8:00 am – 11:00 am Workshop A: My Freezer’s Full, What Do I Do?

Today’s biobanks are expanding their biospecimen collections to support various researches and projects and the ever-increasing biospecimens handling is challenging biorepositories to achieve efficiency and quality. In this workshop, Andy will give a practical lecture on how to handle this challenge. We will compare outsourcing with automation as mechanisms to deal with it.

What will be covered:

• Understanding the compelling challenges in biobanking industry
• Comparing outsourcing and automation mechanism on cost and efficiency
• Optimizing program and project planning to achieve maximum results

How will you benefit:

• Obtaining practical guidelines on ever-increasing biospecimens handling
• Understanding the outsourcing possibilities
• Learning through hands-on case studies on automation techniques and deployment
• Ensuring the take-away through scenario planning to apply to your repository

Andy Zaayenga
Director
SmarterLab

11:30 am – 2:30 pm Workshop B: Automated Storage and Retrieval Systems for Biobanking

Registration 11:15 am (Lunch served)

Compound repositories are ubiquitous in the area of pharmaceutical drug discovery. Biobanks share many of the same requirements as pharmaceutical company compound stores. Besides the obvious similarities in the ability to robustly store, track, and retrieve many different types of containers in a controlled environment, both types of systems also require the ability to interface with user databases, allow for remote access to information and order creation, and connect to other sample handling equipment or software.

Storage of biological materials such as tissue, DNA, blood, and serum also require some unique challenges. Principle among these is the ability to store samples at lower temperatures than chemical compounds, which are typically stored no lower than -20°C. Automated storage systems that keep samples at -80°C are now commercially available.

This workshop will provide an overview of the current capability of biological and chemical compound sample management systems. The unique challenges of storing and handling biological samples will be discussed.

What will be covered:

• Overview and comparison of compound repositories and biobanks
• Recent developments in sample storage, tracking and retrieving technologies
• Sample handling and storage considerations when dealing with biological samples

How will you benefit:

• Understanding the tools available to automate sample processing
• Learning how to control and maintain temperature for sample integrity
• Determining the level of automation the fits your biobanking needs

Workshop Leader:

3:00 pm – 6:00 pm Workshop C: A Tutorial in Cost Recovery and Biobank Financial Planning

This tutorial will address cost recovery & financial planning issues related to biospecimen resource development and clinical biobanking alike. For those already somewhat adept in financial planning, this workshop will offer you a forum to exchange ideas and advance your financial skills to aid biospecimen resource growth while supporting sustainable development.

What will be covered:

• Cost recovery and financial planning for:
  • Clinical and population based trials support
  • Virtual banking projects
  • Biobank network collaborations
  • Industry related collaborations
• Guidance on Cost Recovery Best Practice
• Exploration of methods for achieving a sustainable development via scenario based tutorials for quote development, grant planning & revenue projections
• Improving financial skills for biobank planning and development

How will you benefit:

• Improved understanding of cost metrics, issues that affect costing as well as strategies to aid revenue generation & cost reduction
• Understand how to apply lessons learned from other cost recovery models to your biobank or biobank network
• Refine your abilities to negotiate cost recovery with your end users & increase adherence/support for cost recovery at your institution
• Advance your financial reporting skills

Lisa B. Miranda
President
Biobusiness Consulting, Inc