- BACKGROUND -


 

Profesor Jeanne Orfila had a passion for research.
She became one of the world specialists in Chlamydia.
She participated in setting up the Biobanque de Picardie from 1990.

She passed away the 1st August, 2006.



1990: Creation

At the end of 1990, the Picardie Regional Council and the Somme General Council launched the idea of a serobank in Picardie.

1991: The Biobanque de Picardie takes shape

The Somme General Council and the Picardie Regional Council invest in the project, providing grants for the construction, functioning and equipment of the Biobanque.

1992: First steps

Laboratories throughout the Picardie region are informed of the Biobanque de Picardie's creation.

The first straw is stored

Application is broadened to other types of biological material (DNA, RNA etc.), giving rise to the concept of a "Biobanque", a bank of biological material.

1993: Development

The European Chlamydia Network chooses the Biobanque de Picardie as its head office for Chlamydia serum samples (a decision made during the meeting in Southampton on February 26th and 27th, 1993).

1994: Know-how favours collaborations

Straws first sent to other European countries

Study of the relationship between clinical symptoms and serological results in Chlamydia pneumoniae infections (in collaboration with the Amiens Prevention and Health Examination Centre).

Collaboration with a diagnostics company, leading to a contract for improving a diagnostic kit in June 1995.

1995: Numerous studies... 

A study on papillomaviruses is launched 
(in collaboration with the Amiens Centre of Obstetrics and Gynaecology and the Reims Regional Hospital).

Multicentre study in Picardie on pneumopathies

Creation of an anti-phospholipid syndrome and antibody network (in collaboration with the Compiègne Hospital and the Technology University of Compiègne)

Collaboration with the Rheumatology Department 
as part of the regional, multicenter, INSERM U21 protocol on vitamin D.

1996: 

Comparison of different molecular biology and immunofluorescence techniques for the detection of Chlamydia trachomatis in urine and genital samples.

1997: 

Study of cardiovascular risk factors in children (in collaboration with the Picardie Regional Health Observatory).

1998:

Collaborative study of the prevalence of Chlamydia pneumoniae and Mycoplasma pneumoniae in asthmatic adults.

Development of a protocol for the diagnosis of haemochromatosis in a healthy population.

 

1999:

Participation in the international standardization of Chlamydia pneumoniae serology by microimmunofluorescence.

Development of a serological diagnosis technique approved by the French Agency for the Medical Safety of Healthcare Products (AFSSAPS).

2000: The largest biological library in the north of France

Due to the presence of the biobank, the city of Amiens is chosen as the Head Office of the largest biological library of the French Blood Establishment (EFS) / Northern France, in the framework of the Territorial Scheme for Blood Transfusion Organization: a scientific collaboration between the EFS and the Biobanque de Picardie is also launched.

2001: Biological Resource Centre (BRC) status and the creation of the Picardie Biobanque Association

Development of a molecular diagnostics technique approved by the French Agency for the Medical Safety of Health Products (AFSSAPS).

The Biobanque de Picardie is one of the first 16 BRCs in France to be given official status by the Ministry of Research and the INSERM for the storage of biological samples of human origin.

The Picardie Biobanque Association is created on December 17th, 2001.

2002: Towards new horizons

The Ministry of Research representative in charge of healthcare biotechnology visits Amiens and confirms that the Biobanque de Picardie has acquired all the know-how and biological resources needed to move to a new stage of its development, by structuring its BRC activity and becoming more professional, thus creating a new model.

2004: Inauguration ceremony

The Picardie Biobank  has moved in new buildings adjacent to the Amiens University Hospital. This is the first time in France that a special structure is dedicated to the BRC activity.

The inauguration ceremony took place on January 9th 2004, in the presence of the President of Amiens Metropole, M. Gilles de Robien.

2006: Development

The Amiens University Hospital integrates the BRC activities. The Biobanque de Picardie Association assures all infrastructure and collections valorisation.

The Biobanque de Picardie’s proposal on extension o its quality management system is selectionned by the ANR call for proposals (Collections of Biological samples for Health).

Agreements with private and public partners for the management of collections).

2007:

The BRC activities have been transfered to the Amiens University Hospital . The Biobanque de Picardie Association is responsible for all valorisation activities asociated with the samples.

The proposal of the Biobanque de Picardie has been selected by the french National Research Agency CEBS (Collections of Biological Samples for Research). The proposal is focused on extension of the actual Quality Management System in the BRC Laboratory activities.