Implementing new technologies to enhance specimen quality and researcher value at the National Centralized Repository for Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementias

Abstract

AbstractBackgroundThe National Centralized Repository for Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementias (NCRAD) was established in 1990 at Indiana University with the mission to support research focused on the etiology, early detection, and development of therapeutics for ADRD. NCRAD has been funded by the National Institute on Aging (NIA) since 1990 and is an integral international resource for clinical information and biological materials. As ADRD research has advanced, NCRAD and the NIA have worked together to expand the number and type of biological specimens available to the research community. NCRAD currently houses DNA, RNA, CSF, plasma, serum, stool, brain tissue, LCLs, PBMCs, fibroblasts and iPSCs from individuals with ADRD and healthy controls. NCRAD and the NIA have invested in technologies to standardize specimen processing, enhance specimen quality, and increase specimen distribution to researchers. Paired with this, all data generated from NCRAD specimens must be made available to other researchers through approved data warehouses.MethodDNA extractions are performed with standardized Chemagen chemistries on the Chemagic360 platform. Genotyping is performed with SNP Type™ assays on Juno™ and Biomark™ platforms. Automated specimen storage is executed by a Hamilton® BiOS M. Biofluid handling and sub‐aliquoting are carried out on Janus®, Biomek, and STARlet liquid‐handling platforms.ResultDNA extraction quality, consistency, and throughput increased after adopting the Chemagic360 platform. Custom SNP fingerprint genotyping of DNA specimens upon intake and distribution ensured specimen identity was not lost due to collection site errors or specimen swaps during processing. Additionally, APOE and LRRK2 G2019S genotyping has provided researchers banking specimens with valuable ADRD‐related genetic information. Automated, high‐density storage has permitted the banking of more specimens, allowing for onboarding of additional studies. Storage automation reduced the handling of specimens that could introduce warming events, contributing to confounding preanalytical variables.ConclusionRecent investments in new technologies have allowed NCRAD to accelerate ADRD research by supporting a broader range of biological specimens, increasing the number of specimens banked, limiting the effects of preanalytical variables, and shortening the time to distribute specimens. The broad availability of NCRAD specimens and the data generated from these specimens, has resulted in over 700 peer‐reviewed publications.