Galliera Genetic Bank: A DNA and Cell Line Biobank from Patients Affected by Genetic Diseases

The Galliera Genetic Bank is part of the Laboratory of Human Genetics of Galliera Hospital in Genoa and has collected samples from patients affected by genetic diseases since 1983. Presently, it stores 10,259 biospecimens and associated data from about 200 genetic disorders. The most representative disorders are chromosome disorders (Down s., Ring chromosome 14 s., Cri du chat s. and Isodicentric 15 chromosome), neurological diseases (Fragile X s., Mowat Wilson s. and Dravet s.), rare bone diseases (Crouzon s., Achondroplasia, Grieg s. and Thanathophoric dwarfism), overgrowth syndromes (Sotos s.), familial hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and other rare disease such as IPEX and Aarskog s. The biobank has been supported by Italian Telethon grants since 1993 and since 2008 is partner of the Telethon Network of Genetic Biobanks. It operates according to Italian and international regulations. Since 2008 the biobank is certified ISO 9001, and in 2010 it was officially authorized by the Liguria Region to operate as a facility in support of diagnosis and research on genetic diseases. Since its inception, the biobank has offered the following services to the biomedical community: (i) access to sample and data collection; (ii) sample processing (e.g., cell lines establishment, DNA/RNA extraction, etc); (iii) preservation of biological specimens and related data (repository service), garnering more than 110 acknowledgements in scientific articles.