The Genome Austria Tissue Bank (GATiB)

Abstract

In the context of the Austrian Genome Program, a tissue bank is being established (Genome Austria Tissue Bank, GATiB) which is based on a collection of diseased and corresponding normal tissues representing a great variety of diseases at their natural frequency of occurrence from a non-selected Central European population of more than 700,000 patients. Major emphasis is put on annotation of archival tissue with comprehensive clinical data, including follow-up data. A specific IT infrastructure supports sample annotation, tracking of sample usage as well as sample and data storage. Innovative data protection tools were developed which prevent sample donor re-identification, particularly if detailed medical and genetic data are combined. For quality control of old archival tissues, new techniques were established to check RNA quality and antigen stability. Since 2003, GATiB has changed from a population-based tissue bank to a disease-focused biobank comprising major cancers such as colon, breast, liver, as well as metabolic liver diseases and organs affected by the metabolic syndrome. Prospectively collected tissues are associated with blood samples and detailed data on the sample donor’s disease, lifestyle and environmental exposure, following standard operating procedures. Major emphasis is also placed on ethical, legal and social issues (ELSI) related to biobanks. A specific research project and an international advisory board ensure the proper embedding of GATiB in society and facilitate international networking.

IT Infrastructure Components for Biobanking

“…In many publications isolated aspects of information technology are combined with organizational, ethical and data security aspects. Conceptually IT implementations vary between three different levels of biobanking, which are single institution/project biobanks, biobanks of research networks as well as national and international biobanking collaboration scenarios [24][25][26][27][28]. It has then been decided to primarily focus on requirements for the basic management of samples, storage locations and clinical annotations as well as the processes related with sample acquisition, transportation, storage, quality assurance measures and clinical phenotype documentation.…”

Efficient Projection of Ontologies

“…Biobanks are collections of biological material (tissue, body fluids, cell cultures, etc.) and data describing this material and their donors (e.g health records, lab data, -omics data) [2,37]. Biobanks are very valuable resources for life science research providing material and data for biomedical research projects and studies.…”

Research Involving Biological Material from Forensic Autopsies: Legal and Ethical Issues

“…Such collections are found predominantly in pathology institutions, but exist also in most university hospitals as well as in private institutions. Population biobanks are being established in various countries [2][3][4] . In order to clarify controversial ethical and legal issues, several countries, including the UK [5] , Sweden and Estonia, have passed laws regarding the use of biobanks for research [6] , but many countries have not.…”