Telethon Network of Genetic Biobanks

Genetic Biobanks (GBs) are non-profit service units aimed at collecting, storing and distributing human biological samples with the goal to provide a service to both individuals affected, Patient Associations and biomedical community: indeed, GBs enable to store samples over time according to high quality standards and to make them available in the future for diagnosis and research in genetic disorders. Several examples illustrate how access to large numbers of biospecimens and associated data has played a pivotal role in the identification of disease genes and the development of new and specific pharmaceuticals. Hence, the purpose of the Telethon Network of Genetic Biobanks (TNGB) is to coordinate, by an IT system, well-qualified Italian Biobanks with the main goal to centralize rare samples in a unique catalogue and to improve the access to GB-services in a harmonized environment which ensures both the quality of the samples for researchers and the protection of privacy and confidentiality of donors throughout the entire process from collection and storage to sample and data use. TNGB, founded in 2008, presently comprises 10 Biobanks, overall storing approx 80,000 samples from more than 750 genetic diseases. GBs, situated at public health departments, geographically cover most of national territory, as follows: Genoa: Cell Line and DNA Biobank with Genetic Diseases Galliera Genetic Bank Milan: Human Genetic Bank of Patients affected by Parkinson's Disease or Parkinsonism Bank of DNA, Cell lines and Nerve-Muscle-Cardiac tissues Cell, tissues and DNA from Patients with Neuromuscular Diseases Cell Line and DNA Bank of Paediatric Movement Disorders Padua: Neuromuscular Bank of Tissues and DNA samples Siena: Cell lines and DNA bank of Rett S., X-linked mental retardation and other genetic diseases S. Giovanni Rotondo: Genetic Biobank from Patients with Williams-Beuren S. and other genomic disorders Naples: Naples Human Mutation Gene Biobank