BIOREQ: Model Requirements for the Management of Biological Repositories

BioReq is a comprehensive guideline which covers the full range of research and operation activities applicable to biological repositories or biobanks.


This Guideline is intended to be used for the following purposes:

  • As the basis for creating a custom Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) Manual: the requirements presented in this Guideline can be transformed into SOP statements. Using the Guideline as a basis of SOP guarantees that all relevant areas are covered.
  • As a checklist of standards compliance: This Guideline incorporates ISO, OECD and NCI recommendations which apply to the operation of biorepositories. Since each requirement articulates a single recommendation which is either adhered to or not, there is no need for a separate audit checklist.
  • To guide the design and development of Biobank Software Systems (BSS): software vendors can rely on this Guideline as an aid to guide product development.
  • To evaluate BSS products: this Guideline can be used to evaluate the services of an existing BSS implementation, and compare the various BSS products available on the market.

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DRSCREEN: Developing a computer-based image processing system for diabetic retinopathy screening

The aim of the project is to develop an automated image analysing system for retinopathy screening (ophthalmological application). The function of the system being developed in the project is to separate the pathological and the normal retina by the digital images. We would like to use the system in the frame of the "English National Screening Programme for diabetic retinopathy" and other similar screening programs in the future. The system is able to pre-screen the patients without the contribution of professional staff. Only those patients who were found positive by the system will be directed to medical examination, reducing the burden of health care system.

Moorfields Eye Hospital (London, England) – one of the most prestigious eye clinic in the world - will be involved in the research and the clinical validation.
 
Partners: University of Debrecen and 3T Research
 
For more information on the project please visit: http://www.drscreen.eu

SCHIZO: Biobank based biomarker discovery and molecular mechanism research to support antipsychotic drug development

The aim of the project is to develop biomarkers and methods to support, rationalize and accelerate the discovery and development of novel drugs for the treatment of psychotic disorders. As a result more effective drugs with fewer side effects than the existing ones can be put on the market.

Partners: Gedeon Richter, University of Debrecen, UD-Genomed, Hungarian Clinical Neurogenetic Society

For more information on the project please visit: http://www.schizobank.eu

Joint Research on Melanoma Therapy

Melanoma is an aggressive malignancy with a continuously increasing incidence – and unfortunately with limited therapeutic potentials.

The first aim of the project is to develop a state-of-the-art bioinformatics tool to predict and optimize the expression profile and the behavioural pattern of the target melanoma cells effecting RNA-based vectors.

The second aim is to determine optimized RNA-based vectors for melanoma vaccination using the bioinformatic tool developed. Immunomodulation and direct targeting of signaling pathways in malignant melanoma are promising directions in melanoma therapy research.

Preliminary results are convincing: upon administration of the compound, a longer survival period and a better progression rate was observed in mice. After modifications identified and carried out through the collaborative work, enhanced efficiency is hoped to be attained. Later on a clinical trial might be initiated.

Partner: Molecular Biophysics Institute at the CNRS campus of Orléans