Access to biological material from MoBa
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Here is information on how to apply for access to biological material from MoBa and what requirements are set, as well as information on the extraction process.
Application for biological material
In order to gain access to biological material from MoBa, the MoBa biological material form must be completed and attached to the application. There are also special requirements for the application and for the project:
1. Applicants must become well acquainted with the biological material included in MoBa before submitting the application. Information on which biological materials are available in MoBa can be found on our website, as well as in the protocol and in the reference articles.
- Sample overview of the MoBa biobank (website)
- Protocols
- Publication guidelines where the reference articles are listed
2. The amount of biological material in the biobank is limited. High requirements for scientific quality are therefore set for projects planning to use material from MoBa.
- The research question(s) must be possible to be studied using biological material. New materials will not be provided if there already is data (including analysis results) that can be used to study the research question(s).
- The MoBa material must be suitable for the chosen method of analysis .
- For some analyses MoBa will set requirements, for example for the type of chip used in methylation analyses. This is so that results from different projects can be used together/compiled.
- The method of analysis applied must use the lowest possible sample volume, and should measure several components per sample to maximise the utilisation of the biological material.
- Only the needed amount of material will be provided.
- A calculation of statistical power in the analyses must be performed by the project. This must be made available for MoBa upon request.
- Control groups are chosen randomly unless there is good reason why random controls are not sufficient for the planned analysis. MoBa can assist in the selection of random control groups.
3. The results from the analyses of the biological material must be returned to MoBa and can then be used by other research projects.
4. Currently, MoBa does not allow biological materials to be sent to countries outside the EU/EEA. Laboratories that are subject to European legislation (GDPR) must therefore be used. The applicant / PI must enter into necessary agreements with the laboratory where the samples are to be analysed.
Delivery of biological material
The process for extracting biological material consists of several parts:
- MoBa biological material form must be completed and attached to the application. The form includes information on criteria for the study population.
- A list of individuals(study population) that will be included in the project is made. This will either be done by the project, or by the data unit, MorBarnData@fhi.no, after criteria made by the project.
- A sampling manager in the biobank will prepare a list of samples based on the list of individuals. An estimate for the delivery of the materials will be given when the sample list has been determined.
- The biobank collects the sample materials, prepares it for delivery, and sends it to the laboratory for analysis, in accordance with the agreement with the project.
During periods of high demand for biological material, increased processing time and delivery time will have to be expected. The project will in this case be notified.
Significant changes after the application has been approved and an agreement has been signed by the applicant will result in a renewed processing of the application. Delivery will then be delayed.
Forms
When the biological material is sent from the Biobank to the analysis laboratory, two documents are attached. These documents must be returned to FHI:
- «Form for registration of receipt of the samples at the analysis laboratory» must be returned to Biobanken: Biobank-BioRetrieval@fhi.no when the samples have been received by the laboratory.
- «Analysis report» must be filled in after the analyses have been performed and returned to the data unit: MorBarnData@fhi.no (see information below).
Once the samples have been analysed
Once the samples have been analysed, the results and the completed analysis report must be returned to MoBa. Thereafter, the questionnaire data and linkage keys will be handed out in dialogue with the data manager.
Residual material at the analysis laboratory shall be destroyed with the exception of those cases where MoBa has specifically requested that the material be returned to the MoBa Biobank. The PI must send a written confirmation of the destruction of the remaining biological material to MoBa adm mobaadm@fhi.no.
Prices for access to biological material
The price for access to biological material from MoBa is under review. The new price will be based on elapsed working time as well as the cost of using equipment etc. In addition, there is a cost for shipping. The invoice will be sent after delivery.
Contact information
Case manager in MoBa (MoBaadm@fhi.no):
- General questions about the use of MoBa for research
- Wants to discuss the possibility of a research project
- Commercial actors
Data manager in MoBa (MorBarnData@fhi.no):
- Questions related to what data and variables are available in MoBa
- Questions about linkage to other data sources
Biobank (Biobank-BioRetrieval@fhi.no):
- Questions about available sample material