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In partnership with the Corielle Institute for Biomedical Research in the US, the Institute of Human Virology H3Africa Biorepository (I-HAB) upgraded its repository practices and infrastructure to meet international standard to receive, store, and distribute biological research samples obtained in the H3Africa Initiative. I-HAB also advocates for host government and community support. The goals of this full-scale biorepository is to operate at international standards to receive and distribute samples from and to investigators in Africa, and eventually beyond. In doing so, the biorepository processes and stores high quality primary human biological samples obtained from the H3Africa research projects; develop, implement, manage and support computer tools to support biorepository functions; establish effective administrative governance and Quality Assurance/Quality Control (QA/QC) procedures; conduct training and establish best practices in biobanking and biorepository ethics.

The ultimate goal of this project is to develop a state-of-the-art world class biorepository of well annotated stored biospecimens widely available to the H3Africa Consortium, African and International researchers for genomic discovery projects. The information obtained from the genomic analysis of the samples will allow researchers to develop or test new diagnostic tests, personalize treatment options, and develop new treatment methods. Over the course of this project, the Integrated Biorepository of H3Africa Uganda has developed capacity to perform biorepository services; collect/receive, process, store and ship Biospecimen as per international standards and has developed training resources in biorepository science and management. The IBRH3AU Biorepository has a well annotated collection of various Biospecimen (DNA, RNA, PBMCs, Serum, Plasma, e.t.c.) and associated phenotypic data held at H3ABionet accessible through the H3Africa data and Biospecimen access committee (DBAC).

Clinical Laboratory Services (a Division of the Wits Health Consortium) in Johannesburg South Africa aims to support the H3Africa project that will study diseases in African populations to gain a better understanding of factors that affect heath and diseases. CLS will do this by providing a Biorepository (also called a “biobank”) that will be responsible for receiving, processing, storing and distributing human samples used in the research projects. In the first phase of the project CLS will undertake a detailed assessment of the H3Africa Biorepository needs and ensure that its infrastructure can support the needs of H3Africa. It will also use this period to train its specialized staff in accordance with required regulations and build further links with all the H3Africa/genomic research centers. In the second phase CLS will be an active dedicated H3Africa Biorepository for H3Africa projects. It will also implement several cutting edge repository practices and technologies in order to ensure the highest care and management of H3Africa samples. All samples will be stored under conditions that are ethical, regulated and controlled by local and international standards.