Galliera Genetic Bank: A DNA and Cell Line Biobank from Patients Affected by Genetic Diseases

The Galliera Genetic Bank is part of the Laboratory of Human Genetics of Galliera Hospital in Genoa and has collected samples from patients affected by genetic diseases since 1983. Presently, it stores 10,259 biospecimens and associated data from about 200 genetic disorders. The most representative disorders are chromosome disorders (Down s., Ring chromosome 14 s., Cri du chat s. and Isodicentric 15 chromosome), neurological diseases (Fragile X s., Mowat Wilson s. and Dravet s.), rare bone diseases (Crouzon s., Achondroplasia, Grieg s. and Thanathophoric dwarfism), overgrowth syndromes (Sotos s.), familial hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and other rare disease such as IPEX and Aarskog s. The biobank has been supported by Italian Telethon grants since 1993 and since 2008 is partner of the Telethon Network of Genetic Biobanks. It operates according to Italian and international regulations. Since 2008 the biobank is certified ISO 9001, and in 2010 it was officially authorized by the Liguria Region to operate as a facility in support of diagnosis and research on genetic diseases. Since its inception, the biobank has offered the following services to the biomedical community: (i) access to sample and data collection; (ii) sample processing (e.g., cell lines establishment, DNA/RNA extraction, etc); (iii) preservation of biological specimens and related data (repository service), garnering more than 110 acknowledgements in scientific articles.

Since 1983 the Galliera Genetic Bank (GGB) has collected biospecimens and related data from patients and families with genetic disorders, including rare ones, making samples and data available to the scientific community. Incoming samples derive from both internal and external clinical services. In addition the biobank provides a repository service devoted to specific research projects.
The GGB has made full use of the laboratory activity, skilled in pre-and post-natal diagnoses of chromosomal and several other genetic disorders, to collect well-characterized biosamples and associated data.
Since 1993 the biobank has become a core facility granted by the Italian Telethon Foundation. This financial support has partially ensured the biobank sustainability over the years and it has led to the definition of a government system. In 2000 the GGB dynamic sample catalogue was activated allowing scientists to browse it and request specific samples for their studies. To enhance its potential, GGB took part, as a founding member, in the creation of the Telethon Network of Genetic Biobanks (TNGB), in 2008. To date the TNGB coordinates 11 biobanks across Italy (http://biobanknetwork.telethon.it/) with the aim to harmonise and standardize procedures and activities through the adoption of a unique centrally coordinated IT infrastructure [1]. In connection with this, the biobank also became a partner of EuroBioBank (www.eurobiobank.org) in 2011 [2] and joined the Italian node of BBMRI-ERIC (http://www.bbmri. it/) in 2014. More recently in 2015 GGB has been included in the catalogue of the European rare diseases (RD) biobanks (http://catalogue.rd-connect.eu/web/galliera-genetic-bank/ bb_home), which is being achieved under the FP7 program RD-Connect (www.rd-connect.eu) [3]. GGB main aims are: (i) providing a high quality service to the biomedical community as a support to research projects on genetic diseases making well documented biospecimens available to researchers; (ii) collecting samples and data from patients suffering from still undiagnosed genetic diseases in order to enable future diagnosis; (iii) promoting the biobank activities within Patients Associations, offering them an effective service for the worldwide collection and centralization of rare samples for specific research projects [4].

Classification (2)
Biological samples and associated data The Galliera Genetic Bank has been active since 1983, at the time of writing the biobank is operating. Dates: from 1983 to present.

Temporal coverage for accessibility
Not applicable

Steps
To deposit biological samples users are requested to fill in a submission form detailing: subject/patient's personal details (name, date of birth, address, ethnic origin, gender), essential anamnestic data (presence of consanguinity and/or familiarity, tissues and/or organs anomalies, laboratory test anomalies, etc.), data about diagnosis or suspected diagnosis (centre performing diagnosis and methodology used), phenotype (affected/not affected) and sample information (type, date of sampling, etc.). According to Italian laws, GGB only accepts samples accompanied by an informed consent signed by the donor or his/her legal representative. Once a sample arrives at the biobank, the staff check its quality, the accuracy of labelling and make sure it is accompanied by the signed informed consent and the submission form. To protect donor's identity, each new sample arriving at GGB immediately receives an alphanumeric code. The Biobank Curator and authorised staff members are the only ones entitled to decode the donor's identity and to track back the linked data (clinical, genetic, genealogical, etc.). The access to the database is controlled by double personalised passwords and it is restricted to the GGB staff only to prevent the risk of illegal or non authorised accesses. The service guidelines, biobank contacts and forms are available on the biobank web-site: ggb.galliera.it. Contact the biobank staff before sending biological samples is recommended to avoid shipping problems. Room temperature (cultured cell lines and DNA samples) and/or dry ice (frozen cells, tissues and RNA samples)

