Assessing the Feasibility of Identifying Early-Onset Pre-Eclampsia Samples Using a Centralized Biobank Directory

Objective: The Collaborative Online Perinatal & Pediatric Repository (COPPER), supported by the NICHD Maternal and Pediatric Precision in Therapeutics (MPRINT) initiative, functions as a centralized directory of pregnancy and pediatric biobanks. Biobanks in the directory include a wide range of sample types and data, enabling a broad spectrum of research inquiries. This feasibility exercise aimed to evaluate whether a hypothetical study to evaluate biomarkers for early-onset preeclampsia with severe features could be facilitated by the COPPER database. The objective was to use the database to identify the number of qualifying biospecimens across COPPER-linked repositories. Study Design: We contacted coordinators of the 17 current COPPER biobanks and requested information on available biospecimens from participants who (1) had plasma or serum collected before 16 weeks’ gestation and (2) were diagnosed and/or delivered by 32 weeks with preeclampsia with severe features. They were instructed to exclude anyone with chronic hypertension at baseline. No physical specimens or participant specific information were requested, only information on the number of samples that could be available and basic cohort characteristics. Results: Of the 17 biobanks contacted, 10 did not meet eligibility criteria based on specimen type or clinical characteristics. Among the remaining 7, five (71%) provided data. One biobank reported limited sample availability due to prior use in another project. In total, up to 112 cases of early-onset preeclampsia with early gestation biospecimens were identified across the five responding biobanks. Nearly equal amounts of plasma and serum samples could be available. Only one of the responding biobanks was NIH funded and in the NICHD Data and Specimen Hub (DASH). Conclusion: Our feasibility assessment demonstrated that most qualifying biobanks within the COPPER directory were responsive and willing to share biospecimen data. If researchers were in need of biospecimens, the COPPER resource can provide an additional source for specimens, in addition to other data and specimen repositories such as DASH. For uncommon conditions, single studies are often not sufficient to obtain enough early pregnancy biospecimens, necessitating collaborative ways to obtain enough samples to have meaningful power. In this exploration, the identification of up to 112 potential cases of early-onset preeclampsia with severe features #could substantially enhance the statistical power of biomarker prediction studies targeting this high-risk but relatively uncommon condition. While COPPER does not store or broker biospecimens, it offers a streamlined way for researchers to locate relevant biospecimen sources for maternal and child health studies. These results support COPPER’s value in connecting researchers to biospecimens and data as a tool for accelerating perinatal and pediatric translational research.