Universal DataBase for the Geneva pediatric onco-hematology biobank – BaHOP

Abstract

Introduction The increasing importance of repository to research cannot be overstated. Registries linked to biorepositories are gaining importance for the development of a sustainable impact on cancer research, generating a high-quality resource with clinical annotation of relevant biological samples. This is complemented by the growing demand for biobanks to deliver high-quality samples and, go beyond accurate knowledge of sample locations. With the spread usage of the OMICS technology, the amount of created data augmented exponentially, raising new challenges for the improvement of Biobank Information Management System architecture structure and, their interoperability for further downstream analysis. Objective The evaluation and implementation of an Information Management system, which includes biobanking and laboratory features, that will link all the activities of the Biobank in Pediatric Hematology and Oncology BaHOP, at Geneva University Hospital. Methods To select, evaluate, and implement a suitable IT system for the activities of the BaHOP biobank, we conducted tasks according to project management phase approach. We identified the following steps: i) Biobank workflow analysis; ii) Requirement identification through iterative interview cycles and documentation analysis; iii) Selection process for the identification of suitable software; and iv) Dataset identification. Results During the biobank workflow analysis i), we identified major process categories to be taken over by the selected BIMS. The requirement identification process ii), allowed the documentation of prerequisites which were divided into functional, non-functional, and system attributes. iii) Different criteria, as base functionality, chain of custody or sample, and data management, were chosen to allow the selection of the best fitting systems to our business activities. iv) A set of attributes were identified and constrains defined. Conclusion The selection of commercial systems has proven to be an evidence to comply to quality and to national process harmonization. We performed state of the art process to first evaluate, select an IT system solution which best fits the majority of BaHOP biobank requirements. We successfully established a communication strategy to mitigate the pitfalls. We demonstrate and gave hints on how a small size research biobank can make the acquisition of a right for purpose BIMS by applying project management techniques.

Datum der Bewilligung	2020
Originalsprache	Englisch
Gradverleihende Hochschule	Medizinische Universität Graz
Betreuer/-in	Karine Sargsyan (Betreuer*in)