The biobank for studies in aging

• Grant number: 14/10205-1
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships abroad - Research
• Start date: August 04, 2014
• End date: September 10, 2014
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Medicine - Pathological Anatomy and Clinical Pathology
• Principal Investigator: José Marcelo Farfel
• Grantee: José Marcelo Farfel
• Host Investigator: David A Bennett
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Medicina (FM). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil
• Institution abroad: Rush University, United States

Abstract

It is estimated that the elderly population in the world will increase fourfold over the next fifty years. Probably, this phenomenon will result in a large increase in the prevalence of chronic diseases, especially cardiovascular and neurodegenerative diseases. To assist in understanding the normal aging process and related diseases, post-mortem studies examining human tissue are of paramount importance. It is therefore scientifically relevant to develop Biobanks collecting human bio-specimens for the study of the aging process. Biobanks should be based on multidimensional study, including comprehensive assessment of epidemiological, clinical, pathological, genetic and molecular data, based on an interdisciplinary team and guided by rigorous quality control and protocols for collection, processing, storage of tissues and related data, following international standards. The Biobank for Studies in Aging (BAS) has three major objectives : to promote rigorous clinical and pathological evaluation of a large number of elderly subjects undergoing autopsy at the Serviço de Verificação de Óbitos da Capital from University of São Paulo Medical School; to promote the collection of large amounts of data and bio-specimens for a network of interdisciplinary research , which will investigate aspects of normal aging and chronic degenerative diseases; to develop a group of researchers and technicians focused on multidisciplinary study of human aging. The Rush Alzheimer's Disease Center is responsible for the two largest, community-based, cohort studies of aging and AD that include organ donation and pathologic examination: The Religious Orders Study (ROS) and the Rush Memory and Aging Project (MAP). The ROS and MAP studies have resulted in more than 300 peer-reviewed publications on a wide variety of issues related to healthy aging, AD and common chronic diseases of aging. RADC have developed among the most productive, high throughout, aging Bio-bank research laboratories in the world. The program for the research stage will include training in procedures and adjusting it for setting up a high throughput Bio-bank laboratory including standards for collecting, storing and processing human tissue and related data. The program will be supervised by Prof. David A Bennett, director of RADC. (AU)