Chronic Beryllium Disease Bio-Repository Initiative
Background/Purpose:
Chronic Beryllium Disease (CBD) may result from occupational
exposure to beryllium and has been one of the major health
problems affecting the former and current DOE workforce. Of
the 60,000 potentially exposed former and current workers
who have participated in DOE-conducted medical surveillance
programs, approximately 800 have been identified to have
beryllium sensitization (BeS, a condition that may lead to
CBD in some people) and over 200 have been diagnosed
with CBD. In the absence of an animal model to study the disease,
current research to improve understanding, diagnosis and treatment
of this disease depends entirely on human cells and tissues.
Given that DOE has conducted its medical surveillance programs
for more than a decade, it is in a unique position to facilitate
research on CBD by setting up a repository of specimens. This
initiative is being funded through the Office of Health and Safety's
Former Worker Medical Screening Program.
This repository will include donated blood and tissues (bio-specimens)
from former and current DOE workers with CBD, workers who
developed sensitization to beryllium (BeS), and workers exposed
to beryllium who are not sensitized and do not have the disease
(controls). Based on the current number of workers who were
either diagnosed with CBD or BeS and matching controls, the
total number of donors for the Repository is estimated as
1,200 to 1,500 individuals.
Future Plans:
The CBD Repository development effort is comprised of two phases:
Phase I, focused on preparing a Standard Protocol (to be implemented in Phase
II) by a Committee of expert clinicians and scientists from National Jewish
Medical and Research Center, University of Pennsylvania Hospital,
University of California Los Angeles, University of California
San Francisco, University of Colorado, National Institute
for Occupational Safety and Health, and Mayo Clinic.
Phase II (to be completed in 36 months) is being conducted
with the participation of five clinical centers which have
conducted clinical evaluations for the majority of current
and former DOE workers suspected of having CBD: National Jewish
Medical and Research Center, University of Pennsylvania Hospital,
East Tennessee Pulmonary Associates, University of California
Los Angeles, and University of California San Francisco. Donations
of blood and tissue samples will be obtained from individuals
diagnosed either with CBD or BeS, as well as matching control
individuals (those exposed to beryllium but without sensitivity
or disease).
DOE has been in close contact with National Heart Lung and
Blood Institute (NHLBI), which has established a repository
on chronic lung diseases, with the necessary infrastructure
to maintain and distribute the specimens to expert scientists.
It is anticipated that the clinical centers will transfer
the donated specimens to this newly-established NHLBI Lung
Tissue Research Consortium Repository.
On July 16, 2008, NHLBI has officially agreed on the
transfer of the specimens.
For further information on the Beryllium Bio-Repository, please contact
Dr. Bonnie Richter.
This page was last updated on November 07, 2008
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