BIOTUM is a biobank of the IRCCS Istituto Ortopedico Rizzoli that collects biological samples and associated data of patients suffering from benign and malignant neoplasms of the musculoskeletal system.
Definition of biobank
The term "Biobank" is referred to non-profit service units, responsible, following regulatory requirements, for an efficient way to collect and store biological samples (such as blood, tissue, cells and DNA) and related data to be used to improve diagnosis and/or research. Biobanks therefore represent an important resource for every Research and Treatment Institute and for the entire scientific community.
Our experience
For reasons that changed in the years the establishment of a biobank became necessary for research and diagnosis. It is for this reason that, in 1990, at the Rizzoli Orthopedic Institute (IOR) the Oncologic Research Laboratory, directed by Dr. Piero Picci, began a collection of biological samples in collaboration with the Orthopedic Oncology and the Pathology Department (at the time at the Malpighi Hospital).
• In the year 2000, the Pathology Department moved to the Rizzoli Institute and began collecting tissue samples.
• In 2002, the Biobank was officially constituted at the Oncologic Research Laboratory with recruited personnel responsible for the collection of biological samples and the creation and management of a dedicated database for research and diagnosis.
• In 2002 the two biobanks merged to form a single Biobank.
• Since 2008 this Biobank was included in the "Italian Network of Biobanks for Oncology" (RIBBO) and collaborated in the European project BBMRI (Biobanking and Biomolecular Resources Research Infrastructure) becoming partner in 2013.
Since February 2019, Dr. Alberto Righi has been temporarily appointed head of the Biobank of Musculoskeletal Tumors (BIOTUM) within the project approved by the Emilia- Romagna Region entitled: "Multi-year program of interventions for enhancement, rationalization and coordination of organ and tissue collection and transplant".
Since 2005 Dr. Giovanna Magagnoli is responsible for the management of this Biobank, supervises cryopreservation and tissue collection and records the related data in a specific software.
BIOTUM is located at the IRCSS Istituto Ortopedico Rizzoli, Pathology Department, directed by Dr. Marco Gambarotti. It collects and stores biological samples and related data from patients suffering from oncologic diseases of the musculoskeletal system.
The Biological Resources Coordination Center established in October 2019 within the Scientific Direction, is an articulate organization that coordinates the activities of the three Rizzoli Biobanks.
Our series
The Biobank of Musculoskeletal Tumors of the IRCCS Istituto Ortopedico Rizzoli is the largest collection in the world of tissues from musculoskeletal tumors, both in terms of the number of samples and in terms of completeness of related clinical information.
Clinical information is collected for each patient together with the biobank stored samples. This information is periodically updated, for clinical-pathological correlations.
The biological samples collected in BIOTUM consist of:
• tissue samples obtained from "fresh" material, waste products from routine diagnostic workup for both benign and malignant neoplasms of the musculoskeletal system (bone, soft tissues), metastases from sarcoma, bone metastases from different solid tumors and healthy tissue adjacent to the tumor;
• blood derivatives from patients admitted to the IOR enrolled in clinical trials;
• molecular fractions such as RNA and DNA.
The bio samples are stored in special ultrafreezers at -80°C and freezers at -20°C located in a controlled environment with limited access, while the data related to the samples are collected and managed in a dedicated database, protected by IT security systems to safeguard patient privacy, to which only the biobank manager and authorized close staff have access.