Who can use the CoBi?
The resources of the CoBi are open to bona fide scientists, undertaking blood cancer-related research that is of public interest and in compliance with the research framework of the CoBi. Scientists from academia, governmental institutions and other non-profit companies can use the CoBi.
Research Framework
Access to samples and data in the CoBi is available for all bona fide researchers for any type of blood cancer-related research. The research must be in the public interest, without any preferential or exclusive access to anyone and must be compliant with the Research Framework of the CoBi. According to the Research Framework the objectives of the CoBi are:
- To serve as a resource for research projects intended to improve the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of blood cancers.
- To conduct research aiming to improve the outcome of haematopoietic stem cell transplantations (HSCT).
- To improve and extend donor selection for allogeneic stem cell transplantation. In this context the biobank is intended to be used to optimise the typing panel by using modern sequencing techniques and thus, improving donor selection algorithms.
We would like to note that due to the limited amount of biomaterial which is available, applications for samples require an explicit scientific value listed in the Access Policy.
CoBi Resources
You can have access to samples of (genomic) DNA and health-related relevant data.
Currently we can provide 26,644 DNA samples including 2,210 DNA paired patient-donor samples. We also have more than 22,600 blood samples stored*. For the gDNA we can provide you with the following quantity: 100, 500 or 1000 ng in a total of 50 µl.
*Status: January 2023
Access Policy
Applications for research projects can either be submitted via participating Transplantation Centres or DKMS. In the approval process the application will be evaluated based on the provision of the submitted documents and the corresponding vote from the Ethics Committee. Research applications must be in accordance with the Research Framework of the CoBi.
After an Email request via the homepage a link will be provided where the Principle Investigator can perform a Feasibility Check regarding the available quantity of samples from donors and patients.
The first review processes will be performed by the CoBi Team. This team consists of experts from different fields including biological, legal and technological areas. The team will review the completeness of documents (Access Application Form), and whether the research project request complies with the Research Framework of CoBi. The scientific merit of the application may be evaluated by the Scientific Committee.
After a successful review process a transfer agreement has to be signed.
For detailed information please download the Access Policy.
Costs
Costs are based on whether samples and/or data are required. There is no fee for the preliminary application process and data extraction. For sample requests the CoBi policy is as follows: The costs cover the sample export process in the laboratory, working hours and shipping costs. Therefore the costs depend on the volume of sample requests, shipment quality and country of destination.
Return of Data
At the end of the research project, we may request from you to return derived data or other results so that we can integrate these results back into the CoBi. Details will be regulated in the specified transfer agreement with the applicant Principle Investigator.
How do I return results?
Your final ‘analysis data’ should be returned in the analytical format you have used during your research project and must include the samples and/or data IDs originally supplied by the CoBi. We would appreciate files to be returned in the following format: CSV. Please get in touch with us if other data formats are used. All data fields should be clearly named and labelled. If necessary, text files should be provided with details to the contents of data-panels.
More details will be provided by the CoBi Team, if appropriate.
What is ‘analysis data’ and why are we asking for it?
‘Analysis data’ are all data-panels generated during your research project using the CoBi data. This is, in general rule, your final working dataset, including newly generated data-panels and the analytical dataset. This also includes assay results (if applicable), analysis from existing data, the intermediates of those derived datasets, and sequencing files (raw data).
The objective in asking for the ‘analysis data’ is to create a platform for future research projects. The CoBi should be able to: (i) incorporate into the central database derived data-panels from your ‘analysis data’ that may be of use to others; (ii) make your results available to researchers worldwide, in a manner that ‘analysis data’ can be reviewed through a process of replication.
What additional information should be provided?
A description of the used methods should be provided (e.g. array panel, sequencing machine). We will make these information publicly available as related documentation to the derived data-panels of interest. This documentation should be sufficiently detailed to allow other researchers to follow-up how the data was generated.
Wherever possible, the details of used algorithms or software for the generation of results should be provided in detail to allow other researchers to follow-up how the data was generated and to replicate findings.
The CoBi is aware that reasonable limitations on the ability to provide analytical tools (e.g. confidential algorithm) as part of the ‘analysis data’ are possible.
In this event we would like you to consider carefully whether you are able to do so by providing appropriate assistance to researchers who may contact you.
How will my results data be used?
The CoBi will not audit your results for quality control. Instead they are publicly available for other researchers to review. However, we will check the results data to ensure that what has been provided is effectively a “complete set” and that sufficient explanatory documentation has been provided. A full acknowledgement of the provenance of the data will be provided. Should you have any questions, or require further clarification, please contact the CoBi Team.
Whom do I have to contact when?
Please notify the CoBi Team of any manuscripts accepted for publication during the first year of your project. 12 months after data release, the CoBi Team will contact you to complete a project update report, which will ask about pending publications and anticipated date of returning results.
