ISBER 2020 Educational Program Series

June 24, 7:00am PT/10:00am ET/4:00pm CET/10:00pm CST

Corporate Workshop: Monitoring Nucleic Acid Integrity During Long-Term Storage with Automated Electrophoresis

Presented by Elisa Viering (Agilent Technologies, Germany) and Monique Albert (Ontario Biobank, Canada)

Description: The DNA and RNA samples that you store in your biobank will be used for important research later. Our webinar will show you how to improve confidence in your sample quality, before and after samples go into storage using different automated electrophoresis platforms. In the webinar, we will have two retrospective analysis of sample storage conditions. Agilent’s nucleic acid QC portfolio streamlines the analysis of both DNA and RNA, including high-molecular weight genomic DNA through 165 kb. Each of Agilent’s automated electrophoresis instruments supply digital data with objective quality metrics that allows for easy data archiving and comparisons. Through the routine use of quality control, biobanks can evaluate past and current procedures for continuous improvement while also providing biobank users a detailed understanding of sample quality.

This webinar is hosted by Agilent Technologies

July 8, 9:00AM PT/12:00PM ET/6:00PM CET/12:00AM NEXT DAY CST

Workshop: Neglected Ethics in Biobanking: Addressing Issues of Sustainability, Utilization, and Stewardship

Presented by Aaron J. Goldenberg (Case Western University, USA), Kyle Brothers (University of Louisville, USA), Jean Cadigan (University of North Carolina, USA)

Description: The promotion of precision medicine has led to increased interest in larger collections of biospecimens that are more representative of genetic variation across and within populations. There is now a robust literature identifying and addressing the ethical, legal, and social implications of biobanking. Nevertheless, the recent evolution of biobank networks has revealed a number of unanswered and understudied questions regarding stewardship and utilization of biospecimens and data, including 1. The discrepancy between limited funding and the assumption that the biobank will last “permanently;” 2. the lack of planning for what will happen to the specimens and data if the bank terminates; and 3. underutilization of specimens and data. Since that time, the biobanking industry has grown more complex, with increasing numbers of biobanks forming networks. In theory, these networks should facilitate increased stability of operations and utilization. This presentation will review the results from a study that investigated to what extent, if any, current U.S. networked biobanks seem to be achieving increased stability and utilization.

July 16, 10:00am PT/1:00pm ET/7:00pm CET/1:00am next day CST

Biospecimens for Accelerating Biomarker Discovery to Advance Diagnosis and Therapeutics

Presented by Ida Biunno (ISENET Biobanking, Italy), Stephen Lin (California Institute for Regenerative Medicine, USA), Lauren Leiman (BloodPAC, USA), Jerry Lee (University of Southern California, USA), Meri Firpo (ISCBI, USA)

Description: Advancing personalised medicine, will require new and effective biomarkers that will aid in early and better diagnosis and the development of efficient new therapies. The hallmark of such advances lies in successful translational research which utilizes human biospecimens. Breakthrough discoveries will therefore require quality biospecimens for the identification, development and validation of new research findings. The session represents a review of biobanking of novel human cell systems for a new generation of cellular therapies and personalised diagnostic testing. Speakers will address the new challenges that these systems bring for biobanks in terms of ethics, data management, preservation technology, quality control and characterisation. They will also present potential new technologies and thinking that will be needed to meet these challenges.

July 22, 9:00am PT/12:00pm ET/6:00pm CET/12:00am next day CST

Corporate Workshop: A Path Towards Sustainability - ISO 20387 Accreditation of a Cornell Biobank

Presented by: Lara Mouttham (Cornell University, USA), Susan J. Garrison (Cornell University, USA), and David Lewandowski (Brooks Life Sciences, USA)

Description: Biobanks play an integral role in research and precision medicine by collecting, processing, storing, and distributing high-quality biological material and associated data. With large commitments from the institutions that support biobanks – the NCI has reported spending over 50 million dollars per year on its biobank infrastructure - and advancements in precision medicine resulting directly from these resources, stakeholders (donors, funders, and users) are more likely to request a value and impact measure for the biobanks they support, along with a long-term sustainability plan that can assure the continuous running of such operations beyond the immediate future.

In January 2019, the American Association of Laboratory Accreditation (A2LA) introduced the ISO 20387 Biobank Accreditation Program. This third party accreditation offered an independent review of an organization’s compliance with ISO 20387 - General Requirements for Biobanking, the first standard released by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) exclusively for biobanks. In this workshop we will explore how accreditation to ISO 20387 can improve biobank sustainability, by using the case example of the first biobank in the world to receive accreditation to this standard - the Cornell Veterinary Biobank.

