The Andalusian public health Biobank launches a campaign to donate biological samples from people who have overcome COVID-19

Through the samples collected by the Registry of Sample Donors for Biomedical Research, support will be given to research projects that pursue therapeutic alternatives for this disease.

The Biobank of the Public Health System of Andalusia, through the Registry of Sample Donors for Biomedical Research, has started a campaign to inform about the importance of donating biological samples from patients who have overcome COVID-19, with the aim thus supporting the numerous biomedical research projects that try to advance knowledge of all aspects related to this coronavirus, as well as the disease it causes.

Currently, the SSPA Biobank is supporting around thirty biomedical research projects related to research into SARS-CoV-2 and COVID-19. The projects to which it is contributing with biological samples and/or associated data from people who have had the disease range from strategic studies at the national level that search for genetic biomarkers of risk that may predispose to a more serious infection, projects that search for immunogenic tools that contribute to the design of effective vaccines, to projects that try to develop faster and more reliable diagnostic tests.

To obtain all the samples necessary for the development of the different projects, the SSPA Biobank, through the Registry of Sample Donors for Biomedical Research, launches this campaign to search for donors to the general public. In this campaign, the SSPA Biobank calls on anyone who has presented symptoms related to COVID-19, tested positive in PCR and/or serological tests or who believes they have been asymptomatic, to collaborate with their donation in the fight against this disease.

All those who want to collaborate can receive more information at any of the Biobanco headquarters (which can be consulted at www.biobancosspa.es) or by calling 958 894669 , or register directly in the Registry through its different channels. available: electronically, through the website, www.soydonanteparainvestigacion.es , with a digital certificate, or by downloading and completing the form that appears on said website and delivering it to any of the Biobank nodes, or sending it to the registration email. donors.csalud@juntadeandalucia.es . When a new research project arises for which the donors registered in the Registry meet its requirements, the Biobank will contact them to confirm their availability to participate.

All samples stored in the SSPA Biobank are available to the scientific community to attend to the greatest number of biomedical research projects possible.

In addition, the SSPA Biobank is available to all researchers who require advice on the use of biological samples and data for their research projects, both related to COVID-19 and other pathologies.

About the Biobank

The Biobank of the Public Health System of Andalusia is organized as a network biobank formed by different associated nodes on provincial platforms, linked to health institutions and with a Coordination Node located in Granada. As a network biobank, it constitutes a resource platform that offers all types of biological samples and associated clinical data to researchers. Along with this, the Network of Transfusion, Tissue and Cell Centers offers assistance activity in this area framed in the structure of the Andalusian Health Service (SAS).

About the Andalusian Registry of Sample Donors for Biomedical Research

The Andalusian Registry of Sample Donors for Biomedical Research is a tool that allows Andalusians to participate directly in the development of biomedical research. This is a database in which basic identification and health information (data) of people interested in participating in research is collected. The body responsible for the Registry is the General Secretariat of Research, Development and Innovation in Health of the Ministry of Health and Families, and the SSPA Biobank is in charge of its management. Since its creation in June 2015, it has more than 1,600 registered people, who can donate any biological sample of human origin: blood, saliva, hair, nails, feces, urine, sweat...