title: Network for Pancreatic Organ Donors with Diabetes (nPOD): developing a tissue biobank for type 1 diabetes.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The Network for Pancreatic Organ Donors with Diabetes (nPOD) was established to recover and characterize pancreata and related organs from cadaveric organ donors with various risk levels for type 1 diabetes (T1D). These biospecimens are available to investigators for collaborative studies aimed at addressing questions related to T1D natural history and pathogenesis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Organ donors included T1D patients (new onset to long term), non-diabetic autoantibody-positive subjects, non-diabetic controls and individuals with disorders relevant to β-cell function. Pancreas recovery and transport met transplant-grade criteria. Additional samples recovered included serum, whole blood, spleen and pancreatic and non-pancreatic lymph nodes. Biospecimens were processed for cryopreserved cells, fixed paraffin and fresh frozen blocks and snap frozen samples. T1D autoantibodies, C-peptide levels and high-resolution HLA genotyping for risk alleles were also determined.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Over 160 donors have been enrolled (ages of 1 day to >90 years). Standard operating procedures were established along with a quality management system. Donor demographics, laboratory assays and histopathological characterizations were shared through an open online informatics system. Biospecimens were distributed to more than 60 investigators.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The nPOD programme provides access to high quality biospecimens without cost to investigators. Collaborations and open data sharing are emphasized to maximize research potential of each donor. On the basis of initial successes, the nPOD programme is expanding to recover additional organs relevant to T1D pathogenesis and complications from European countries (PanFin network).
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Immunology and Laboratory Medicine, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610-0275, USA. mct@ufl.edu
authors.forename: Martha
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Campbell-Thompson
authors.forename: Clive
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Wasserfall
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kaddis
authors.forename: Anastasia
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Albanese-O'Neill
authors.forename: Teodora
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Staeva
authors.forename: Concepcion
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Nierras
authors.forename: Jayne
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Moraski
authors.forename: Patrick
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Rowe
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Gianani
authors.forename: George
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Eisenbarth
authors.forename: James
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Crawford
authors.forename: Desmond
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Schatz
authors.forename: Alberto
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pugliese
authors.forename: Mark
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Atkinson
mesh_terms: D035843:Biomedical Research; D002102:Cadaver; D003922:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005431:Florida; D006801:Humans; D050417:Insulin-Secreting Cells / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D010179:Pancreas / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D014015:Tissue Banks / Q000458:organization & administration