Pediatric HIV BioBank: A New Role of the Spanish HIV BioBank in Pediatric HIV Research

Abstract

The vulnerability of children has long raised ethical concerns resulting in the lack of inclusion of children in research studies. This has impeded the development of relevant medical therapies specific for children. In response to these circumstances, international policies have begun to recognize the need to carry out research focused on children. Translational HIV infection research is highly dependent on many factors including the availability, quality, and traceability of samples and their associated data under a strict system of quality management. The primary objective of the Pediatric HIV BioBank is to contribute to the furthering of scientific knowledge about vertical HIV infection. To achieve this aim, the BioBank processes, stores, and provides distinct samples from HIV/AIDS children to research projects free of charge. Strict compliance to ethical norms is always guaranteed. At present the Pediatric HIV BioBank has 429 vials containing different sample types from 243 vertically HIV-infected children. The Pediatric HIV BioBank represents a novel approach to HIV research that might be of general interest not only for basic and clinical research teams working with HIV, but also for those groups trying to establish large networks focused on researching specific clinical problems. It also represents a model to stimulate cooperative research on specific clinical problems. The main objective of this article is to show the structure and function of the Pediatric HIV BioBank that allow it to efficiently provide samples to different research projects in Spain and in other countries.

High Drug Resistance Prevalence among Vertically HIV-Infected Patients Transferred from Pediatric Care to Adult Units in Spain

“…In fact, in Madrid an increase of HIV-1 non-B infections after year 2000 was reported among infected children [12] and among newly HIV infected adults [14]. Interestingly, the increasing complexity of the epidemic reported in HIV-infected adults [21], [45] and in the pediatric population in Madrid [13] was not observed among the transferred population, in whom no recombinant strains were found.…”

“…Previously reported genotypes were performed from infected samples (immortalized DNA, plasma or peripheral blood mononuclear cells, PBMCs) kindly provided by the HIV BioBank integrated in the Spanish AIDS Research Network (RIS) [14], [15]. Samples from patients were processed following current procedures and frozen immediately after their reception.…”

Impact of lopinavir-ritonavir exposure in HIV-1 infected children and adolescents in Madrid, Spain during 2000-2014

“…New samples from 2 patients were provided by the Paediatric HIV BioBank integrated in the Spanish AIDS Research Network (RIS) RD12/0017/0035 and RD12/0017/0037 [25]. Samples were processed following current procedures and frozen immediately after their reception.…”

Propuestas para “democratizar” los beneficios de los biobancos en América Latina

“…38 El éxito del biobanco español y la confianza lograda en el país ha permitido extender la recolección a los menores de 18 años, introduciendo además del consentimiento de los padres o tutores legales, el asentimiento dinámico y continuo de estos menores conforme a su evolución psicológica, y los mismos derechos de privacidad, confidencialidad y retiro que los adultos. 39 La confianza en el uso de las muestras para investigaciones está dada también por el conocimiento de los donantes de que sus muestras biológicas son accesibles a todos los investigadores a un costo justo correspondiente al mantenimiento y transporte y de que su donación altruista da una oportunidad a las personas enfermas (principio de solidaridad). Sin embargo, esta posición está cuestionada por académicos de Estados Unidos, que se apoyan en la anonimización de las muestras y en la historia de los bancos de sangre.…”