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Cianflone A, Savoia F, Parasole R, Mirabelli P. Pediatric biobanks to enhance clinical and translational research for children. Eur J Pediatr 2023; 182:1459-1468. [PMID: 36692622 PMCID: PMC9871420 DOI: 10.1007/s00431-023-04818-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2022] [Revised: 11/18/2022] [Accepted: 11/26/2022] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
Abstract
Including children in biomedical research is an argument for continual reflection and practice refinement from an ethical and legal standpoint. Indeed, as children reach adulthood, a reconsent method should be used, and data connected with samples should ideally be updated based on the children's growth and long-term results. Furthermore, because most pediatric disorders are uncommon, children's research initiatives should conform to standard operating procedures (SOPs) set by worldwide scientific organizations for successfully sharing data and samples. Here, we examine how pediatric biobanks can help address some challenges to improve biomedical research for children. Indeed, modern biobanks are evolving as complex research platforms with specialized employees, dedicated spaces, information technologies services (ITS), and ethical and legal expertise. In the case of research for children, biobanks can collaborate with scientific networks (i.e., BBMRI-ERIC) and provide the collection, storage, and distribution of biosamples in agreement with international standard procedures (ISO-20387). Close collaboration among biobanks provides shared avenues for maximizing scarce biological samples, which is required to promote the translation of scientific breakthroughs for developing clinical care and health policies tailored to the pediatric population. Moreover, biobanks, through their science communication and dissemination activities (i.e., European Biobank Week), may be helpful for children to understand what it means to be engaged in a research study, allowing them to see it as a pleasant, useful, and empowering experience. Additionally, biobanks can notify each participant about which projects have been accomplished (i.e., through their websites, social media networks, etc.); they can facilitate future reconsent procedures and update sample-associated data based on the children's growth. Finally, because of the increasing interest from public and commercial organizations in research efforts that include the sharing and reuse of health data, pediatric biobanks have a crucial role in this context. Consequently, they could benefit from funding opportunities for sustaining research activities even regarding rare pediatric disorders. Conclusion: Pediatric biobanks are helpful for providing biological material for research purposes, addressing ethical and legal issues (i.e. data protection, consent, etc.), and providing control samples from healthy children of various ages and from different geographical regions and ethnicities. Therefore, it is vital to encourage and maintain children's engagement in medical research programs and biobanking activities, especially as children become adults, and reconsent procedures must be applied. What is Known: • Biobanks are critical research infrastructures for medical research, especially in the era of "omic" science. However, in light of their fragility and rights children's participation in biobanking and medical research programs is a complex argument of continuous debate in scientific literature. What is New: • We propose a review of the literature on pediatric biobanks with a particular focus on oncological biobanks. The main current limitations and challenges for pediatric biobanks are presented and possible solutions are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alessandra Cianflone
- grid.415247.10000 0004 1756 8081Clinical and Translational Research Unit, Santobono-Pausilipon Children’s Hospital, 80129 Naples, Italy
| | - Fabio Savoia
- grid.415247.10000 0004 1756 8081Childhood Cancer Registry of Campania, Santobono-Pausilipon Children’s Hospital, 80129 Naples, Italy
| | - Rosanna Parasole
- grid.415247.10000 0004 1756 8081Clinical and Translational Research Unit, Santobono-Pausilipon Children’s Hospital, 80129 Naples, Italy
| | - Peppino Mirabelli
- Clinical and Translational Research Unit, Santobono-Pausilipon Children's Hospital, 80129, Naples, Italy.
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Casati S, Ellul B, Mayrhofer MT, Lavitrano M, Caboux E, Kozlakidis Z. Paediatric biobanking for health: The ethical, legal, and societal landscape. Front Public Health 2022; 10:917615. [PMID: 36238242 PMCID: PMC9551217 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2022.917615] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2022] [Accepted: 09/06/2022] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Biobanks play a central role in pediatric translational research, which deals primarily with genetic data from sample-based research. However, participation of children in biobanking has received only limited attention in the literature, even though research in general and in clinical trials in particular have a long history in involving minors. So, we resolved to explore specific challenging ethical, legal, and societal issues (ELSI) in the current pediatric biobanking landscape to propose a way forward for biobanking with children as partners in research. Methodologically, we first established the accessibility and utilization of pediatric biobanks, mainly in Europe. This was supported by a literature review related to children's participation, taking into account not only academic papers but also relevant guidelines and best-practices. Our findings are discussed under five themes: general vulnerability; ethical issues-balancing risks and benefits, right to an open future, return of results including secondary findings; legal issues-capacity and legal majority; societal issues-public awareness and empowerment; and responsible research with children. Ultimately, we observed an on-going shift from the parents'/guardians' consent being a sine-qua-non condition to the positive minor's agreement: confirming that the minor is the participant, not the parent(s)/guardian(s). This ethical rethinking is paving the way toward age-appropriate, dynamic and participatory models of involving minors in decision-making. However, we identified a requirement for dynamic tools to assess maturity, a lack of co-produced engagement tools and paucity of shared best practices. We highlight the need to provide empowerment and capability settings to support researchers and biobankers, and back this with practical examples. In conclusion, equipping children and adults with appropriate tools, and ensuring children's participation is at the forefront of responsible pediatric biobanking, is an ethical obligation, and a cornerstone for research integrity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara Casati
