Biobanking

This course will focus on the following topics:

• Biobanks: classifications, common and distinctive features of the different types of biobanks
• National regulations and international conventions concerning biobanks, use of human biological materials and personal data
• Research biobanks: formal and practical aspects of the establishment, operation and use
• Ethical aspects of utilization of human biological materials; The role of Research Ethics Committees
• Different types of consent as basis for biobanking; alternatives to consent
• Logistics and quality management; quality assurance and quality control of collection, storage , retrieval and use of samples
• Methods for analysis of human biological materials; assessment and interpretation of data
• Extraction and quality assessment of DNA and/or RNA from various sources
• Collection and storage of data; databases and data security
• Statistical and epidemiological methods in biobank related research
• The role of biobanks in health surveys like HUNT, Mother-Child etc.
• Research for the future: National and transnational genetic and epidemiological research collaboration.

After completing the course MOL3009, the student should be able to:

• describe and explain universal and special features of the different types of biobanks
• explain the different conditions and requirements that must be fulfilled with regard to operation and use of research biobanks
• describe quality management, quality assurance, logistics and data management related to biobanks
• discuss ethical issues and policy guidance regarding research involving human biological materials
• outline the main features of laws and other directives which are relevant for biobanking
• discuss the use and the potential utility values of biobanks
• outline how to establish and operate a biobank
• describe in detail the application process for the establishment of a research biobank
• sketch the plan for a research project using human biological material

Lectures, seminar, group exercises, laboratory exercise, excursion, term paper. The language of teaching and examination is English. If less than 5 students students sign up, the course will be cancelled.