title: Enhancing translational research in paediatric rheumatology through standardization.
abstract: The past decade has seen many successes in translational rheumatology, from dramatic improvements in outcomes brought about by novel biologic therapies, to the discovery of new monogenic inflammatory disorders. Advances in molecular medicine, combined with progress towards precision care, provide an excellent opportunity to accelerate the translation of biological understanding to the bedside. However, although the field of rheumatology is a leader in the standardization of data collection and measures of disease activity, it lags behind in standardization of biological sample collection and assay performance. Uniform approaches are necessary for robust collaborative research, particularly in rare diseases. Standardization is also critical to increase reproducibility between centres, a prerequisite for clinical implementation of translational research. This Perspectives article emphasizes the need for standardization and implementation of best practices, presented in the context of lessons learned from international biorepository networks.
authors.affiliation: Department of Paediatrics, Division of Rheumatology, The Hospital for Sick Children, 555 University Avenue, Toronto, Ontario M5G 1X8, Canada; and at the Department of Immunology and the Institute of Medical Science, University of Toronto Faculty of Medicine, Medical Sciences Building, 1 King's College Circle, Toronto, Ontario M5S 1A8, Canada.
authors.forename: Rae S M
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Yeung
authors.affiliation: Duke-National University of Singapore Graduate Medical School, 8 College Road, 169857, Singapore.
authors.forename: Salvatore
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Albani
authors.affiliation: Department of Paediatrics and Institute of Medical Science, University of Toronto Faculty of Medicine, Medical Sciences Building, 1 King's College Circle, Toronto, Ontario M5S 1A8, Canada; the Division of Rheumatology, The Hospital for Sick Children, 555 University Avenue, Toronto, Ontario M5G 1X8, Canada; and at the Institute of Health Policy Management and Evaluation, The Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, 155 College Street, Toronto, Ontario M5T 3M7, Canada.
authors.forename: Brian M
authors.initials: BM
authors.lastname: Feldman
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics and the Stanford Program in Immunology, Stanford University, 300 Pasteur Drive, Stanford, California 94305, USA.
authors.forename: Elizabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Mellins
authors.affiliation: Department of Immunology, University Medical Centre, Heidelberglaan 100, 3584 CX Utrecht, Netherlands.
authors.forename: Berent
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Prakken
authors.affiliation: Institute of Child Health, University College London, 30 Guilford Street, London WC1N 1EH, UK.
authors.forename: Lucy R
authors.initials: LR
authors.lastname: Wedderburn
mesh_terms: D018501:Antirheumatic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002648:Child; D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine; D006801:Humans; D010372:Pediatrics; D012015:Reference Standards; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012216:Rheumatic Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy*; D012219:Rheumatology; D057170:Translational Research, Biomedical
chemical_list: D018501:Antirheumatic Agents