Participants
Participation to the BQC19 allows researchers to work with human specimens from individuals infected with the SARS-CoV-2 virus responsible for COVID-19 and uninfected controls to try to elucidate the causes and mechanisms of severity. The availability of high-quality, well-documented human biological materials is essential to improve the understanding of COVID-19 and to stimulate the development of new therapeutic options, including vaccine development and monitoring.
Consent
Consent must be obtained from the BQC19 participant or his or her legal representative, if the participant is a minor or incompetent. Consent must be given voluntarily and without coercion, be informed (given after receiving all necessary information) and documented. In the context of patients hospitalized for COVID-19, it is possible that the person may be contacted by telephone to obtain consent according to the ethical standards established by the hospital institution.
Collection and conservation
Standardized protocols for sample collection, processing and storage that comply with good practice guidelines provide access to quality biological samples and ensure efficient and sustainable use.
Secure database and network
Protecting the confidentiality of information and the identity of participants is a priority at all times. All the BQC19 data is encrypted and denominated and stored on a secure server. Only a few authorized persons have access to this server, which is protected by an access code. In addition, daily back-ups of the data are made.
Scientific and ethical approval
Any use of biological samples or data from the BQC19 requires acceptance of the research project by the Biobank Access Committee and a duly established Ethics Committee. Once these approvals and authorization to carry out the project have been received, the BQC19 team may transmit the material and data requested. The approval and monitoring of a research project by a Research Ethics Committee constitutes a guarantee of security for participants.
Selection Process
Depending on the availability of the material requested, the BQC19 team selects the biological samples and associated data that meet the inclusion and exclusion criteria contained in the protocol submitted by the investigator.
Distribution
The BQC19 team prepares the associated data and materials under optimal storage conditions and transmits them to the researcher who requested them. The research data may be published or be the subject of scientific discussions. At no time may a participant be identified by these data. In the case of research on COVID-19 using biological material from the BQC19, all experimental data must be returned to the BQC19 so that it can be made available to the entire scientific community to promote a rapid and optimal response to the pandemic.
Discovery
A scientific discovery is a remarkable advance in the field of science. It officially takes on the status of a scientific discovery when it is recognized by a community of experts or researchers in the field. Access to well-preserved biological material and associated data through BQC19 contributes to the development of these discoveries.
New therapies, personalized medicine, new drugs
The BQC19 wants to accelerate the development of new approaches to treatment (including vaccines) and promote research through its infrastructure. The BQC19 contributes to the discovery of new biomarkers in the blood and targeted therapies as well as molecular medicine, all of which are examples of personalized medicine, which consists of preventing, diagnosing and treating a disease according to each participant's condition. In addition, samples collected from individuals with COVID-19 will help understanding the immune response to the virus and contribute to the development and evaluation of the efficacy of new vaccines against SARS-CoV-2.