Biobank donors participate in the creation of a multiplatform web application to facilitate communication between donors of research samples and the Biobank

The Biobank of the Public Health System of Andalusia (SSPA) is developing a multiplatform web application to facilitate real-time communication between donors of research samples and the Biobank. This application is being developed within the framework of the research project, PIN-0191-2017, funded by the Ministry of Health and led by Dr. María Luisa Hortas Nieto, Coordinator of the Malaga Provincial Node of the Biobank.

For the development of the application, the SSPA Biobank has required the direct involvement of voluntary donors from patient associations and clinicians of the Andalusian Health System (SAS). To participate in the project, donors had to know the SSPA Biobank and the Andalusian Registry of Sample Donors for Biomedical Research (REDMI) very well. For this purpose, the Malaga Provincial Node of the Biobank contacted donors from the SSPA Biobank and They were given an information session about the SSPA Biobank, the Donor Registry and about the project itself in which they could participate.

The donors participating in the project have actively contributed in the initial phase and in the final phase of the project, which is what we are in at the moment. During the initial phase, they contributed to the design of the application's features and the definition of the information that the application should display. To this end, a series of focus groups were created where donors expressed what characteristics the application should have to satisfy all their needs. The opinion of these donors has been the basis through which the application has been developed, since they are the end users of it. Following their contributions, the professionals involved in the project have worked on its development. Once the application has been developed, it is being presented to the donors in order to validate it and verify that it meets the requirements demanded by them in the first stage of the project.

It is a multi-platform website that will allow the patient and clinician to approach the biomedical research carried out at this time in the Andalusian Health System, since it will make it possible to view and revoke informed consent, and will allow registration in the Donor Registry. for Research, will guarantee the traceability of the donation, the return of information on the research results and the management of active research projects that require the use of these samples, facilitating biomedical research in Andalusia of the expected quality and excellence.

The purpose of this multiplatform web application is to help through the donation of biological samples by patients or donors to research projects and the approach or return of the knowledge generated to the population, which will lead to greater awareness of health care by part of the citizens, as well as the adoption of new lifestyle habits that improve or prevent the health of the population as a result of the studies carried out in these areas.