PI: Davide Maria Donati, Istituto Ortopedico Rizzoli
IRE Principal Collaborators Involved: Simona Di Martino

Project duration: 24 months

Project code: PNRR-TR1-2023-12377233

The project aims to develop a biobank network among major sarcoma treatment centers in Italy to enhance biomedical research. Biobanks are legal entities that manage the acquisition, storage, and distribution of biological samples and associated data, which are crucial for health and medical research.

Establish a consolidated network among four major institutions to collect a significant number of samples and information to be shared according to current regulations.

Improve sarcoma knowledge and facilitate new research studies and future clinical trials.

Implementation of existing biobanks: Integrate phenotypic, genomic, and clinical data to build the patient's clinical history, standardizing the IT infrastructure to allow sharing of biospecimens and related data among the operating units.

Creation of a new biobank: Establish a certified biobank at the AORN Santobono-Pausilipon Children's Hospital in Naples, affiliated with an already accredited public or private entity at the regional or national level.

Federated connection among biobanks: Create or modify existing biobank networks for new purposes or technologies, improving quality control measures and establishing data-sharing protocols.

Expected Results:

Creation of a minimum common information set among the different operating units to collect the same information and define a list of histotypes.

Definition of standard operating procedures (SOPs) for the management, storage, and sharing of samples and associated data.

Acquisition of facilities and personnel to manage the new biobank at UO3.

Digital pathology system and certified courier to share samples in each elected biobank.

This project represents a significant step towards creating a national biobank network for musculoskeletal sarcoma patients, improving the quality and quantity of samples available for research and facilitating knowledge sharing among specialized centers.