Tissue Repository Core

Abstract – Pediatric Rheumatology Tissue Repository (PRTR) A robust and rigorous infrastructure for biospecimen collection is essential for accelerate innovative translational research projects in pediatric rheumatology. The Pediatric Rheumatology Tissue Repository (PRTR) was established in 1996 and has been continuously supported by NIAMS funding to maximize the value of sample collections for translational research. Since 2017, the PRTR has served as the US biobank for the Childhood Arthritis Rheumatology Research Alliance (CARRA) Research Registry, the largest longitudinal study of pediatric rheumatic diseases in North America. The overall objective of the proposed PRTR is to accelerate transformative discovery in pediatric rheumatology by facilitating access to valuable and high quality biospecimens for innovative translational research projects. The following aims are proposed to achieve this objective. In the first aim, the PRTR will collect, process and maintain high quality biological specimens from patients with pediatric rheumatologic and related musculoskeletal conditions to support and grow the local research community. This includes facilitating the design and management of large-scale sample collections specific to investigator- initiated translational research. This also includes ongoing collection of high value biospecimens (new-onset disease and leftover fluid and tissue), and support for pilot biosample collections by early-stage investigators with innovative research directions but who lack laboratory infrastructure. In Aim 2, the PRTR will expand the scope of biospecimen collection for pediatric rheumatic disease research nationally. The PRTR will support development and implementation of advanced biospecimen collections suitable for emerging genomic approaches, particularly from non-blood tissues including ultrasound-guided synovial and kidney biopsy, bone marrow, bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL), and lung tissue. In parallel, the partnership between the PRTR and CARRA will be leveraged to support protocol development, study design assistance, site training, and infrastructure development for advanced processing at individual CARRA Registry sites. Finally in Aim 3, the PRTR will optimize availability, access to and use of biosample collections. This includes near-real-time, aliquot- level, de-identified specimen data to authenticated, and fully integrated phenotypic and biobanking information will continue to be searchable through RheumsMart, the PRTR’s secure online data mart. We will also upgrade biobanking tracking system for both local and CARRA collections to industry-leading LabVantage LIMS. Taken together, the PRTR will provide a centralized, high quality, valuable resource for biospecimen collection, processing, and storage to support the Research Community at CCHMC and nationally. These resources will accelerate translational research initiatives to further the overall goal of the CRDRC to advance the understanding of pediatric rheumatic diseases and lead to new therapies for these diseases.