BIOBANK AND BIOMODEL UNIT OF THE PRINCIPALITY OF ASTURIAS

The UBBPA is functionally affiliated with the ISPA and consists of: 1st The BioPA Biobank Subunit; 2nd The Organoids Subunit constituted by the Head and Neck Oncology, Sarcomas, Ophthalmology, Advanced Therapies, and Glycomics groups of the ISPA; 3rd The Animal Models Subunit of the Ophthalmology group of the ISPA. The BioPA, registered in the National Biobanks Registry with number B.827, aims to collect and preserve human biological samples under appropriate conditions of safety and traceability, which will be used for research projects approved by the Ethics Committee and the Scientific Committee. At the European level, through the Biobank and Organoids Subunits, we are part of the EATRIS Biomarkers Platform (European Research Infrastructure Consortium) and through the BioPA Subunit of the European network canSERV_EMTBN. The Scientific Director of the UBBPA serves as co-leader of the organoids hub of the PISCIIIBB.

Services

Main services of the BioPA Subunit (Tumor Bank, Brain Bank, DNA, plasma, and cell Bank):
• Provision of human retrospective and prospective data and samples.
• Collection of skeletal muscle samples from SARS-CoV-2 patients.
• Biobanking of Pathological Anatomy samples.
• Delivery of fresh samples for the procurement of cell lines, organoids, and xenografts.
• Pathological reports in various processes.
• Laser microdissection of tissues.
• Studies and reports of electron microscopy.

Main services of the Organoids Subunit:
• Provision of organoids.
• Establishment or derivation of organoid cultures.
• Characterization of organoids.

Main services of the Animal Models Subunit:
• Ocular tolerance and irritation testing.
• Animal models: Corneal injury and regeneration; evaluation of ocular pain; aging and neurodegenerative diseases; retina ischemia/reperfusion; phototoxicity.