Beryllium Bio-Repository
Background:
Chronic Beryllium Disease (CBD) may result from occupational
exposure to beryllium and has been one of the serious 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 screening 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 studies of human cells and tissues. Given that
DOE has conducted its medical screening programs for more
than a decade; it is in a unique position to facilitate research
on CBD by setting up a repository of biological specimens.
The goal of the Beryllium Bio-Repository is to archive important
clinical specimens and other data in order to improve our
understanding of beryllium-related disease. The participants
in this program are all volunteers and have given their written
consent to participate. This initiative is being funded through
the Office of Health and Safety.
This repository will include donated blood, sputum, and lung
tissues (bio-specimens) from three groups of volunteers: 1)former
and current DOE workers with CBD, 2) workers who developed
sensitization to beryllium (BeS), and 3) 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.
Project Overview:
Phase I of the Beryllium Bio Repository initiative, focused
on preparing a Standard Protocol 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. The Phase I work has been
completed and the Beryllium Bio Repository has entered Phase
II, participant enrollment and data collection.
Phase II 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).
In addition other medical information related to CBD and BeS,
and occupational work histories, and exposure information
are also being collected.
DOE is working with the 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. On July 16,
2008, NHLBI officially agreed on the transfer of the specimens.
It is anticipated that the clinical centers will transfer
the donated specimens to this newly-established NHLBI Lung
Tissue Research Consortium Repository. Once transferred to
NHLBI, the specimens will be made available to medical researchers
interested in understanding beryllium disease.
For further information on the Beryllium Bio-Repository,
please contact Dr.
Bonnie Richter.
This page was last updated on April 08, 2009
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