Investigator(s)
| Submitter |
Pema Chophel Royal Center for Disease Control (RCDC) Pema Chophel 
|
| Principal Investigator |
Chimmi Dorji RCDC Chimmi Dorji
|
| Co-Investigator(s) |
Pema Chophel RCDC Pema Chophel
|
| Co-Investigator(s) |
Sangay Zangmo RCDC Sangay Zangmo
|
| Co-Investigator(s) |
Sonam Gyeltshen RCDC Sonam Gyeltshen
|
| Co-Investigator(s) |
Tshering Dorji RCDC Tshering Dorji
|
| Co-Investigator(s) |
Mimi Lhamu Mynak National Medical Services Mimi Lhamu Mynak
|
| Co-Investigator(s) |
Hironori Nakagami Osaka University Hironori Nakagami
|
Title(s) and abstract
| Scientific title | HLA GENOTYPING OF HYPERTENSIVE PATIENTS VISITING JDWNRH AS PROOF OF CONCEPT FOR ESTABLISHMENT OF BIOBANK UNDER THE PROJECT TITLED “PROJECT FOR STRENGTHENING GOVERNMENT CAPACITY FOR USING DIGITAL TECHNOLOGY AND DATA” |
| Public title | HLA GENOTYPING OF HYPERTENSIVE PATIENTS VISITING JDWNRH AS PROOF OF CONCEPT FOR ESTABLISHMENT OF BIOBANK UNDER THE PROJECT TITLED “PROJECT FOR STRENGTHENING GOVERNMENT CAPACITY FOR USING DIGITAL TECHNOLOGY AND DATA” |
| Background | In May 2023, officials from the Royal Government of Bhutan (RGoB) visited Japan, announcing plans to create a biobank to promote drug discovery and other pharmaceutical industries. In Bhutan, the biobank sector has limited resources and is relatively new to the country. Collaborating with an international university, such as Osaka University, will be valuable asset for securely analyzing health data and gaining insights into major NCD’s prevalence in Bhutan, particularly hypertension. The objective is to develop a biobank and data utilization environment in Bhutan, with genotyping being an important aspect of health data. At present, human genotyping is not performed in Bhutan and therefore, this study attempts to verify the genotyping data from Bhutanese adults and facilitate the smooth initiation of pilot research activities at RCDC. This pilot study is necessary to understand the capabilities and challenges of human genotyping using the resources currently available in Bhutan. It will serve as a test for the system while collecting genotyping data. Hypertension is chosen as a key focus area for this study because of the global statistics indication that prevalence of hypertension based on the actual measurement and medication history in Bhutanese population is 28% while a self-reported history of hypertension was only 16.9%. Although this pilot study aims to test the system, it will also involve genotyping for HLA and other potential hypertension-related gene variants, with a future hypertension vaccine in mind. This research will validate the need for hypertensive-focused studies and analysis in Bhutan. The collaboration with Osaka University, particularly their research on hypertension vaccination, will greatly support this study. |
| Objectives | 1. Establish basic operations including sample collection, genome analysis, and manual data integration with other banks (medical banks, household banks, and health banks). 2. Verify the feasibility of utilizing such integrated data sets within the existing facilities and human resources of the RGoB. |
| Study Methods | The methodology includes Genotyping and data availability verification. Genotyping will include sample collection from the consented patients at JDWNRH, followed by the shipment of the samples to RCDC, where DNA extraction and genomic sequencing will be performed by the trained staff. Analyzed HLA genotypes and leukocytes, will be compared with past data in Osaka University as well as from three other banks to verify usability. Eligibility criteria Inclusion criteria: Participants must be Bhutanese nationals with a clinical diagnosis of hypertension. Exclusion criteria: Hypertensive patients with severe health conditions such as heart diseases, Cancer, Tuberculosis, Diabetes. Sample size: The sample size for PoC will be around 20-30 participants, both those receiving treatment and those not receiving treatment. Recruitment: The participants will be recruited with support of JDWNRH. The recruitment process and shortlisting the patients will be conducted as follows: 1. Clinician Introduction: Doctors at JDWNRH can personally introduce this study to their patients. 2. Phone Calls: Trained personnel from JDWNRH will screen and invite potential participants. 3 Email Outreach: Study information can be sent via NMS/MOH to those hypertensive patients who have opted-in for research opportunities. Sample collection Blood samples will be collected from patients clinically diagnosed with hypertension visiting the JDWNRH. Upon the collection, samples will be stored in 4°C for the short-term storage. The samples will be logged into a sample tracking system, packed, and will be shipped to RCDC by maintaining the required cold chain. Genomic DNA will be extracted from blood samples at RCDC and Data will be analyzed with support of Osaka University. |
| Expected outcomes and use of results | 1. Verify the data for further research, particularly related to hypertension vaccination. 2. Validate the need for hypertensive-focused studies in Bhutan. 3. Evaluate the system's capabilities for a full-scale biobank to support personalized medicine and industrial promotion. |
| Keywords | Biobank, Human Leucocyte Antigen (HLA), whole exome sequencing |
Research Details
| Student research | No |
| Start Date | 01-Oct-2024 |
| End Date | 28-Feb-2025 |
| Key Implementing Institution | Royal Centre for Disease Control |
| Multi-country research | Yes |
| Bhutan | |
| Nationwide research | No |
| Bhutan | |
| Research Domain(s) | Non-communicable diseases & Healthy Lifestyles |
| Research field(s) | Non-communicable Disease |
| Involves human subjects | Yes |
| Qualitative Study | |
| Data Collection | Primary and secondary data |
| Proposal reviewed by other Committee | No |