Establishing A Memory Clinic Biobank Study

TL;DR

This paper describes the setup and early results of a biobank collecting cerebrospinal fluid and blood samples from memory clinic patients for research.

Contribution

The novel contribution is the establishment and initial operation of a memory clinic biobank in Northern Ireland.

Findings

37 participants consented to donate cerebrospinal fluid samples.

105 participants donated blood samples for biobanking.

Staff time availability was identified as the main recruitment barrier.

Abstract

The Northern Ireland Biobank was established to facilitate research access to quality‐assured biological samples. Patients, with capacity to consent, are invited to give written consent for collection and retention of clinically surplus material for the purposes of research. In addition, blood can be collected for the purposes of biobanking.

Since May 2022 patients have been invited to donate clinically surplus cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) to the NI Biobank. Since March 2023 patients have been invited to donate blood for the purposes of biobanking. CSF is collected using the drip method into false‐bottomed Starstedt tubes. Blood is collected, non‐fasting, into two EDTA bottles. Both are transported at room temperature to Trust (CSF) and NI Biobank (blood) laboratories on the same day. CSF is frozen at ‐80C. Blood is processed within 24 hours and stored as plasma and buffy coat.

Thus far, n = 37 participants have consented to the retention of their clinical surplus CSF. In addition, n = 105 participants have donated blood for the purposes of biobanking.

The main barrier to recruitment has been the availability of staff time to facilitate the consent and sampling processes.

Biobanking of biological samples, with access to associated clinical data, provides opportunities to study real‐world memory clinic cohorts. Researchers interested in accessing these samples should contact the authors.