Abstract
Background: Rare diseases (RDs) are often neglected because they affect a small percentage of the population (6-8 %), which makes research and development of new therapies challenging processes. Easy access to high-quality samples and associated clinical data is therefore a key prerequisite for biomedical research. In this context, Genetic Biobanks are critical to developing basic, translational and clinical research on RDs. The Telethon Network of Genetic Biobanks (TNGB) is aware of the importance of biobanking as a service for patients and has started a dialogue with RD-Patient Organisations via promotion of dedicated meetings and round-tables, as well as by including their representatives on the TNGB Advisory Board. This has enabled the active involvement of POs in drafting biobank policies and procedures, including those concerning ethical issues. Here, we report on our experience with RD-Patient Organisations who have requested the services of existing biobanks belonging to TNGB and describe how these relationships were established, formalised and maintained. Results: The process of patient engagement has proven to be successful both for lay members, who increased their understanding of the complex processes of biobanking, and for professionals, who gained awareness of the needs and expectations of the people involved. This collaboration has resulted in a real interest on the part of Patient Organisations in the biobanking service, which has led to 13 written agreements designed to formalise this process. These agreements enabled the centralisation of rare genetic disease biospecimens and their related data, thus making them available to the scientific community. Conclusions: The TNGB experience has proven to be an example of good practice with regard to patient engagement in biobanking and may serve as a model of collaboration between disease-oriented Biobanks and Patient Organisations. Such collaboration serves to enhance awareness and trust and to encourage the scientific community to address research on RDs.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 1-8 |
| Number of pages | 8 |
| Journal | Orphanet Journal of Rare Diseases |
| Volume | 11 |
| Issue number | 1 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - Oct 24 2016 |
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Keywords
- Agreements
- Biobanking
- Networking
- Patient involvement
- Patient organisations
- Rare diseases
- Research
- Sample and data centralisation
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Medicine(all)
- Genetics(clinical)
- Pharmacology (medical)
Cite this
The alliance between genetic biobanks and patient organisations : the experience of the telethon network of genetic biobanks. / Baldo, C.; Casareto, Lorena; Renieri, Alessandra; Merla, Giuseppe; Garavaglia, Barbara; Goldwurm, Stefano; Pegoraro, E.; Moggio, Maurizio Gualtiero; Mora, Marina; Politano, L.; Sangiorgi, Luca; Mazzotti, Raffaella; Viotti, Valeria; Meloni, Ilaria; Pellico, Maria Teresa; Barzaghi, Chiara; Wang, Chiuhui Mary; Monaco, Lucia; Filocamo, Mirella.
In: Orphanet Journal of Rare Diseases, Vol. 11, No. 1, 24.10.2016, p. 1-8.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - The alliance between genetic biobanks and patient organisations
T2 - the experience of the telethon network of genetic biobanks
AU - Baldo, C.
AU - Casareto, Lorena
AU - Renieri, Alessandra
AU - Merla, Giuseppe
AU - Garavaglia, Barbara
AU - Goldwurm, Stefano
AU - Pegoraro, E.
AU - Moggio, Maurizio Gualtiero
AU - Mora, Marina
AU - Politano, L.
AU - Sangiorgi, Luca
AU - Mazzotti, Raffaella
AU - Viotti, Valeria
AU - Meloni, Ilaria
AU - Pellico, Maria Teresa
AU - Barzaghi, Chiara
AU - Wang, Chiuhui Mary
AU - Monaco, Lucia
AU - Filocamo, Mirella
PY - 2016/10/24
Y1 - 2016/10/24
N2 - Background: Rare diseases (RDs) are often neglected because they affect a small percentage of the population (6-8 %), which makes research and development of new therapies challenging processes. Easy access to high-quality samples and associated clinical data is therefore a key prerequisite for biomedical research. In this context, Genetic Biobanks are critical to developing basic, translational and clinical research on RDs. The Telethon Network of Genetic Biobanks (TNGB) is aware of the importance of biobanking as a service for patients and has started a dialogue with RD-Patient Organisations via promotion of dedicated meetings and round-tables, as well as by including their representatives on the TNGB Advisory Board. This has enabled the active involvement of POs in drafting biobank policies and procedures, including those concerning ethical issues. Here, we report on our experience with RD-Patient Organisations who have requested the services of existing biobanks belonging to TNGB and describe how these relationships were established, formalised and maintained. Results: The process of patient engagement has proven to be successful both for lay members, who increased their understanding of the complex processes of biobanking, and for professionals, who gained awareness of the needs and expectations of the people involved. This collaboration has resulted in a real interest on the part of Patient Organisations in the biobanking service, which has led to 13 written agreements designed to formalise this process. These agreements enabled the centralisation of rare genetic disease biospecimens and their related data, thus making them available to the scientific community. Conclusions: The TNGB experience has proven to be an example of good practice with regard to patient engagement in biobanking and may serve as a model of collaboration between disease-oriented Biobanks and Patient Organisations. Such collaboration serves to enhance awareness and trust and to encourage the scientific community to address research on RDs.
AB - Background: Rare diseases (RDs) are often neglected because they affect a small percentage of the population (6-8 %), which makes research and development of new therapies challenging processes. Easy access to high-quality samples and associated clinical data is therefore a key prerequisite for biomedical research. In this context, Genetic Biobanks are critical to developing basic, translational and clinical research on RDs. The Telethon Network of Genetic Biobanks (TNGB) is aware of the importance of biobanking as a service for patients and has started a dialogue with RD-Patient Organisations via promotion of dedicated meetings and round-tables, as well as by including their representatives on the TNGB Advisory Board. This has enabled the active involvement of POs in drafting biobank policies and procedures, including those concerning ethical issues. Here, we report on our experience with RD-Patient Organisations who have requested the services of existing biobanks belonging to TNGB and describe how these relationships were established, formalised and maintained. Results: The process of patient engagement has proven to be successful both for lay members, who increased their understanding of the complex processes of biobanking, and for professionals, who gained awareness of the needs and expectations of the people involved. This collaboration has resulted in a real interest on the part of Patient Organisations in the biobanking service, which has led to 13 written agreements designed to formalise this process. These agreements enabled the centralisation of rare genetic disease biospecimens and their related data, thus making them available to the scientific community. Conclusions: The TNGB experience has proven to be an example of good practice with regard to patient engagement in biobanking and may serve as a model of collaboration between disease-oriented Biobanks and Patient Organisations. Such collaboration serves to enhance awareness and trust and to encourage the scientific community to address research on RDs.
KW - Agreements
KW - Biobanking
KW - Networking
KW - Patient involvement
KW - Patient organisations
KW - Rare diseases
KW - Research
KW - Sample and data centralisation
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84992220762&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=84992220762&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1186/s13023-016-0527-7
DO - 10.1186/s13023-016-0527-7
M3 - Article
VL - 11
SP - 1
EP - 8
JO - Orphanet Journal of Rare Diseases
JF - Orphanet Journal of Rare Diseases
SN - 1750-1172
IS - 1
ER -