Biobanking and Biomolecular Resources Research Infrastructure

Acronym of the case:

BBMRI

Web address of the case:

http://www.bbmri.eu

Country of the case:

Pan european , International Organizations

Posting Date:

26 November 2009

Last Edited Date:

07 December 2009

Author:

Michaela Theresia Mayrhofer (Medical University of Graz)

biobank | research infrastructure | BBMRI

Type of initiative

Project or service
Network
Strategic initiative
Other

Case Abstract

The Preparatory Phase for a pan-European Biobanking and Biomolecular Resources Research Infrastructure (BBMRI) focuses on technical, legal, governance, and financial issues to:

prepare to construct BBMRI, building on existing biobanks, resources and technologies, specifically complemented with innovative components and properly embedded into European scientific, ethical, legal and societal frameworks,
provide the concept for a key resource to increase excellence and efficacy in biomedical sciences, drug development and public health,
expand and secure competitiveness of European research and industry in a global context, and
develop a sustainable financial framework.

BBMRIÂ comprises:

biobanks of different formats (collections of blood, DNA, tissue, etc., together with medical, environmental, life-style and follow-up data),
biomolecular resources (antibody and affinity binder collections, ORF clone collections, siRNA libraries, proteins, cellular resources etc.),
enabling technologies and high-throughput analysis platforms and molecular tools to decipher gene, protein and metabolite functions and their interactions,
harmonized standards for sample collection, storage, preanalytics and analysis,
harmonized databases and biocomputing infrastructure and
ethical, legal and societal guidance platform

The European Commission is funding this preparatory phase (grant agreement 212111).

Description of the case

Domain

eHealth

Topic

Other

Sector

Communication (infrastructure) | Education, Science and Research | Healthcare | Local/Regional Community Development

Date

February 2008 to April 2010

Date operational

February 2008

Target Users

Add Patients | General public | Health authorities | Health professionals

Target Users Description

BBMRI was set up to coordinate a large scale biobanking network to share access to available biological samples and biomolecular tools in Europe. This infrastructure will cover major biobanks, molecular resources and biocomputing centres to ensure that the samples are linked to existing databases, scientific literature and statistical expertise. Pursuing these activities, BBMRI is dedicated to be properly embedded in the European legal framework.

Scope

Pan-European

Language(s)

English

Policy Context and Legal Framework

Continuous improvement in the health of European citizens relies on biomedical research and on citizens who participate in that research. Research today needs new, bigger and better resources.

Over 200 organisations - including national funders - in 24 EU Member States are jointly planning EU infrastructure to deliver those resources. The samples. The data. The tools. Our infrastructures already manage over 10 million samples. Our goals are to increase this number, to improve quality, to reduce fragmentation, to extend the reach of European researchers.

Europe has sophisticated health delivery systems. Its citizens understand the need for health research. Now we plan to realise more fully the potential of European biomedical research.

The vision of BBMRI is to sustainably secure access to biological resources required for health-related research and development intended to improve the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of disease and to promote the health of the citizens of Europe.Â

Project Size and Implementation

Type of initiative

Participation

Overall Implementation approach

Non-profit sector

Technology choice

Not applicable/not available

Funding source

Public funding EU

Project size

Implementation: €5,000,000-10,000,000

Implementation and Management Approach

BBMRI currently comprises 51 participants and more than 200 associated organisations.

The objectives of the BBMRI during the preparatory phase are to develop the plan to integrate existing quality controlled biobanks, biomolecular resources and enabling technologies into a pan-European biomedical research infrastructure, and to provide a concept for its operation and codes of conduct for European biobanks, particularly considering the different technical standards and types of integration into health care registries and databases currently available.

Furthermore, the aim of BBMRI is to evaluate the heterogeneous European ethical and legal frameworks and to find solutions how to implement a pan-European infrastructure, as well as to elaborate sustained funding and financing solutions for this key resource.

The objectives during the preparatory phase in BBMRI project were and will be:

1. To define the interaction and terms and conditions of members and partners with BBMRI and securing compliance with sample and data sources

2. To negotiate contracts between BBMRI and/or members with funding organizations to solidify the long-term funding for this European infrastructure

3. To agreed IP and data-sharing policies for users and associated

4. To incorporate of appropriate legal structure

Technology solution

BBMRI has establishedÂ the new MolMeth database for molecular methods, providing best practice-based protocols for molecular analyses of different types of samples. See http://www.molmeth.org.

BBMRI has established aÂ catalogue intended to be used as a reference for scientists seeking information about biological samples and data suitable for their research. The work has been performed in close collaboration with P3G-project (www.p3g.org) to avoid overlapping work and also repeated contacts towards the biobanks. See http://www.bbmri.eu/index.php/catalog-of-european-biobanks.

BBMRI is dedicated to be properly embedded in the European legal framework. To that end, it pioneers an interactive approach to address the complex legal issues associated with pan and cross European biobanking: the WIKI Legal Platform. See http://www.legalpathways.eu/">http://www.legalpathways.eu/ .

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