MGA Biobank - A Multispecialistic Project Biobank in Slovakia

Abstract

Medirex Group Academy biobank (MGA biobank) is a multidisciplinary disease-oriented project research biobank established in Nitra, Slovakia in October 2020. It evolves thanks to multiple research project and biomedical studies organized by non-profit organization Medirex Group Academy n.p.o. (Nitra, Slovakia). During 2020-2023, 27 clinics and 84 physician and nurses from 12 medical fields to participant enrolment, data and sample collecting and biobanking were involved. All together 4,346 participants were enrolled, 18,958 samples of different kind were collected and primarily processed for many downstream applications and for future use in research. Biobank is currently storing more than 53,000 biospecimen aliquots (whole blood, serum, plasma, stool, nasopharyngeal swab, native tissue, FFPE). For collecting patient data and information about samples was developed in-house MGA biobank information system (MGA BIMS). The aim of this study is to describe and evaluate current state and to define future prospective and development strategies. Since there is still no national biobank in Slovakia, it is important to further develop MGA biobank, to adapt standard processes so that in the future it meets all the requirements for implementation into European biobank structures and potentially became one of the important biobank nodes in Slovakia.