TRUNORMAL® CONTROLS - When Normal Isn’t Good Enough

Scientist on October 8, 2024

in Discovery & Innovation, Research Services

This blog post was written by BioIVT, a CRO that enables smarter science and accelerates medical breakthroughs by delivering high-quality personalized biospecimen solutions and research services to life science and diagnostic industries. Their services are available on the Scientist.com marketplace.

BioIVT’s Center for NeuroExcellence provides unparalleled access to high-quality, ethically-sourced biospecimens. We aim to be the indispensable partner to neurology researchers worldwide, helping to accelerate discoveries and breakthroughs that transform the future of neurological healthcare.

Redefining ‘Normal’ in Neuroscientific Research

TruNormal® Controls

In neuroscientific research, the integrity of biospecimens is paramount. The common practice among numerous providers is to categorize their specimens as ‘normal’ in the absence of diagnosed neurological pathologies. However, such samples often fail to account for subclinical neurological manifestations or family history of neurological disorders. Using these samples for research carries the risk of unrecognized, aberrant biomarkers corrupting the data and research results.

**Figure 1:** Age of our TruNormal® controls.

Exclusivity

Unlike the typical ‘normal’ biospecimens from many suppliers, our TruNormal® samples come exclusively from donors who are genuinely normal, ensuring that researchers are equipped with samples that are not just labeled normal, but embody true neurological/psychiatric normalcy.

With the acquisition of PrecisionMed, BioIVT is now the world’s only supplier of TruNormal® biological samples. These samples can be matched to our banked diseased material when normal controls are required.

Our TruNormal® neuroscience samples are from donors with normal cognition, no history and no family history of significant neurological or neuropsychiatric disease and no neurological complaints.

Our TruNormal® donors range from 20 to 90 years old, supplying a broad spectrum of control samples for age-stratified research.

From Bench to Breakthrough: A Massive Repository at Your Fingertips

Gain an edge in biomedical research with our vast repository of biospecimens, which includes more than 35,000 TruNormal® samples and more than 113,000 diseased donor samples, providing you with exceptional resources for comparative studies and precise control matching.

**Figure 2:** Sample count grouped by diagnosis.

Match with Precision: Age, Gender, Race/Ethnicity and More

TruNormal® Control Matching

Capitalize on the granularity of our demographic data to enhance the precision of your comparative analyses. Donor specifics like age, gender and race/ethnicity allow for refined control matching and comparative studies that mirror the demographic realities of disease prevalence, leading to more meaningful research conclusions.

**Figure 3:** Gender and race/ethnicity of our TruNormal® samples. The circle sizes represent the number of donors per segment.

**Figure 4:** Donor age, grouped by diagnosis, within our TruNormal® and pathological samples.

**Figure 5:** Gender and race/ethnicity of our TruNormal® compared to our Alzheimer’s and MCI donors.

Multiple Sample Types From the Same Donor

TruNormal® Precision

Strengthen your research precision with our repository’s multiple sample types from each donor for a streamlined, multi-omic approach. Uncover correlations and validate your findings with our extensive biospecimen collection. Rely on consistent data for cross-sample validation and detailed donor insights to conduct superior comparative studies.

**Figure 6:** Number of samples per donor cohort, grouped by sample type

Data-Rich Samples: Adding Clinical Depth to Biospecimen Analysis

TruNormal® Data

Our samples include detailed clinical data like MMSE and MoCA scores. This enhances sample relevance and offers a focused approach to research, stratification of cognitive abilities and insightful correlations charting the progression of neurologic conditions.

**Figure 7:** MMSE scores, grouped by diagnosis, reflect our clinical data’s richness.

Longitudinal Samples: Your Time Machine to New Discoveries

TruNormal® Longitudinal Samples

Leverage the power of our longitudinal samples and data for in-depth biomedical research. Track disease progression, analyze treatment response and study intra-individual variability. Our repository is the largest private global source of longitudinally collected human CSF, offering a window into disease evolution and treatment efficacy.

**Figure 8:** MMSE score progression over 10 visits. In addition to our longitudinally collected biospecimens, allows for more accurate control of confounding variables and substantially expands the scope of investigational opportunities.

**Figure 9:** Follow-up duration. The median follow-up period with our donors is 370 days, while the longest follow-up period so far extends to 6272 days (17.2 years).

Validated Biomarkers for Clear Conclusions

Most of our samples come with biomarker data that further solidify the integrity of your research. This allows you to enhance correlation studies, validate biomarker reliability and drive biomarker discovery. Uncover molecular disease pathways, build predictive models and streamline study design, all while confirming sample integrity.

**Figure 10:** Samples from our healthy controls and diseased donors are annotated with biomarkers such as Tau, Aß1-38, Aß1-40, Aß142, and more for robust comparative research. In this graph, only our TruNormal® controls are shown for better legibility.

**Figure 11:** Aß 1-38/Tau Ratio vs. Age in our TruNormal® controls and Alzheimer’s donors.

Our Collection Process

Our meticulous, six-step collection process begins with the in-depth validation of our collection sites and ends with you owning your discoveries, free of royalties.

BioIVT’s Center for NeuroExcellence is constantly collecting samples with our predictive biobanking approach. Therefore, we have a robust inventory that is ready to ship immediately.

We partner with experienced clinical sites that undergo in-depth validation prior to onboarding and throughout the relationship. Our samples are of the highest possible quality and are ready to ship when you’re ready to receive them.

biospecimens hbs neurology