Comenius University in Bratislava – the Faculty of Medicine in Bratislava
Activity 2: Establishing a biobank of organoids of selected cancer diseases.
- Introduce 3D bioprinting methodology and prepare 3D models with precisely defined architecture of the tumor and its microenvironment for the study of mutual communication between the stromal component and tumor cells.
- To verify the usability of these models in diagnosis, prognostication, as well as testing of new treatment procedures.
The University of Zilina
Activity 3: Data analysis of samples of biological material in the context of the integration and information environment of biobanking.
- To create such methods and algorithms that will be able to effectively describe and classify multidimensional medical data. Development of applications for management and visualization of analysed data with the support of databases and ontologies.
- Integrate and harmonize the IT systems of individual workplaces involved in the biobank system.
The National Institute of Rheumatic Diseases
Activity 4: Creation of a peripheral biobank unit at the National Institute of Rheumatic Diseases in Piešťany.
- Establish a biobank unit at the National Institute of Rheumatic Diseases which will be used for long-term, future monitoring of patients with alkaptonuria and other rheumatic diseases. At a minimum, the protocol for the prospective study will include the collection, storage, and analysis of demographic data, medical history, physical examinations, medications, haematological and biochemical data, radiographic and ultrasonographic results, DNA, serum and urine samples.
Biomedical Centre of the Slovak Academy of Sciences
Activity 5: Research of molecular markers of selected oncological and hereditary diseases.
- Research on biomarkers of response to antitumor treatment in patients with urogenital tumors will be aimed at identifying new biomarkers using molecular profiling with genomics and transcriptomics methods. Cell line models of urogenital malignancies will be developed from patient tumor tissues, which will allow testing different types of treatment.
- Genomic analysis of patients with selected rare hereditary diseases focusing on monogenic diabetes, primary mitochondriopathies, monogenic neurological diseases, and sensorineural hearing impairment. In addition to confirming the monogenic form of the disease at the DNA level, the analysis and identification of new mutations and their functional molecular-biological characterization aimed at determining the degree of pathogenicity will take place.
The National Oncological Institute
Activity 6: Identification of specific biomarkers of selected cancer diseases.
- To identify biomarkers associated with the spread of tumors and resistance to treatment in selected cancer diseases (breast cancer, colorectal cancer, testicular cancer, and pancreatic cancer). Circulating tumor cells are the primary focus. Expression profiling using cDNA microarray and microRNA array belongs to high-performance technologies with the possibility to investigate changes in gene and protein expression levels on a large scale.
- To identify biomarkers for the selection of patients who are candidates for metastasectomy.
- Establish tissue banks and cell primocultures from selected tumors.
The Ministry of Health of the Slovak Republic
Activity 7: Complex coordination and support for the creation of a system infrastructure for biobanking.
- Prepare and implement legislative and non-legislative adjustments supporting the development of excellent research in the field of biomedicine, including setting up systemic biobanking.
- Integrate Slovakia into important European structures supporting biomedical research such as BBMRI-ERIC, ECRIN, etc.
- Establish and strengthen platforms that support the improvement of the quality of the results of biomedical research and development to improve their application in practice.
The Center of Social and Psychological Sciences of the Slovak Academy of Sciences
Activity 8: Evaluation of socio-economic effects of the biobank.
- On the basis of the proposed model of the biobank, implement an ex-ante assessment of the impact of the biobank on biomedical research, but also on the health system. The ex-ante evaluation will also focus on selected direct and indirect effects for Slovak society and economy. At the same time, this assessment will also bring recommendations for maximizing the positive effects of the biobank and ensuring long-term sustainability.