This webinar is hosted by Brooks Life Sciences

August 5, 5:00PM PT/8:00PM ET/2:00AM CET NEXT DAY/8:00AM CST NEXT DAY/10:00AM AEST NEXT DAY

Contributed Paper Session 1

Biochemically Tracked Variability of Blood Plasma Thawed-State Exposure Times in a Multisite Collection Study
Presenter: Chad R Borges, Arizona State University, United States
Category: Biospecimen Research and Science

An Economic Analysis of Cancer Biobanks in New South Wales
Presenter: Amanda Rush, University of Sydney, Australia
Category: Repository Management

Analysis of Sample Integrity for Developing a “Value Statement" of Samples and Biobank in China
Presenter: Charles W. Wang, Shanghai Xinhua Hospital, China
Category: Hot Topics

Moving with the Times: The Health Science Alliance Biobank Pathway to Sustainability
Presenter: Carmel Quinn, University of New South Wales, Australia
Category: Biobanking Profiles

August 12, 6:00am PT/9:00am ET/3:00pm CET/9:00pm CST

Global Biobank Experiences - Navigating Your Biorepository Operations

Presented by Yunice Shao (China National GeneBank, China), Iman Farahat (Egyptian National Cancer Institute, Egypt)

Description: Successful repository operations with a solid base in the implementation of best practices are universal and can be scaled for implementation in any size operation. This session will highlight proven, successful repository operations across the globe. Presentations will demonstrate how repositories stayed relevant and developed coordinated activities to tackle challenges and the changing demands of the scientific communities they serve.

August 19, 8:00am PT/11:00am ET/5:00pm CET/11:00pm CST

Practical Applications for Biorepository Processes

Presented by Umesh Bhanot (Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, USA), Steven Haynes (Sheffield University Medical School, UK)

Chaired by: Shonali Paul (COO, CloudLIMS)

Description: Biobanks have been portrayed as having the promise to unlock biological processes and promote a better tomorrow. Following the advent of the human genome project, biobanks have become the bedrock to accelerating scientific discoveries. Stemming from the success stories is a blueprint that places the biobank community at the forefront of research infrastructure for many generations to come. Discussions will include utilization of the methods and technology that support acquisition, data annotation, processing, quality control, cryopreservation, and cold-chain logistics.

August 26, 7:00AM PT/10:00AM ET/4:00PM CET/10:00PM CST

Corporate Workshop: 5,000 Days of Biobank Experience - What Have We Learned and How Do We Prepare for the Next Decade?

Presented by: Erik Steinfelder (Thermo Fisher Scientific, The Netherlands)

Description: Last year, a study performed by the German Biobank Node (GBN) proved again that researchers are in need of high-quality samples that have been processed and stored under reliable conditions. While this might seem obvious, it is easier said than done for many biobankers. What is the best way to prepare and store samples if you are focusing on specific molecular mechanisms of diseases versus investigation of target expression in large patient cohorts when designing a clinical trial? Before samples are actually stored, it is good to have a clear understanding of their potential use i.e. which analytical technologies will be used. In those cases where the analytical end goal is not clear, consensus should be there on which general storage conditions must apply. In the last decade, hundreds of biobanks around the globe were supported by our cold storage solutions, pre-analytical workflows and -omics technologies. What did we see, learn, develop and improve that could help you achieve the requirements of researchers that are desperately looking for samples and associated clinical data? Join us for an industry perspective presented in an interactive manner that could help you to optimize your approach and processes.

This webinar is hosted by Thermo Fisher Scientific

September 9, 9:00AM PT/12:00PM ET/6:00PM CET/12:00AM next day CST

Corporate Workshop: The Importance of Sample Management in Precision Medicine: A High-throughput Biobanking Workflow Solution

Presented by: Dr. Andrew Brooks (CEO Infinity BiologiX, USA)

Description: The increased acceptance and implementation of precision medicine, direct to consumer genomics and applications such as regenerative medicine have driven the need and adoption for the storage of primary samples and the isolation and storage of high quality, high molecular weight nucleic acid. One reason for primary sample and nucleic acid storage is the value of the information held within the sample.

The application of sequencing technologies to research and clinical settings has increased dramatically, generating vast amounts of data about variations in our genomes that could explain some differences in disease susceptibility, progression and how patients react to drugs. The move towards precision medicine and immune modulation therapy development both requiring sequencing in the treatment workflow drive the demand for faster processing, storage and data sample management techniques.

Efficient and effective storage ensuring sample integrity is of the utmost importance; retention of sample information with the associated phenotypic insight can provide a wealth of genetic and environmental information that can be unlocked in an attempt to better understand disease and health. In this workshop we explore industry collaborations to provide a solution to the increased need for efficient sample management and nucleic acid extraction that meet todays increased requirement for higher throughput full workflow solution

This webinar is hosted by PerkinElmer

September 23, 9:00AM PT/12:00PM ET/6:00PM CET/12:00AM NEXT DAY CST

How Biobanks are Paving a Path to a Better Tomorrow

Presented by: Kyle Van Houtan (Monterey Bay Aquarium, USA), Lester Russell (National Health Service, UK), Dawn Barry (LunaPBC, USA)

Description: Research technologies are transforming our biological knowledge-base in ways that have never been possible. As the stewards of quality biospecimens and associated big data, biobanks are providing pathways to diagnostics and discovery that permeate across the globe with the goal of improvement in prevention, wellness, and healthcare applications. This webinar will provide high-impact scientific narratives in which biobanks have paved the road towards a better tomorrow, highlighted by speakers who have utilized biobanks for their research.

