Biobanks to Biomarkers

Among the key points to emerge from the 'From Biobanks to Biomarkers' conference were the following:

• The data contained in biobanks are quite variable in terms of content and quality and there is currently little collaboration between biobanks.
• One reason for this is the limited national and international funding available for their support.
• There are very few standardised and quality-controlled protocols for data collection, sample storage, analysis and access. This would make it very difficult to pool data from different studies, particularly as data sets are likely to be large.
• Ethical and legal issues represent a further obstacle to collaboration – volunteers' consent does not routinely allow sharing of data between different groups, or to allow additional uses.
• Sharing or exchanging material presents significant practical and financial difficulties.
• Some areas of research, such as statistical genetics, have lagged behind, and a shortage of trained personnel could be an obstacle to the effective analysis of data.

The conference also identified a number of potential ways forward:

• There are several ways in which the potential of Biobanks could be enhanced:
  * greater harmonisation of programmes and regulatory standards
  * greater standardisation of protocols
  * greater coordination of activities of biobanks across Europe and elsewhere.
• More collaboration would not only provide access to larger population groups but would also create additional incentives for technological development or improvement and for industry involvement.
• Greater emphasis needs to be placed on the creation of transnational and multidisciplinary research collaborations, and overcoming the cultural differences that hinder such collaborations.
• The 'training gap' - such as the shortage of skills in statistical genetics - needs to be addressed.
• Attention needs to be given to continuing technology development, such as higher-throughput DNA sequencing or genotyping, scaling up analysis of RNA, proteins or metabolites, and use of other possible biomarkers.
• Large-scale, population-based approaches will require significant infrastructure investment, for collection of data from subjects, as well as data storage and sharing.
• Translational research will be needed to validate initial findings and explore their potential for practical use in healthcare.
• Greater collaboration will be needed between academia, health service providers, industry and governments across Europe, to help ensure that research recognises and responds to the practicalities of healthcare delivery.
• A more consistent European-wide approach to patenting would aid the conversion of research into practice.
• Greater consistency in procedures for securing informed consent and other ethical approvals would help data sharing. Broader consent would also be advantageous, so individuals would not have to be contacted each time new use of data was being considered.