDTA whole blood specimens and (A) temperature of blood on arrival to the DAP Biobank and (C) processing interval (N = 109). Regression analysis (B) does not find evidence that arrival temperature is associated with DIN, but (D) finds evidence that longer processing intervals are associated with lower DIN.