BBMRI - Biobanking and Biomolecular Resources Research Infrastructure

The Biobanking and Biomolecular Resources Research Infrastructure (BBMRI) was set up in 2008 to coordinate a large scale network to share access to available biological samples 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.

Biological resources are considered the essential raw material for the advancement of biotechnology, human health and R&D in life sciences. If well connected, catalogued and accessible, biobanks provide a crucial resource for academic and industry-based research to treat and prevent human diseases.

Building on existing infrastructures, resources and technology, BBMRI will allow the identification of disease genes and help define the relationships between genetics, the environment and lifestyle. A sharper biology-based definition of disease categories will enhance the development of more effective treatments, reduce undesired and unintended side effects and improve clinical trials design.

This unprecedented network could allow people to become aware of their potential to develop specific conditions, opening the possibility of personalised medicine (programmes and treatments). At the same time, BBMRI will support policy and scientific momentum to harmonise ethical, legal and quality standards across Europe.

BBMRI is one of the 44 initiatives selected for funding by the European Strategic Forum on Research Infrastructures (ESFRI). The forum brings together senior science policy officials representing the member state ministers, and a senior policy official form the EU Commission. They have prepared a Roadmap that identifies pan-European Research Infrastructures (RI) of crucial importance to strengthen the European Research Area, in particular for capacity building.

These projects have received financial support within the EU's Seventh Framework Programme for research and technological development and demonstration. It will cover the initial set up stage that should allow the different initiatives to define and develop mechanisms that can provide the necessary funding after the preparatory phase. 5€ million have been granted to the BBMRI to lay out the construction and operational process that will make its continuation possible.

The members of BBMRI have started preparing an inventory of European resources. They have identified a total of 92 biobanks so far. The biggest challenges they will face in the set up of the network will have to do with the harmonisation of policies and standards, the establishment of a data protection systems and the definition of the legal, ethical and financial governance of this new research infrastructure.

For further information, please visit:
http://www.bbmri.eu

Most Popular Now

MEDICA 2024 + COMPAMED 2024: Adapted Hal…

11 - 14 November 2024, Düsseldorf, Germany. The final preparations for MEDICA 2024 and COMPAMED 2024 in Düsseldorf have begun. A total of more than 5,500 exhibitors from approximately 70 countries...

AI does Not Necessarily Lead to more Eff…

The use of artificial intelligence (AI) in hospitals and patient care is steadily increasing. Especially in specialist areas with a high proportion of imaging, such as radiology, AI has long...

Commission Joins Forces with Venture Cap…

The Commission has launched a Trusted Investors Network bringing together a group of investors ready to co-invest in innovative deep-tech companies in Europe together with the EU. The Union's investment...

Why the NHS is Seeking to Make Media Ser…

Opinion Article by Dean Moody, Healthcare Services Director, Airwave Healthcare. Tim Kelsey and Martha Lane Fox called for WiFi to be made available free of charge throughout the NHS back in...

An AI-Powered Pipeline for Personalized …

Ludwig Cancer Research scientists have developed a full, start-to-finish computational pipeline that integrates multiple molecular and genetic analyses of tumors and the specific molecular targets of T cells and harnesses...

Philips and Medtronic Advocacy Partnersh…

Royal Philips (NYSE: PHG, AEX: PHIA), a global leader in health technology, and Medtronic Neurovascular, a leading innovator in neurovascular therapies, today announced a strategic advocacy partnership. Delivering timely stroke...

Wearable Cameras Allow AI to Detect Medi…

A team of researchers says it has developed the first wearable camera system that, with the help of artificial intelligence (AI), detects potential errors in medication delivery. In a test whose...

AI could Transform How Hospitals Produce…

A pilot study led by researchers at University of California San Diego School of Medicine found that advanced artificial intelligence (AI) could potentially lead to easier, faster and more efficient...

New AI Tool Predicts Protein-Protein Int…

Scientists from Cleveland Clinic and Cornell University have designed a publicly-available software and web database to break down barriers to identifying key protein-protein interactions to treat with medication. The computational tool...

AI for Real-Rime, Patient-Focused Insigh…

A picture may be worth a thousand words, but still... they both have a lot of work to do to catch up to BiomedGPT. Covered recently in the prestigious journal Nature...

Start-Ups will Once Again Have a Starrin…

11 - 14 November 2024, Düsseldorf, Germany. The finalists in the 16th Healthcare Innovation World Cup and the 13th MEDICA START-UP COMPETITION have advanced from around 550 candidates based in 62...

G-Cloud 14 Makes it Easier for NHS to Bu…

NHS organisations will be able to save valuable time and resource in the procurement of technologies that can make a significant difference to patient experience, in the latest iteration of...