Hospital characteristics
This Biobank was established following the "Management Regulations on Human Biobank" of the Ministry of Health and Welfare. It was approved by the Ministry of Health and Welfare on July 14, 2016.
The Human Biobank of Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital Medical System (Kaohsiung, Taiwan) legally collects cancer-related specimens (all kinds of tumors and non-tumor fresh frozen tissues, blood), and preserve related tissues and clinical data with regulations, which is an important basis for the development of related medical research in this hospital. Through the proper management, use of human biological samples, and the establishment of a complete clinical data system in Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, it is expected to promote the development of medical research and improve the academic and research standards of the hospital and the quality of clinical medical services.
In the second half of 2019, we joined the National Health Institute's Human Biobank integration platform. Through the integration of this standard platform, the Human Biobank also actively promotes the collection of samples in the hospital and encourages research on the Human Biobank in the future. It is hoped to increase the diversity of specimen collection in Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital and to provide applicants with more standardized and optimized specimens.
The tissues collected in the database are mainly stored in the -80 degrees refrigerators in a fresh-frozen manner. The related blood samples are stored in three categories: serum, plasma, and buffy coat. The clinical follow-up information is stored according to the national rules in an independent computer to protect the privacy of patients.
Due to the preciousness of the clinical human samples, when applicants have relevant application requirements, their projects must follow the rules and pass the examination of Institution Review Board (IRB) and the Ethics and Governance Council (EGC) of the Human Biobank to acquire the samples to ensure that the sample is used properly.