title: The Biobanking Analysis Resource Catalogue (BARCdb): a new research tool for the analysis of biobank samples.
abstract: We report the development of a new database of technology services and products for analysis of biobank samples in biomedical research. BARCdb, the Biobanking Analysis Resource Catalogue, is a freely available web resource, listing expertise and molecular resource capabilities of research centres and biotechnology companies. The database is designed for researchers who require information on how to make best use of valuable biospecimens from biobanks and other sample collections, focusing on the choice of analytical techniques and the demands they make on the type of samples, pre-analytical sample preparation and amounts needed. BARCdb has been developed as part of the Swedish biobanking infrastructure (BBMRI.se), but now welcomes submissions from service providers throughout Europe. BARCdb can help match resource providers with potential users, stimulating transnational collaborations and ensuring compatibility of results from different labs. It can promote a more optimal use of European resources in general, both with respect to standard and more experimental technologies, as well as for valuable biobank samples. This article describes how information on service and reagent providers of relevant technologies is made available on BARCdb, and how this resource may contribute to strengthening biomedical research in academia and in the biotechnology and pharmaceutical industries.
authors.affiliation: Department of Immunology, Genetics and Pathology, Science for Life Laboratory, Uppsala University, SE-751 08 Uppsala, Sweden joakim.galli@igp.uu.se.
authors.forename: Joakim
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Galli
authors.affiliation: Department of Immunology, Genetics and Pathology, Science for Life Laboratory, Uppsala University, SE-751 08 Uppsala, Sweden.
authors.forename: Johan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Oelrich
authors.affiliation: Protein Technology Group, The Babraham Institute, Cambridge CB22 3AT, UK.
authors.forename: Michael J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Taussig
authors.affiliation: Department of Immunotechnology, Lund University, Medicon Village, SE-223 81 Lund, Sweden CREATE Health, Lund University Medicon Village, SE-223 81 Lund, Sweden.
authors.forename: Ulrika
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Andreasson
authors.affiliation: Department of Immunotechnology, Lund University, Medicon Village, SE-223 81 Lund, Sweden CREATE Health, Lund University Medicon Village, SE-223 81 Lund, Sweden.
authors.forename: Eva
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ortega-Paino
authors.affiliation: Department of Immunology, Genetics and Pathology, Science for Life Laboratory, Uppsala University, SE-751 08 Uppsala, Sweden.
authors.forename: Ulf
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Landegren
mesh_terms: D018070:Biological Specimen Banks; D016208:Databases, Factual; D007202:Indicators and Reagents; D020407:Internet; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA
chemical_list: D007202:Indicators and Reagents