EUSTAR biobanking: Recommendations for the collection, storage and distribution of biospecimens in scleroderma research

Christian Beyer, Jörg H.W. Distler, Yannick Allanore, Martin Aringer, Jérôme Avouac, László Czirják, Maurizio Cutolo, Nemanja Damjanov, Francesco Del Galdo, Kim Fligelstone, Serena Guiducci, Otylia Kowal-Bielecka, Jacob M. Van Laar, Marco Martucci-Cerinic, Ulf Müller-Ladner, Gabriela Riemekasten, Ingo H. Tarner, Alan Tyndall, Ann Tyrrell Kennedy, Gabriele ValentiniSerena Vettori, Ulrich A. Walker, Christopher Denton, Oliver Distler*

*Corresponding author for this work
19 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

The European League Against Rheumatism Scleroderma Trials and Research Group (EUSTAR) has established an online database with clinical data of currently more than 8200 patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc). In addition to clinical research, EUSTAR fosters biomolecular studies to develop novel biomarkers and therapies for SSc. High-quality biospecimens are the basis for successful biomolecular studies. The EUSTAR biobanking group has therefore developed recommendations to standardise the collection, storage and distribution of SSc biospecimens at EUSTAR centres. These recommendations consider the scientific challenges associated with biomolecular research in SSc and the organisational requirements of EUSTAR. They were approved by the EUSTAR executive committee as well as the EUSTAR board. Once they become effective, these recommendations will be the basis for international EUSTAR studies with large numbers of SSc biospecimens. These recommendations might also be followed by other SSc consortia to enable exchange of biosamples between different SSc initiatives and might serve as a template for biobanking initiatives in other rheumatic diseases.

Original languageEnglish
JournalAnnals of the Rheumatic Diseases
Volume70
Issue number7
Pages (from-to)1178-1182
Number of pages5
ISSN0003-4967
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 07.2011

Research Areas and Centers

  • Academic Focus: Center for Infection and Inflammation Research (ZIEL)

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