Frozen Blood
On December 5, Uppsala Biobank arranged the information day Frozen Blood. The audience gathered in Grönwallsalen was given insight into many different perspectives on how research samples in biobanks create added value for researchers, patients, and society, and shorten the lead times from research hypothesis to results.
Anna-Karin Wikström, Director of Research at Uppsala University Hospital, emphasized how valuable it is to have access to biobanks as an easily accessible and specialized infrastructure pdf, 164 kB., and illustrated this with her own sample collection used to predict pregnancy complications.
Eskil Degsell, Patient and Family Advocate
at Karolinska University Hospital, reminded the audience that sample collection is a responsibility based on trust pdf, 542 kB., and that we must not overlook those who choose not to give consent to biobanking. These individuals often belong to the very groups who stand to benefit the most from research, and to truly move forward, it is essential that we ensure that all voices are heard, Degsell emphasized.
Uppsala Biobank illustrated, through a series of short presentations, how biobanks operate, what the regulatory framework entails, how a health-care integrated model has been developed to enable the efficient collection of research samples with consistent quality pdf, 1 MB., and how, over the past year, a growing demand from reasearchers was met by establishing a collection model based on home sampling pdf, 697 kB. in parallel.
Johan Sundström, Consultant in Cardiology at Uppsala University Hospital and Professor of Epidemiology at Uppsala University, outlined in a visionary manner how this very collection model, in combination with self-monitoring of blood pressure, is already being used to identify and offer preventive treatment to a large group of individuals with previously undetected risk factors for cardiovascular disease pdf, 2 MB..
Maria Rosestedt, Coordinator at U-CAN, described how the project's prospective collection of samples from cancer patients has generated more than 220 published scientific articles pdf, 1 MB., with results that are saving lives. Simon Cervenka, Consultant Psychiatrist at Uppsala University Hospital and Professor of Psychiatry at Uppsala University, followed up with an address on how biobank samples contribute in the ongoing search for biological disease mechanisms underlying psychotic disorders.
- The title may give off a thriller-like feel, but I believe we have all learned a great deal today, said Björn Arvidsson, Research and Innovation Director of Region Uppsala, in his concluding statement as the day's moderator; in this role, he also skillfully prompted the audience to come up with many insightful questions to the speakers.
Throughout this rich diversity of experiences and stories, one message consistently emerged and was agreed upon unanimously by all speakers: biobanks are essential, now and in the future!