Biorepositories & Biospecimen Research Program

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    Since the completion of the Human Genome Project (HGP) in 2003, the biospecimen is becoming the main focus to deliver customized diagnostics and tailor individualized therapeutics. Therefore, biobanks are considered as the main core facility to improve the human welfare. That’s why, a tremendous quantitative and qualitative surge of biobanks have been witnessed worldwide but at a very less extent in the Middle East region. In this context, this Biobanking & Biospecimen Research Program (BBRP) is implemented and dedicated to serve as a premium biorepository of human specimens and annotated data to foster state-of-the art research in the biomedical and clinical environment in Saudi Arabia, and to bridge the gap between clinicians and scientists.

The BBRP is a core program aiming at providing new avenues in biomedical research that offer the potential to discover innovative options for diagnostic, prognostic, and therapeutic approaches in severe medical conditions afflicting the Saudi society.

In order to move towards personalized medicine using the latest OMICs tools, the BBRP strives for national collaborations with all healthcare provider partners to collect, process, store and release high quality biospecimens with full annotation data according to the latest SOPs (Standard Operating Procedures) in compliance with the national and international norms and rules.

The BBRP will strive to spread knowledge, awareness and outreach about biobanking and biospecimens donation among the healthcare providers, the policies’ makers, the patients and the general population in order to generate research and validation cohorts, key requirement for the transition towards precision medicine.

The BBRP will ultimately contribute to the international biobanking effort to improve and refine the best practices of biospecimens management to speed up the discoveries of effective diagnostics and therapeutics that will relieve the suffering of millions of patients worldwide.

           

           
Goals:

Serve patients and research community of Saudi society in general through the support of healthcare system
Logistic support for research, prevention and treatment of common diseases in Saudi Arabia
Implementation of state-of-the-art biobanking program by using the best international practice guidelines.
Designing and implementing customized educational, training and outreach programs in order to increase awareness and consciousness about modern biobanking in the post-genomic era.
Contribute to the maturation of plans and standards for a national biobanking network.


Biorepositories & Biospecimen Research Group

Prof. Mohammed H Al-Qahtani
CEGMR, King Abdulaziz University
Prof. Abdelbaset Buhmeida
CEGMR, King Abdulaziz University
Dr. Mourad Assidi
CEGMR, King Abdulaziz University
Dr. Heba Al-kattabi
CEGMR, King Abdulaziz University
Dr. Leena Merdad
Department of Dental Public Health at the Faculty of Dentistry, King Abdulaziz University
Dr. Salina Yahya Saddick
Department of Biological sciences, Faculty of Science, King Abdulaziz University
Dr. Ibrahim Abdulkarim
King Abdulaziz Medical City, Riyadh


International Collaborator:

Prof. Bruce Budowle
Executive Director
The Institute of Applied Genetics
University of North Texas Health Science Center
USA


Last Update
1/13/2016 3:04:21 PM