- ELSI Services & Research Unit, BBMRI-ERIC, Graz, Austria
| | - Bridget Ellul
- Centre for Molecular Medicine & Biobanking, University of Malta, Msida, Malta
| | | | | | - Elodie Caboux
- Laboratory Services and Biobank, International Agency for Research on Cancer, IARC, WHO, Lyon, France
| | - Zisis Kozlakidis
- Laboratory Services and Biobank, International Agency for Research on Cancer, IARC, WHO, Lyon, France
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Lewis KA, Brooks S, Carrasco R, Carter P, Garcia A, Chiou J, Nguyen C, Rana A, Brown SA, Tiziani S, Osier N. Best practices for recruitment of adolescents for biobanking and precision health research: a retrospective analysis comparing juvenile idiopathic arthritis cases with healthy controls. Pediatr Rheumatol Online J 2021; 19:169. [PMID: 34863185 PMCID: PMC8645089 DOI: 10.1186/s12969-021-00652-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2021] [Accepted: 11/16/2021] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Precision health in adolescents relies on the successful collection of data and biospecimens from an adequately sized sample of cases and comparison group(s), often healthy controls, to answer the research question. This research report describes the recruitment strategy, enrollment rates, and approach utilized in a successful biobehavioral research study. The study was designed to examine key health indicators in adolescents (13-17 years of age) with juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) compared to a control group of healthy adolescents. The purpose of this analysis is to establish best practices and identify strategies to overcome barriers to recruitment of older adolescents, an age group that tends to be underrepresented in research studies. METHODS A retrospective secondary analysis of data from a parent study about JIA with high consent rates was employed to explore factors affecting enrollment into the biobehavioral study. RESULTS Of the 113 subjects who were recruited to the study, 74 met the eligibility criteria and reviewed the consent form. The consented group (n=40) represents 54% of those who were eligible upon initial screening. The rate of project enrollment was 2.7 participants per month. The pediatric rheumatologists referred 85% of the JIA group, and the study's principal investigator, a nurse scientist, referred 95% of the control group. Typical recruitment strategies, such as posting on social media, distributing flyers, and cold-calling potential participants from the clinic schedule were ineffective for both cases and controls. Barriers to enrollment included scheduling and fear of venipuncture. There were no demographic characteristics that significantly explained enrollment, differentiating between those who agreed to participate compared to those who refused. Successful strategies for enrollment of adolescents into this biobehavioral research study included scheduling study visits on weekends and school holidays; an informed consent and assent process that addressed adolescent fears of venipuncture; including a JIA patient on the study team; and utilizing existing relationships to maximize enrollment efforts. CONCLUSIONS Effective recruitment and enrollment practices were relationship-specific and patient-centered. Researchers should utilize best practices to ensure that precision health for adolescents is advanced.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kimberly A. Lewis
- grid.266102.10000 0001 2297 6811Department of Physiological Nursing, School of Nursing, University of California at San Francisco, 2 Koret Way, 94143 San Francisco, CA USA ,grid.89336.370000 0004 1936 9924School of Nursing, The University of Texas at Austin, 1710 Red River St, 78712 Austin, TX USA ,grid.413578.c0000 0004 0637 322XDell Children’s Medical Center of Central Texas, 4900 Mueller Blvd, 78723 Austin, TX USA ,grid.266102.10000 0001 2297 6811Department of Physiological Nursing, University of California, San Francisco, 2 Koret Way, CA 94131 San Francisco, USA
| | - Shelby Brooks
- grid.89336.370000 0004 1936 9924School of Nursing, The University of Texas at Austin, 1710 Red River St, 78712 Austin, TX USA ,grid.413578.c0000 0004 0637 322XDell Children’s Medical Center of Central Texas, 4900 Mueller Blvd, 78723 Austin, TX USA
| | - Ruy Carrasco
- grid.264756.40000 0004 4687 2082Texas A&M University, 400 Bizzell St.,, TX 77843 College Station, USA
| | - Patricia Carter
- grid.411015.00000 0001 0727 7545Capstone College of Nursing, University of Alabama, 650 University Blvd E, 35401 Tuscaloosa, AL USA
| | - Alexandra Garcia
- grid.89336.370000 0004 1936 9924School of Nursing, The University of Texas at Austin, 1710 Red River St, 78712 Austin, TX USA
| | - Jennifer Chiou
- grid.89336.370000 0004 1936 9924Department of Nutritional Sciences, College of Natural Sciences, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX USA
| | - Christina Nguyen
- grid.413578.c0000 0004 0637 322XDell Children’s Medical Center of Central Texas, 4900 Mueller Blvd, 78723 Austin, TX USA
| | - Ambreen Rana
- grid.413578.c0000 0004 0637 322XDell Children’s Medical Center of Central Texas, 4900 Mueller Blvd, 78723 Austin, TX USA
| | - Sharon A. Brown
- grid.89336.370000 0004 1936 9924School of Nursing, The University of Texas at Austin, 1710 Red River St, 78712 Austin, TX USA
| | - Stefano Tiziani
- grid.89336.370000 0004 1936 9924Department of Nutritional Sciences, College of Natural Sciences, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX USA
| | - Nico Osier
- grid.89336.370000 0004 1936 9924School of Nursing, The University of Texas at Austin, 1710 Red River St, 78712 Austin, TX USA ,grid.89336.370000 0004 1936 9924Department of Neurology, Dell Medical School, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX USA
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