DZD Biobanks: Biosamples and Data as a Research Resource
The DZD biobanks collect human biomaterials and associated clinical data in connection with DZD clinical studies. Human biosamples, such as blood, tissues, or urine, are essential in biomedical diabetes research in order, for example, to identify new biomarkers for earlier and better diagnosis.
DZD Diabetes and Metabolism Biobank
Since 2023, the DZD has been collecting biosamples in the centrally organized DZD Diabetes and Metabolism Biobank (DZD DiaMet Biobank). This is a unique diabetes- and metabolism-focused research collection consisting of biosamples and data from medically well-characterized test subjects with prediabetes, diabetes, or gestational diabetes, as well as from healthy controls. As a research alliance, the DZD is able to rely on 11 professional partners for sample collection.
The DZD DiaMet Biobank is managed in close cooperation with DZD clinical studies but is conducted as an independent project. Test subjects who participate in a DZD clinical study at a DZD study center can also donate a specifically defined set of samples and data. The medical data associated with the samples is collected in a standardized manner using the DZD Core Data Set. The central management and sample storage of the DZD DiaMet Biobank ensures a harmonized process for the collection of samples and data, thus ensuring a high level of quality.
Further DZD Biobanks
In connection with the long-term PREG, PLIS, GDS, and LIDOPACO (LIving DOnor PAncreas COhort) clinical studies, the DZD has built up vast study-specific biobanks at the respective main study locations.
Additionally, the DZD also possesses an extensive collection of metabolism-related biosamples and detailed medical data in the established biobanks from the PLIS, GDS, PREG, and LIDOPACO clinical studies. The latter is a globally unique collection of human pancreatic tissues, isolated islets of Langerhans, and corresponding blood samples from living human donors. LIDOPACO includes clinical data (pre-/post-surgery at 3 and 12 months) from over 1,065 metabolically phenotyped patients who underwent pancreatectomy at the DZD sites Dresden, Tübingen, or Düsseldorf. As the largest cohort of its kind, it investigates causal mechanisms of T2D progression by integrating multi-omics, imaging, and in situ proœling of pancreatic islet.
Use for research projects
The samples and data collected in the DZD biobanks are made available to researchers at academic institutions for scientific projects. Applications are reviewed and evaluated according to the DZD Use & Access process. The DZD only makes data and samples from the DZD biobanks available for research projects that have been assessed by an independent ethics commission and the scientific committee of the DZD. Use for commercial purposes or in countries that do not comply with European data protection standards is not possible.
