Shefaa Al-Orman Biobank

Enhancing efficiency in biomedical research in order to improve diagnosis and treatment to serve the community regionally and internationally based on strong and consistent ethical and scientific principles.

Conducting, facilitating, and supporting innovative high-quality research for the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of cancer in Luxor and Egypt.

• Organizing and storing samples in an efficient, accurate, and reliable manner, while maintaining confidentiality.
• Obtaining high-quality samples to be used in genetic research related to cancer.
• Enhancing the awareness of the community about the development of the study of biological material.
• Enhancing the size and quality of the infrastructure of the biobank at Shefaa Al-Orman Hospital.

Prof. Azza Saleh Radwan
Professor of clinical and chemical pathology at TBRI. Ministry of Scientific Research, holding a Diploma in Total Quality Management in Healthcare from American University in Cairo, International Certificate in Research Ethics from Maryland University, and Certified International Professional Trainer (CIPT) Missouri State University, USA. Head of the Central Administration for Research and Health Development and Rapporteur of the National Committee for Scientific Research Ethics at the Ministry of Health and Population (2015-2019). Rapporteur of the two committees to review the law regulating clinical medical research (Ministerial Decision No. 491 of 2016 and Prime Minister’s Decision No. 2716 of 2018 and the Committee for the Preparation of its Executive Regulations, Ministerial Decision No. 135 of 2021).

All employees of the department are fully aware of the basic principles of biobanking such as privacy, security, and confidentiality of information, the principles of Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), and global personal safety and protection standards.

	Name	Specialty
1	Prof. Azza Saleh Radwan	Head of Research Department and Biobank
3	Scientist / Rehab Mohamed	Senior in Research Department and Biobank
4	Scientist / Aisha Mohamed	Research Specialist
5	Scientist / Marwa Moustafa	Research Specialist
6	Scientist / Nour EL Huda Elsayd	Research Specialist
7	Scientist /Salma Abdelmonem Mahmoud	Research Specialist

1-Screening of Hereditary Cancers in Upper Egypt

The strategy of Shefaa Al-Orman Hospital is to reach Upper Egypt with No Cancer, and early detection of cancers, including hereditary cancers. Studies proved that the rate of prevalence of hereditary cancer is 10% but this percentage is still unknown among Egyptian families.
Moreover, the population in Upper Egypt is known for the high rate of marriage between relatives, which increases the chance of cancer spreading. studies showed that 38% of suspected cases of cancerous tumors are caused by consanguineous marriages. Therefore, identifying cancer-causing genes will help in early detection of individuals at greater risk of developing cancer in the same family.

2- Domestic and International Cooperation

• The Egyptian Genome Project

Shefaa Al-Orman Hospital is one of the hospitals, and institutions selected for participation in the Egyptian Genome Project to represent the population of Upper Egypt. The biobank and research department were involved in this project to collect the samples. In the future, training and practical courses may be held in the hospital to build a new generation of scientists and support the science of precision medicine.

• The Biobank and Cohort Building Network (BCNet)- IARC – WHO

In line with IARC’s mission to contribute to worldwide cancer research, BCNet was set up to give an opportunity for low- and middle-income countries to work together in a coordinated and effective manner and jointly address the many challenges in biobanking infrastructure, including ethical, legal and social issues. The network currently comprises 37 institutional biobanks in 22 low and middle-income countries. SOH – Biobank has been certified to be a member in BCNet since January 2021.

• The Union for International Cancer Control (UICC)

UICC network brings together cancer leagues and societies; research institutes; treatment centers, hospitals, scientific and professional societies; ministries of health, public health agencies; and patient support organizations to shape cancer control on a global scale.
Among 1200 members in 172 countries and 58 partners, Shefaa Al-Orman has joined the UICC with a full membership. Accordingly, SOH has been presented in the UICC monthly newsletter with the services the hospital is presenting to society in Egypt. As a result, SOH has become known to 172 countries across the world for the service it provided to cancer patients.

1-Research labs:

1. Biobank lab: for sample collection, processing, and storage of samples at – 80 °C to -150 °C to maintain molecular and genetic material.
2. Genomic labs; are divided to:
   • Pre-PCR (pre-polymerase chain reaction) lab: where the genetic material is extracted.
   • PCR (Polymerase chain reaction) lab: where the polymerase chain reaction test is performed. It is a technique to amplify/duplicate the genetic material to facilitate the detection of genetic mutation.
   • NGS (next generation sequencing) lab: where detection of genetic mutation is carried out using next-generation sequencing technique to facilitate medical and biological research.

The department also has the highest level equipment to facilitate laboratory experiments and helping in advancing scientific research, including:

 

Multiskan Spectrophotometer (1)   A microplate reader is used for any photometric absorption or turbidimetric research applications, especially DNA, RNA and protein analysis.	LN2 Level Monitor (1) Cryogenic storage systems to tissue preservation	−80°C Freezers  (3) Preservation of  blood samples and its derivatives  at -80°C.	Biosafety Cabinet (1) Enclosed workspace with a ventilated hood that is designed to create a sterile area to ensure samples quality.	Centrifuges (4) Used to separate components of a mixture with speed up to 3000 RPM e
Next Generation Sequencing (NGS)(1)   the newest technique for detection and sequencing of DNA bases to facilitate early detection and diagnosis of cancer.		Applied Biosystems® Veriti (1) 96-Well Fast Thermal Cycler used in DNA, RNA amplification to be ready for sequencing process.	QuantStudio™  5 (1) Real-Time PCR System for Human Identification by amplification and detection of DNA.	capillary electrophoresis LabChip (1) Nucleic acid analyzer’s microfluidic technology, optimal for RNA and DNA analysis.

 

2-Biobank

It is a bank for collecting and preserving human biological samples such as: tissues, blood and its derivatives, organizing and preserving their data, for the possibility of using them for research purposes in the future. This bank was established in Upper Egypt to facilitate conducting of research, to provide resources for researchers, and to reduce the burden of carrying out research.

The biobank contains approximately 50,700 blood and tissue samples that were collected and stored inside the bank, which are (blood plasma – serum – buffy coat – DNA extract – cancerous tumor tissue – non-cancerous tumor tissue – RNA samples preserved with triazole).

Shefaa Al Orman Hospital biobank contains biological samples for various types of cancer, as it contains 1456 breast cancer samples, followed by liver and biliary duct cancer 402 samples, bladder cancer 402, lymphoma cancers 399, lung cancer 391, colon cancer 270, thyroid cancer 266, rectal cancer 253, pancreatic cancer 218 and other tumors. The bank also contains 1112 samples from which their DNA was extracted.

3-Biobank database:

The Biobank has an electronic system for saving information, in which information about samples is recorded and linked to the hospital database while preserving patients’ privacy.

4- SOH Institutional Review Board (SOH-IRB)

The hospital established a robust Institutional Review Board (IRB) in 2017 following international guidelines and making sure that all studies conducted at the hospital are following the guidelines.  The SOH-IRB is registered in the Egyptian Ministry of Health and Population with a registration number (0006032022) and in the Egyptian Network of Research Ethics Committee (ENREC), a non-governmental organization.

SOH-IRB is also registered in the National Institutes of Health- Office of Human Research Protection (OHRP), it is the only international office that registered research ethics committees internationally: the hospital registration number (IOR0009206) while the SOH-IRB registration number is (IRB00010970) and finally Federal Wide Assurance Number (FWA) (FWA00025406).

 

E-mail: res@shefaorman.org/ azzasaleh@hotmail.com

Address: 4^th District, Tiba City, Luxor, Egypt

Mobile: 01001408780