International standardisation and implementation of CoBRA guideline: Contribution to the future use of samples

International Conference and Exhibition on Tissue Preservation & Bio-banking

July 20-22, 2015 Barcelona, Spain

Elena Bravo1, Alessia Calzolari1, Paola De Castro1, Laurence Mabile2, Federica Napolitani1, Mariarosaria Napolitano1, Anna Maria Rossi1 and Anne Cambon Thomsen2

Scientific Tracks Abstracts: J Tissue Sci Eng

Abstract :

In the last decade intensive work and initiatives in biobanking produced great success in the awareness of the importance of sharing bioresources. However, a global recognised standard to compare biospecimens quality and appropriate knowledge on available resources are still missing. Consequently, access to the samples for research and for development of biotechnological applications is still unsatisfactory. The work carried on by the Technical Committee (TC) 276 of Organization for Standardization (ISO) responsible for development and adoption of international standardization for Biotechnology is a further step to facilitate the exchange of goods and services through the elimination of technical barriers to trade. It is expected that TC276�?? outcomes in the field of �??Biobanking and Bioresources�?� will give a major impulse to global use of samples and data. The value of sharing bioresources is scarcely recognised and their use is hardly reconducted to the efforts for establishing and maintaining a biobank. Moreover, simple tools to identify the use of biospecimens and data are still lacking. A key element for assessing the use and the research impact of bioresources is their systematic citation in journal articles. In between BRIF (BioResource Impact Factor) initiatives, the journal editors�?? subgroup addressed this point and recently published CoBRA (Citation of BioResources in journal Articles) guideline. The implementation of ISO standards and CoBRA guideline will impact on the future use of resources, improving comparability, rewording biobanking infrastructure organization and favoring the access to the appropriate knowledge of samples, with a marked effect on science reproducibility and scientific reporting.

Biography :

Elena Bravo, after graduation in Biochemistry at the University �??La Sapienza�?� in Rome and Postgraduate formation in Clinical Chemistry, focused her research on metabolism of cholesterol. She managed several projects contributing to knowledge on the mechanisms by which lipophilic soluble macronutrients and micronutrients carried by postprandial lipoproteins influence foam cells formation and macrophages inflammatory status. She is actually Senior Researcher at the National Health Institute, delegate of the Italian representative in European legal consortium BBMRI-ERIC; member of the BBMRI. She is a part of steering committee and of the international ISO-Technical Committee 276 on Biotechology, and co-chair of the BRIF Journal editors subgroup.