Authors
Eliana M Lacerda, Caroline C Kingdon, Erinna W Bowman and Luis Nacul
Institution
Faculty of Infectious & Tropical Diseases, Department of Clinical Research, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, International Centre for Evidence in Disability, London, UK
Introduction
Since the millennium, we have witnessed an increasing number of biobanks acting as key infrastructure for biomedical research. Biobanks are a cost-effective and nimble means of providing high-quality samples linked to comprehensive clinical and socio-demographic participant data.
This editorial highlights the importance of biobanks for the advancement of scientific knowledge and of patient participation and engagement as drivers of success by outlining the procedures and rationale behind the development of the UK ME/CFS Biobank, which used a participatory approach.
Publication
Lacerda et al, Fatigue: Biomedicine, Health & Behavior, 2018; 6(1):1–4
Funding
The Biobank was established with a joint grant from the charities Action for ME, the ME Association, and ME Research UK.