Cohort Profile: The COVID-19 Ticino Biobank

Introduction: When the COVID-19 pandemic arose, samples from patients infected with SARS-CoV-2 were needed to study the new virus, and a new ‘Biobank COVID-19 Ticino’ of patients was established. The Biobank gathered biological specimens and high-quality data on the first pandemic wave to elucidate clinical presentation, natural history, response to treatment, immune response and cytokine activation, and outcomes of the disease. Material and methods: The authors collected a full set of clinical and biological data (nasopharyngeal swab, blood, stool and urine samples together with a PAXgene [PreAnalytiX GmbH, Zurich, Switzerland]) from the patients at baseline and at scheduled follow-ups until 1 year after the infection. Patients hospitalised at Moncucco clinic in Lugano, Switzerland, who were older than 18 years and positive for a SARS-CoV-2 swab, were eligible for the Biobank. Results: A total of 135 patients, hospitalised in Fondazione Epatocentro Ticino, Switzerland, from 25th April 2020–13th December 2021, were included. The mean age of patients was 65 years. Most participants in the COVID-19 Biobank were male (68.9%) and White (98.5%). Two patients were hospitalised in the ICU directly during the enrollment visit, while 133 patients were hospitalised in the internal medicine ward. Of the latter, 16 patients’ clinical condition worsened, and 12 required ICU admission, of whom one died. Data from this Biobank have supported four nested research projects. Discussion and conclusion: The project of Biobank COVID-19 Ticino was created with the primary objective of collecting data and samples of patients who were hospitalised with COVID-19. During the project, the authors collected a total of 10,116 specimens. The authors’ biobank is essential because it provides high-quality, well-annotated biological samples that enable reliable research, foster medical discoveries, and accelerate the development of personalised treatments.