Quality assurance measures
The entirety of biobank activities (e.g., sample collection, processing, storage and distribution) complies with Italian regulations and its operational quality system is certified ISO 9001 in order to guarantee high quality standards in terms of procedures, sample preservation, security and respect of privacy. The biobank has also obtained the SIGUCERT© Certification, a Quality Assurance Standards for genetic biobanks developed by Italian Society of Human Genetics (http://www.sigu.net/ show/documenti/5/1/linee%20guida). The Biobank quality system lays down the following procedures: -Check for cell lines vitality and exclusion of contamination by bacteria, fungi and mycoplasma -Routine mycoplasma contamination assessment in cell cultures before shipping -Check for nucleic acids integrity by Nanodrop and agarose gel electrophoresis -STR analysis for samples authentication -Cryo room/Cold room equipped with n°7 liquid nitrogen refrigerators with restricted access to biobank staff only -Freezers and CO 2 incubators equipped with alarm systems to check temperature and CO 2 variations.

Source of associated data
Clinicians and researchers who deposit samples to the GGB are responsible for associated data. The sources of associated data are laboratory and clinical reports.

Ethics Statement
The most recent version of the GGB informed consent form has been approved by the Subjects and their relatives (healthy carriers, normal controls) affected by several different genetic diseases. General, genetic and clinical data available for each sample.

Size of the bioresource
Total number of biospecimens: 10,259.
Estimated number at the end of the project: not applicable.

Vital state of patients/source
Alive donors at the time of sampling and prenatal samples

Clinical diagnosis of patients/source
Various genetic diseases (diagnosed and still undiagnosed) and normal controls

Pathology diagnosis
Chromosomal disorders, genetic diseases, rare diseases

Control samples
Healthy relatives of affected patients and healthy subjects with normal anamnesis data and genetic testing with respect to the pathology of interest (e.g. intellectual disabilities associated with chromosomal disorders, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, mild cognitive impairment, etc).

Size of the bioresource
Total number of biospecimens: 10,259.
Estimated number at the end of the project: not applicable.
The biobank operates as a facility of the hosting institution that has ensured its sustainability over the years. Telethon grants have enabled the biobank to improve its procedures and policies in order to provide researchers with high quality services.

Access criteria
Samples are made available to users for research purposes according to the following access rules: an adequate portion of the sample is safeguarded to the patient's advantage to allow retrospective analyses samples are made available only to qualified professionals working at research or medical institutions engaged in scientific projects on genetic diseases appropriate justification for use (description of the research project, grant sponsor, expected results) -samples provided must be used only for the research project stated on a relevant form by the Principal Investigator biobank must be properly acknowledged in scientific publications for having provided the biospecimens and /or related services users are requested to pay for shipping and distribution costs. The biobank distribution service is subject to cost recovery.

(4) Reuse potential
Sample request management is fully handled through the IT infrastructure shared by all the TNGB partners. Users can select the samples of interest by browsing the TNGB catalogue available at http://biobanknetwork. telethon.it/. Users online registration is mandatory to submit requests of samples. All requests are collected in a Request Control Panel where all biobank directors (i.e., Network Board) can review the requests on the basis of the access rules and priority criteria stated in the TNGB Charter. Once the request has been approved by the Network Board, the TNGB coordination office assigns it to the sampleholding biobank's staff, who will send a "Material Transfer Agreement" form for acceptance of the TNGB policy.
Users are requested to inform biobank(s) of any published scientific paper resulting from the supplied by filling the "Confirmation of sample use" form.
Up to now the Galliera Genetic Bank has been acknowledged in 112 scientific papers.