October 7, 11:00AM PT/2:00PM ET

Contributed Paper Session 2

Biobanks Supporting Clinical Study Submission - Clinical Data Interchange Standards Consortium (CDISC) Standards for Biospecimens
Presenters: Oliver Karch, Christine Connolly, Merck KGaA, Germany
Category: Repository Management

Integration of Biobanks into Precision Medicine - A Real Life Example
Presenter: Anthoula Lazaris, Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre, Canada
Category: Hot Topics

Policy Innovation and Tribal-Federal Partnership: The Alaska Area Specimen Bank
Presenter: Brenna Simons-Petrusa, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, USA
Category: Ethical, Legal, and Social Issues

Feasibility and Comparison Study of Fecal Sample Collection Methods in Kidney Transplant Recipients using 16S rRNA and Metagenomics Approaches
Presenter: Sunil Kurian, Scripps Center for Organ Transplantation, USA
Category: Biospecimen Research and Science

Feasibiility of Assessing Fresh Tumor Quality by Real-Time Remote Digital Viewing Via iPhones: A Study of 195 Cases
Presenter: Therese Bocklage, University of Kentucky, USA
Category: Biospecimen Research and Science

October 14, 12:00PM PT/ 3:00PM ET

Moving Science Forward - Results Drive Value/Reputation of Biobanks and Enhance Sustainability

Presented by Christopher Loffredo (Georgetown University Medical Center, USA), Anderson Mayfield (NOAA/University of Miami, USA), Antonio Hugo Campos (Rede D'Or Network Hospitals, Brazil)

Description: Biobanks have become key assets to research and clinical care. Biobanks require financial and operational support from organizations, key stakeholders and the community to be sustained. This plenary symposium will highlight scientific success stories that have resulted from the use of fit for purpose biospecimens and data from biobanks to power their findings and translation into practice. Scientific success feeds back to increase the stature and reputation of biobanks as an important infrastructure in discovery research. Lessons learned from this plenary will be specific examples of how scientific success can be leveraged to increase the value/reputation and financial, operational and social sustainability of biobanks.

October 19, 11:00AM PT/ 2:00PM ET

From Human Tumor Biobanking to Human Tumor 3D-Bioprinting: Innovating for Personalized Medicine in Oncology

Presented by Clément Milet (CTIBiotech, France)

Description: CTIBiotech is a founding member of the IMODI (Innovative Models against cancer, www.imodi-cancer.org) French cancer research consortium which federates public hospitals, academic groups, biotechs and private pharmaceutical companies with the financial support of the French government. IMODI develops predictive preclinical models for 10 cancer indications with a high level of characterization to detect as early as possible in the development process, the most effective and the most appropriated anti-cancer therapies for targeted patient populations.

Since 2013, CTIBiotech operates the unified biobank, with over 50 000 biological samples. Tumors are collected from consenting patients and dissociated to isolate each cell types within a given tumor. After sorting, each cell type is amplified prior to constructing a 3D tissue model called a micro-tumor. This 3D model mimics the tumor physiologically and morphologically providing a realistic environment for drug testing. In 2015, CTIBiotech research team introduced a technology breach and initiated a transition towards automation with full 3D bioprinting technologies to make them scalable, competitive and replicable. Using the latest tools in bioengineering, CTIBiotech researchers are now printing cancer tissues in 3D called microtumors. The resulting models can be used for highly significant pre-clinical testing. These microtumors accurately reproduce, in vitro, the interactions between human cancer cells and all other types of cells that form the tumor microenvironment. These models can eventually be used to determine the most effective therapy for each patient in a personalized medicine approach.

October 29, 9:00AM PT/12:00PM ET/6:00PM CET/12:00AM NEXT DAY CST

Contributed Paper Session 3

Electronic Consent For Pediatric BioBanking: Do Kids And Parents Understand What They Consent To?
Presenter: Suzanne Vercauteren, BC Children's Hospital, Canada
Category: Ethical, Legal, and Social Issues

New Biobanks Require New Generation of Biobankers: Experience from the Czech Republic
Presenter: Judita Kinkorova, University Hospital in Pilsen, Czechia
Category: Repository Management

Can Genomic ScreenTapes Be Used To Assess Integrity And Concentration Of DNA Extracted From Formalin-Fixed, Paraffin-Embedded (FFPE) Tissue?
Presenter: William Mathieson, Integrated Biobank of Luxembourg, Luxembourg
Category: Biospecimen Research and Science

Returning Value to Participants in Biobanking and Research: The Cancer Moonshot(SM) Biobank Patient and Provider Engagement Portal
Presenter: Esmeralda Casas-Silva, National Cancer Institute, USA
Category: Ethical, Legal, and Social Issues

The Women First Clinical Trial Biobank: Participants in Vulnerable and Underserved Populations
Presenter: Jennifer Kemp, University of Colorado Denver, USA
Category: Underserved and Vulnerable Communities