Biobanks for cardiovascular epidemiology and prevention.
Biobanks for medical research are organized collections of biological samples associated with personal data and information on their donors, to be stored for an indefinite period of time. The storage of biological samples has varied considerably over time, ranging from the informal storage of tissue specimens in a researcher's freezer in the past, to the present well-structured formal repositories. Large-scale population-related biobanks are being set up in several countries and will allow not only research into individual diseases, but also approaches to a wide range of health-related issues, such as physical activity, eating, drinking, education and pollution, among others. The purpose of this article is to discuss how biobanks have improved research in cardiovascular disease epidemiology and prevention, by describing the most relevant population-based epidemiological studies that used set-up biobanks and stored samples for research. The selection of epidemiological studies and biobanks was based on their dimensions and their contribution to the field.
Unit of Molecular & Nutritional Epidemiology, Department of Epidemiology & Prevention, IRCCS Istituto Neurologico Mediterraneo Neuromed, Pozzilli, Italy.
Licia
L
Iacoviello
Amalia
A
De Curtis
Maria Benedetta
MB
Donati
Giovanni
G
de Gaetano
D015415:Biomarkers / Q000378:metabolism; D035843:Biomedical Research; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000517:prevention & control*; D055808:Drug Discovery; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D015894:Genome, Human; D006801:Humans; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D018570:Risk Assessment; D014015:Tissue Banks
D015415:Biomarkers