Abstract 5520: How widely shared are institutional human biospecimen resources: a comparison of an institutional-level response versus a PI-level response
Authors: O'Connell Mary A. , Oushy Mai H. , Vilchis Leticia O. , Ramirez Amelie G. , Gallion Kipling , Holden Alan 
Published: August 2012

Introduction/Background: The MinorityBiospecimen/Biobanking-Geographic Management Program (BMaP) is supported by the CRCHD of the NCI, to create state-of-the-art networks/centers dedicated to ensuring the adequate and continuous supply of high-quality human biospecimens from multi-ethnic communities for cancer research. A regional hub infrastructure was established with specific cores: administration, training, bioinformatics, biospecimen/biobanking, community translation, emerging technologies, and ethical-legal-policy issues. Two survey tools were employed to identify regional resources, including biospecimen collection and sharing practices: the NCI-developed Readiness Assessment Tool (RAT) and a regional-specific online Comprehensive Needs Assessment (CNA). These tools demonstrated the absence of central institutional biospecimen records at our partner institutions. This observation prompted a qualitativepilot study to assess the attitudes and barriers of researchers in the region to sharing biospecimens and participating in a virtual national biorepository. Methods: An online survey tool was developed to assess general receptiveness toward biobanks, presumed usefulness of biobanks, and perceived attitudes and barriers in recruiting patients for biobanks. We identified investigators working directly and indirectly, or planning to work with human biospecimens at Region 4 institutions (AZ, CO, NM, OK, TX). Participants’ email addresses were obtained from a publically available NIH-funded database (NIH RePorter), and an email inviting them to participate was sent along with the secure link to access the survey online. Participants were followed up with reminder emails at 2 and 4 weeks to complete the survey. Results: The RAT and the CNA identified several challenges regarding biospecimen collections: few of the Region 4 participants utilize biospecimens routinely in their research; there are no central institutional biospecimen records, so resource listings are all ad hoc; lack of desire and trust by some ethnic groups to contribute to biospecimen research; biospecimens collection between institutions may have problems due to lack of trust between target populations; and certain collaborating institutions and some repositories fail to cooperate due to competition, territorial issues, and lack of communication. Results from the pilot study will help generate recommendations and hypotheses regarding biospecmien sharing and participation in a virtual national biorepository among the 485 Region 4 researchers. Identifying the barriers to sharing biospecimens and participating in a national virtual biorepository will in turn result in strengthening collaborative opportunities among researchers in the region through the sharing of biospecimen data collections.

Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 103rd Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2012 Mar 31-Apr 4; Chicago, IL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2012;72(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 5520. doi:1538-7445.AM2012-5520