Decentralized Biobanking Platform for Organoid Research Networks

Marielle Gross^1,2*Ananya Dewan³Mario Macis^1,4Eve Budd⁵M Eifler²Olayinka Odeniran⁶Jeff Kahn^1,2,7Robert Clell Miller^2,8William Sanchez^2*

• ¹Berman Institute of Bioethics, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, United States
• ²de-bi, co., Greencastle, United States
• ³School of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, United States
• ⁴Carey Business School, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, United States
• ⁵Binghamton University, Binghamton, New York, United States
• ⁶Black Woman Blockchain Council, Rockville, United States
• ⁷Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, United States
• ⁸Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, United States

Introduction: Organoids are living, patient-derived tumor models that are revolutionizing precision medicine and drug development, however current privacy practices strip identifiers, undermining ethics, efficiency, and effectiveness for patients and research enterprises. Decentralized biobanking applies non-fungible tokens (NFTs) to empower privacy-preserving specimen tracking and data sharing for networks of scientists, donors, and physicians. We demonstrate a functional de-bi platform for a real-world organoid biobank.Methods: Ethnography of the organoid ecosystem was performed in 2022-2023, with site visits, interviews, focus groups, and structured observations of stakeholder interactions. An initial ERC-721 prototype was developed, informing design of a comprehensive NFT model. Web and mobile app prototypes were developed with a suite of ERC-1155 protocols representing ecosystem constituents as NFTs. We demonstrate the platform with publicly available Human Cancer Models Initiatives organoids to establish proof-of-concept for decentralized biobanking as the foundation of a democratized biomedical metaverse, or “biomediverse.”Results: Scientists revealed key challenges for organoid research and development under policy, scientific, and economic constraints of the life science landscape. We advanced decentralized biobanking as a blockchain overlay network solution with potential to overcome barriers, enhance utility and unlock value by uniting collaborators in a privacy-preserving biomediverse. Dedicated smart contracts created “soulbound” NFTs as de-identified digital twins of patients, physicians, and scientists in a networked organoid ecosystem. We modeled biospecimen collection, processing, and distribution, including generation and expansion of organoids, via an auditable on-chain mechanism. Features included the ability to bootstrap the digital twin NFT model for established organoids, visibility of patient-linked biospecimens and related research activities for all ecosystem participants, and tooling for multisided data exchange. Implementation with ERC-1155 showed potential to minimize gas costs of on-chain activity vs. ERC-721, though complementary layer-2 solutions will be essential for economic viability.Conclusions: Decentralized biobanking may enhance efficiency, impact and innovation through implementation of NFT digital twins for organoid research networks. Importantly, this approach also bolsters ethical practices by fostering inclusion, ensuring transparency, and enhancing accountability across the research ecosystem. Next steps include live pilot testing, market design research to align stakeholder incentives, and technical solutions to support a sustainable, scalable and mutually rewarding biomediverse.