Pilot Project ” Biobanks in Cancerology ” 2019 -2021

Biomedical research is deploying new technologies based on the analysis of microorganisms or elements of the human body such as DNA, RNA, tumours or plasma. By the use of these biological resources, genomics and proteomics, combined with imaging techniques, have led to remarkable progress in recent decades. Thus, a better understanding of the pathogenesis and epidemiology of microbial agents has been possible for many diseases, making it possible to specify the genetic variation of pathogens and thus revolutionise the development of vaccines. In addition, these new techniques, combined with bioinformatics, have enabled the significant development of genetic biomarkers for chronic diseases, such as cancer, neurodegenerative diseases, etc… These studies required the recruitment of a large number of patients and the collection of biological samples (blood, tumours, etc.), the extraction of nucleic acids and their conservation under controlled conditions. To do this, these studies relied on biological resource centres or biobanks, functional units located in hospitals and medical research institutes, whose mission was to collect, transform, analyse, store and distribute the said resources. These different operations are carried out with respect for the fundamental rights of the source individuals. Biobanks, tools of contemporary biomedical research, pave the way for precision medicine based on targeted therapies.

Despite these major advances in the understanding of diseases, several factors have limited the transfer of basic research into clinical applications for the benefit of the patient. These include the need to guarantee the quality of samples and to harmonise collection and storage procedures; increase capacity to enroll patients; implement interoperability of clinical and analytical databases to enable data warehousing and, most importantly, maintain public confidence in these activities.

Several EU countries are funding the development of national biobanking infrastructures. These infrastructures reflect and accompany a change in scale of biomedical research in the 21st century, from local to global, with the formation of international research consortia necessary to unravel the complexity of chronic diseases and to detect genetic variants of modest effect. This involves international exchanges, within a well-defined framework, of biological samples and anonymised data produced by a dynamic network of multidisciplinary teams from different countries. The role of the infrastructures in these networks is to pool resources and expertise in order to meet the expectations of research actors by facilitating the flow of information between researchers and institutions and by promoting the organisation and development of databases or warehouses aggregating large volumes of data (big data).

The biobanking project poses a major question: how can we succeed in changing the practices of health professionals to ensure optimal quality of biological samples (and their associated data) useful for the quality of care and patient treatment ?

This question has an obvious scientific and technical side, however, not the only side. Its other side is managerial. It is a question of getting professionals to change their practices, and therefore their behaviour, which ultimately corresponds to changing their scientific and technical culture on the question of the quality of the biological sample and the associated data. The originality of this project’s approach lies in the fact that it proposes, in a collaborative logic, a multidisciplinary guidance of scientific and technical change for the benefit of patients’ health.

Strategic Challenges :

• Population Studies
• Translational research
• Exploitation of samples (integration of networks of excellence, development of research projects): financing of medical research in Morocco
• valuation of Morocco’s biological heritage and scientific expertise
• Study of cancer profiles (biological/genetic) in Morocco

Impact on valuation :

• Develop innovative projects,
• Develop public-private partnerships,
• Enhancing the value of biological collections,
• Pooling biological resources,
• Bring Moroccan research to the highest level of excellence and expertise in the MENA region
• Establish collaborative links with industrialists,
• Structuring the network of biological resource centres,
• Improve the quality of processes and services related to biological sample collections

Impact on the care of Moroccan patients:

• Develop a customised medicine,
• Develop new therapeutic strategies,
• Identify new therapeutic sites,
• Improve the quality of patient care