In English: COVID-19 General Biobank
OUS has established a prospective research biobank for COVID-19 samples. Specific research projects retain control over their own samples, and support is provided for consumables and electronic sample tracking (eBiobank). A broad consent form for the general research biobank covers all project consents that do not involve clinical intervention.
All research biobanks established in connection with COVID-19 research projects should, as a main principle, be included in the general COVID-19 research biobank. Although the samples are part of the general research biobank, all specific projects will have exclusive access to samples collected for Regional Ethics Committee (REC) approved projects for the duration of the project. The specific project collections should use the common broad consent form and the shared eBiobank account. The general COVID-19 research biobank thus consists of both project-independent collected material, surplus material from clinical samples collected during hospitalization, and project-specific biobank collections. The purpose is to create a common collection at OUS of COVID-19 relevant human material that can be used for current and future research projects on the topic.
The REC has approved the establishment of the general COVID-19 research biobank based on broad consent. The biobank is hosted at the Division of Laboratory Medicine (KLM) with Prof. Lars Eide as biobank manager.
The project-specific collections will be managed by separate expert councils established by the project leader, which will handle established obligations and future requests for samples. The management is regulated through statutes developed in collaboration with all parties involved.
The assembly of the OUS heads of divisions supported the organization of a general COVID-19 research biobank on June 16, 2020 (219/20 COVID-19: Organization of general research biobank and coordination of research, p360 20/13539).