Brief overview
Core information to the SCQM Biobank
- Location of the biobank: Serothek Centre of Geneva University Hospital Departement de Médecine génétique et de Laboratoire (Head: Prof. Denis Hochstrasser) Geneva University Hospital
- Project management: Prof. Cem Gabay, Head of Rheumatology Department, Geneva University Hospital, President SGR, Vice President SCQM
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Members of the Scientific Advisory Board:
- Prof. Cem Gabay, Chief Physician Rheumatology, Geneva University Hospital
- Prof. Paul Hasler, Chief Physician Rheumatology, Kantonsspital Aarau
- Prof. Johannes von Kempis, Chief Physician Rheumatology, Kantonsspital St. Gallen
- Prof. Beat Michel, Chief Physician Rheumatology, University Hospital Zurich
- Prof. Alexander So, Chief Physician Rheumatology, University Hospital Lausanne
- Prof. Alan Tyndal, Chief Physician Rheumatology, Felix Platter Spital, Basel
- Prof. Peter Villiger, Chief Physician Rheumatology, Inselspital, Bern
- Primary objective: If possible, a sample of serum and DNA from all patients who are included in the SCQM registry and those who are still to be added to it. Depending on the research project, further samples (from individual patients) may become necessary.
- Who is allowed to research? The clinical data and the biobank data are available to all researchers. Project applications must be submitted, which will then be assessed and approved by the Scientific Advisory Board and by the Foundation Board of SCQM and an ethics committee (Rules for research and collaboration).
- Which patients? All patients who are included in the SCQM registry, as long as they have provided their written consent to biomaterials being collected (Patient information / Declaration of consent)
- How are the biosamples collected?
- Material: SCQM provides the materials required for taking blood and transporting the samples.
- When: The samples should be taken as part of a standard blood taking procedure, so as not to burden the patient unnecessarily.
- Processing: When collecting serum, the blood must be centrifuged on location. The serum must then be cooled to -20 degrees Celcius, before being stored. The blood for the DNA analysis must also be cooled and stored at -20 degrees Celcius. The taking of the blood sample is recorded in the online database. This will then inform the relevant SCQM staff member that samples need to be collected.
- Transportation: The samples are collected from the practices or hospitals by a courier. They are transported in a cool box with dry ice. Both are provided by the courier. The samples are picked up every four weeks. SCQM will inform the practices or clinics of the collection time/date in advance.
- Storage: The samples are checked upon arrival at the laboratory and subsequently processed for storage according to precisely defined processes. They are stored at -80 degrees Celcius.
- Cost: SCQM Biobank pays for the cost of materials and transportation.
- May a patient withdraw their consent? Yes, upon written request. In such an event, the patient will receive written confirmation from the relevant laboratory technician after their biosamples have been destroyed.