This is how the Andalusian Registry of Sample Donors works: 3,400 people at the service of biomedical research

Thanks to the altruistic donation of biological samples, different research projects have been developed on various subjects such as COVID-19 or diseases of the circulatory system.

The Andalusian Registry of Sample Donors for Biomedical Research is a joint initiative between the Biobank of the Public Health System of Andalusia and the Ministry of Health and Consumer Affairs. This tool allows citizens to participate directly in the development of biomedical research through the altruistic donation of biological samples.

The Donor Registry currently has 3,394 registered, 334 more than in 2023, thanks to which 20 research projects have been developed in various subjects such as COVID-19, neoplasms, diseases of the circulatory system or endocrine, nutritional and metabolic diseases. . In total, people registered in the registry have donated 1,173 samples of blood, urine, saliva or feces for the development of these projects.

This registry is a pioneering initiative in Spain, since it allows the specific donation of biological samples in the specific format and time that they are requested. When the Biobank detects the need for a certain sample, it goes to the Registry and compares the information of the registered donors with the inclusion criteria of the research project for which the samples are requested. Once identified, the Registry contacts them, explains the project, they are invited to participate, and, if they accept, the strategy for collecting the sample is communicated to them.

The absence of samples with specific characteristics requested by researchers for research prevents the implementation of some research projects in our community. The proper functioning of the database of the Andalusian Registry of Donors for Biomedical Research is essential to facilitate the viability of projects that help advance scientific knowledge, disease diagnosis, therapeutic efficacy and access to drugs.

You can find out how to be a donor here.

Patient associations

The Biobank of the Public Health System of Andalusia has been collaborating for years with patient associations from different Andalusian provinces such as Granada, Almería, Córdoba or Málaga. This relationship allows patients and their families to participate in biomedical research through actions such as donating data and biological samples, as well as contributing financially to research projects.

So far this year, the Biobank has announced the Registry of Sample Donors to Alcer Granada, the Down Syndrome Association of Granada, the Andalusian Association of Cystic Fibrosis, the Association of People Affected by Endometriosis of Granada or the platform of patient associations of Granada.

In addition, the Biobanco has participated this year in the II Meeting of Patient Associations organized by the San Cecilio Clinical University Hospital of Granada, to publicize this entity and the Donor Registry among health professionals, the research community and the associative movement of Grenade.

Study on cardiovascular risk factors in women

Currently, the Registry has an active information campaign to participate in a study on cardiovascular risk factors in women. The characteristics that women who want to participate in this study must meet are: over 55 years old, with menopause, high cholesterol, not taking hormonal treatments, not suffering from autoimmune disease and not having been vaccinated in the last three weeks.

Those people interested in participating in this or other research projects just have to write to the email, Registration.donantes.csalud @juntadeandalucia.es, or call 958 89 46 69 .