REDMI contributes to 9 projects in pathologies such as cancer, autoimmune diseases and COVID-19

Integrated into the Biobank of the Public Health System of Andalusia, this Registry has 40% biological samples from patients and 60% from healthy people, who have voluntarily donated them.

The Andalusian Registry of Sample Donors for Biomedical Research, integrated into the Biobank of the Public Health System of Andalusia, is celebrating five years of life with growing activity thanks to the voluntary contribution of people, both healthy and patients with some pathology, who have donated biological samples to contribute to research.

Specifically, the donors in this registry, which currently number almost 2,000 people (1,844), are not necessarily people with any pathology but also healthy citizens who give their samples (blood, urine, saliva, feces) in case they are of interest. of the research community. Thus, 60% correspond to healthy people and 40% to patients with some associated pathology. The most frequent diseases that have been registered in these five years are neoplasms, allergies, sclerosis, diabetes, hypertension, thyroid pathologies, asthma and during the last year, mainly COVID-19.

Donors registered in the Registry currently make it possible for 9 research projects to move forward thanks to the donation of samples. Thus, it contributes to 3 projects on autoimmune diseases (lupus, multiple sclerosis...), 2 projects on neoplasia (colon cancer, melanoma, breast cancer), 1 project on endocrine, nutritional and metabolic diseases (diabetes), 1 on COVID-19 and another project regarding quality controls on samples.

Selfless participation

Altruistic and selfless citizen participation is a key piece of the Andalusian Registry of Sample Donors for Biomedical Research and a fundamental tool for developing safe and quality research that improves the health and quality of life of the population.

In this sense, since the registry, numerous actions have been launched aimed at publicizing their activity and informing citizens about how to become donors. Science Week, Researchers' Night, Pint of Science are some of the scenarios in which it has been made known and has aroused the interest of citizens/donors.

Specifically, and due to the situation generated by the new coronavirus, the registry launched a specific campaign last year to encourage the donation of samples from patients who had overcome COVID-19. The objective is to gather as much information as possible about the disease and facilitate studies that allow finding therapeutic solutions or that minimize its impact.

The donation campaign remains open and interested people can call 958 894 669 , write to registry.donantes.csalud@juntadeandalucia.es or register at www.soydonanteparainvestigacion.es