Development of a European-Standard Biobank for Neoplastic and Non-Neoplastic Diseases in the Republic of Moldova

Full description

We are a team of pathologists and researchers from the Department of Pathology at Nicolae Testemitanu State University of Medicine and Pharmacy and Timofei Mosneaga Republican Clinical Hospital in the Republic of Moldova.

Our team is actively involved in diagnostic pathology, medical education and biomedical research. As an important step towards expanding our research capacity, we aim to establish a pathology biobank in accordance with European standards, with strong potential to support future national and international research collaborations.

Our institutions have access to extensive collections of biological material, including formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded (FFPE) tissue samples representing both neoplastic and non-neoplastic diseases. Inflammatory conditions constitute an important part of our non-neoplastic pathology collection. Our main areas include breast, haematological and lymphoid, renal, prostate, urinary bladder, gastrointestinal, hepatobiliary, pulmonary, endocrine and neuroendocrine pathology.

The available samples are supported by histopathological diagnoses and, depending on the case, relevant clinical, imaging, laboratory, immunohistochemical and follow-up data. We also have immunohistochemistry and telepathology facilities, enabling remote consultations, digital collaboration and participation in multicentre studies.

We have sufficient retrospective material and access to prospective samples to support the development of a sustainable biobank with significant long-term research potential. In the future, we aim to expand our capabilities by introducing molecular testing and integrating histopathological, immunohistochemical, molecular and clinical data.

The proposed biobank could support research on tumor biology, inflammatory diseases, tumor–immune interactions, biomarker discovery and validation, molecular profiling, personalized medicine, digital pathology and artificial intelligence applications.

We are seeking European universities, hospitals, research institutes, established biobanks and research consortia with expertise in biobank development, quality management, ethical and legal frameworks, data harmonization, molecular pathology and translational research.

We are interested in joining a Horizon Europe consortium as a partner. Depending on sample availability, ethical approval and applicable legal requirements, our team can contribute biological material, histopathological expertise, immunohistochemistry, telepathology, annotated tissue collections and access to relevant patient cohorts. We are also seeking training, mentorship and technical collaboration to develop the biobank according to European standards and integrate it into international research networks.