BIOBANK OF THE COSTA DEL SOL HOSPITAL

Location

The Biobank Unit of the Public Health System of Andalusia (SSPA) at the Costa del Sol Hospital is located in the province of Malaga. The unit can be found in the area of the Clinical Laboratories of the Costa del Sol Hospital and is integrated with both the clinical analysis laboratory and the pathological anatomy laboratory. This arrangement allows the unit to share infrastructure facilities with the hospital and increase its support to the research community. The unit achieves this by promoting rapid response times facilitated by direct and face-to-face communication with professionals specialized in various fields, offering access to a wide range of samples or data (under the protection of current biomedical legislation), and enabling the adjustment of rates to the benefit of the researcher.

This unit has been a unit of the Biobank of the Public Health System of Andalusia (SSPA) since January 2013. In addition, it has been part of the National Platform of Biobanks and Biomodels of the ISCIII (PISCIIIBB) since 2014.

Infrastructure

The Biobank Unit at the Costa del Sol Hospital has an area for the preservation and conservation of biological samples and an office space for the acceptance, registration, and processing of samples in the clinical area of the Hospital's Clinical Laboratories.

Professional staff

The unit is currently run by a Unit Director and a Unit Coordinator. They collaborate with the staff of the UGC of Pathological Anatomy and Clinical Analysis at the hospital, all of whom are associated with the Costa del Sol Health Agency.

Activities

The Costa del Sol Hospital Biobank Unit offers scientific advice to researchers and manages research projects related to different pathologies. In addition, the unit participates in networked projects in which different units of the Biobank network participate, including the transfer of bioresources. The unit also distributes bioresources of different types (serum, plasma, and tissue) with their associated clinical data, in accordance with current legislation.

The Costa del Sol Hospital Biobank Unit stands out for its active participation in the creation of unique prospective collection programs that are not normally possible in larger and more complex hospitals. For example, one of these programs is the Dupuytren Patient Collection Program, where tissues and blood are collected.

The unit conducts clinical trials, both on its own and on behalf of external parties, with high quality standards. It is the only unit in Malaga that is certified by ISO:9001.

Currently, the Biobank Unit at the Costa del Sol Hospital is leading a competitive innovation project (Project Title: ‘The development of a multiplatform web application that facilitates real-time communication between donors of samples for research purposes and the Biobank of the Andalusian Public System’, PIN-0191-2017). This innovation project will lead to the development of a computer system that will enable professionals and citizens at the SSPA Biobank to sign informed consent forms, obtain relevant information on research results, and provide access for professionals to manage request-for-service documentation in a flexible and efficient manner.

Collections

In addition to its active sample collection programs, the Biobank Unit at the Costa del Sol Hospital has collections of stored samples of different types and from different pathologies.

Dissemination of information

Dissemination of information is an activity that is engaged in by the Biobank Unit at the Costa del Sol Hospital. In recent years, the unit has participated in information dissemination events, including the European Researchers' Night and science fairs, for example. Open days have also been held by the unit for different educational centres in the province to inform young people about the unit’s research activities. The unit has also conducted several clinical sessions focused on providing advice and support at a technical and scientific level to healthcare professionals. One of the objectives of the SSPA Biobank is to make its scientific field and research activities known to the general public. Consequently, we consider our participation in such informative activities particularly important.

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