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Generation and validation of a universal perinatal database and biospecimen repository: PeriBank

Abstract

Objective:

There is a dearth of biospecimen repositories available to perinatal researchers. In order to address this need, here we describe the methodology used to establish such a resource.

Study Design:

With the collaboration of MedSci.net, we generated an online perinatal database with 847 fields of clinical information. Simultaneously, we established a biospecimen repository of the same clinical participants.

Results:

The demographic and clinical outcomes data are described for the first 10 000 participants enrolled. The demographic characteristics are consistent with the demographics of the delivery hospitals. Quality analysis of the biospecimens reveals variation in very few analytes. Furthermore, since the creation of PeriBank, we have demonstrated validity of the database and tissue integrity of the biospecimen repository.

Conclusion:

Here we establish that the creation of a universal perinatal database and biospecimen collection is not only possible, but allows for the performance of state-of-the-science translational perinatal research and is a potentially valuable resource to academic perinatal researchers.

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Acknowledgements

We would like to acknowledge Texas Children’s Hospital and Ben Taub Hospital for their support of this project. We would also like to acknowledge Baylor College of Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology for funding this perinatal database and biospecimen repository. The financial support for the study is provided by Baylor College of Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology (internal funding only).

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Correspondence to K Aagaard.

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Supplementary Information accompanies the paper on the Journal of Perinatology website

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Antony, K., Hemarajata, P., Chen, J. et al. Generation and validation of a universal perinatal database and biospecimen repository: PeriBank. J Perinatol 36, 921–929 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1038/jp.2016.130

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