Standardization of Collected Biobank Data to Facilitate Cardiovascular Research: A Scientific Statement From the American Heart Association

Cardiovascular disease has been the focus of extensive biomedical research, yet it remains a leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. One recent approach to support scientific discovery has been the development of large-scale population-based prospective studies that couple phenotypic data, including outcomes, to collection and analysis of biological samples. Large, data-dense biobanks, particularly those linked to electronic health records (including laboratory, electrocardiographic, imaging, and therapeutic data) and genomic data, have demonstrated value for interdisciplinary research into the epidemiology, cause, treatment, and prevention of disease and yield increasingly refined insights into monogenic and complex traits. One limitation to wider use of these resources is that they may collect phenotypic and biological data in a nonuniform fashion, limiting data harmonization, analysis, and validation. The purpose of this scientific statement is to discuss the current state of available biobanks, endorse biobanks for discovery and implementation science, and propose opportunities for future harmonization to increase the potential for novel studies aimed at understanding mechanisms and developing novel therapies for cardiovascular disease treatment and prevention.