EP OWENS1,2, W HOY1,3, JS COOMBES1,4, G GOBE1,2
1NHMRC CKD CRE, Brisbane, Queensland; 2Diamantina Institute, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland; 3 Centre for Chronic Disease, Faculty of Medicine, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland; 4School of Human Movement and Nutrition Sciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane
Aim: To establish a chronic kidney disease (CKD).Biobank for future research by the Chronic Kidney Disease Centre of Research Excellence (CKD.CRE), domestic, and international researchers.
Background: CKD is a major health and economic burden within Australia. To advance our understanding of the pathophysiological mechanisms of CKD, and develop much needed prognostic/diagnostic tests and therapies, access to quality bio-specimens and clinical data from CKD patients and matched healthy controls is necessary.
Methods: Ethics and governance approval for the establishment of the CKD.Biobank and subsequent collection and storage of bio-specimens was sought. Methodology underpinning the operation of previously establish biobanks, advice from the International Society for Biological and Environmental Repositories, and literature relevant to long term storage of bio-specimens was consulted to create operational procedures for the CKD Biobank.
Results: Ethics was approved in 2015 and governance was approved in 2017 allowing for the collection and storage of blood, urine, saliva (for DNA), and kidney biopsy (where possible) from CKD patients and healthy controls at two large clinical centres in Queensland. Bio-specimens will be stored in screw cap polypropylene cryo-vials, labelled with cryogenic thermal transfer labels, at -80°C in two independent location to minimise risk of sample loss due to unforeseen events. Upon receipt, yield and integrity of bio-specimens will be assessed to allow retrospective assessment of bio-specimen degradation.
Conclusion: The CKD.Biobank will ensure quality and reliable bio-specimens for investigators and allow for sufficient sample size with bio-specimens collected from a heterogeneous CKD population of ~6000. Potentially, this resource will reduce the health and economic burden of CKD, particularly within Australia.