European Journal of Human Genetics - Abstract of article: Rethinking biobanking and translational medicine in the Netherlands: how the research process stands to matter for patient care

European Journal of Human Genetics - Abstract of article: Rethinking biobanking and translational medicine in the Netherlands: how the research process stands to matter for patient care

Ethics, Policy & Law

Rethinking biobanking and translational medicine in the Netherlands: how the research process stands to matter for patient care 
Conor MW Douglas and Philip Scheltens. EJHGSeptember 17, 2014

Viewpoint

European Journal of Human Genetics advance online publication 17 September 2014; doi: 10.1038/ejhg.2014.186

Rethinking biobanking and translational medicine in the Netherlands: how the research process stands to matter for patient care

Conor MW Douglas^1,2,5 and Philip Scheltens^3,4

1. ¹Section of Community Genetics, EMGO Institute for Health and Care Research, VU University Medical Center Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
2. ²Collaboration for Outcomes Research and Evaluation (CORE), Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
3. ³Alzheimercentrum, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
4. ⁴Parelsnoer Instituut, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

Correspondence: Dr CMW Douglas, Collaboration for Outcomes Research and Evaluation (CORE), Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of British Columbia, 4103A-2405 Wesbrook Mall, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada V6T1Z3. Tel: +1 604 822 8959; Fax: +1 604 827 4014; E-mail: conor.douglas@ubc.ca

⁵Current mailing address: Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences—Collaboration for Outcomes Research and Evaluation (CORE), The University of British Columbia, Office number 4103A, 2405 Wesbrook Mall, Vancouver, BC, Canada V6T 1Z3

Received 17 February 2014; Revised 20 June 2014; Accepted 12 July 2014
Advance online publication 17 September 2014

Topof page

Abstract

Biobanking has been identified as one of the key components of translational medicine, and while current models for translation tend to focus their attention on how the products of research projects are fed back into health-care practices, we suggest that in addition to that the research process itself can have beneficial effects on the delivery of high-quality health care by streamlining diagnostic and follow-up protocols, reduced patient waiting times, and facilitating data comparison across patients. This Viewpoint is based on experiences with, and observations of, the neurodegenerative component of a clinical biobanking initiative in the Netherlands called the Parelsnoer Institute (PSI), which links all eight of the University Medical Centers for harmonized and standardized collection and storage processes for multiple disease conditions.