How data are collected
- TRTOI enrolls adults with hematuria, proteinuria, or unexplained kidney dysfunction who require a clinically indicated kidney biopsy. Patients with end-stage renal disease or a history of kidney transplantation are excluded.
- With informed consent, blood samples are collected for whole-genome sequencing, and a portion of kidney tissue is obtained for microdissection and transcriptomic analysis.
- Blood and urine samples are processed and stored at −80°C for biobanking, and protein biomarkers are quantified using the Olink® PEA platform.
- Approximately 150 participants are enrolled annually and followed for at least 5 years.
Integrated multi-omics resources
TRTOI integrates diverse data types to create a comprehensive platform for kidney disease research:
Data management and standardization
Participants' electronic medical records, RNA sequencing data, digital pathology images, and ultrasound data are securely transferred to the Taipei Veterans General Hospital Big Data Center. To ensure system reliability and prevent data loss, the data are distributed across multiple servers. All data are standardized using the OMOP CDM, enabling seamless cross-platform integration, real-time updates, and interoperability. A secure single sign-on portal provides Principal Investigators and Co-Principal Investigators with authorized access to the research data.
Global Positioning
TRTOI is Taiwan's largest kidney disease biobank and the only kidney-specific dataset integrated into the national healthcare big data platform, providing a unique resource for biomedical research and industry collaboration.