German Biobank Network (GBN)

Improving biobank cost calculation GBN has developed a biobank service catalogue with a cost calculation tool. This enables biobanks to transparently plan costs of third-party funded projects.

Are biobank costs properly recognised? 🧬💰

GBN’s new catalogue & cost tool makes planning easier, costs transparent & biobanks more sustainable. 💪

👉 Available via the Biobank “Starter Kit”: tinyurl.com/yc3jhmn9

#Biobank #Biobanking #ResearchFunding

Interior of Hannover Unified Biobank - liquid nitrogen tanks visible.

📺 HUB Hanover, part of the German Biobank Network, was featured on TV!

🧬Supporting the "MoReHealth" project, HUB provides key biosamples for multi-omics research in personalised medicine.

Watch in German: tinyurl.com/45xvvv5f

#Biobank #Biobanking #PersonalisedMedicine #InfectionResearch

We're delighted that GBN as part of the Network of University Medicine (NUM) has been recognised in the 'High-Tech Agenda' of the Federal Ministry of Research, Technology & Space. It is also exciting to see the long-term continuation of the NUM mentioned tinyurl.com/mrxnadt3 👏
#Biobanking #Biobank

New GBN logo

📣 From 2 becomes 1: the German #Biobank Network (GBN) is here! The former German Biobank Node & German Biobank Alliance now share one name and a new logo, marking our integration into the Network of University Medicine (NUM).

👉 More in our latest newsletter (DE) tinyurl.com/4xmd63a8

#Biobanking

Prof. Illig und Dr. Haag (von links) in den Räumen der Biobank im Clinical Research Center (CRC) Hannover. Im Hintergrund sieht man einen Tank, in dem Bioproben eingelagert werden. - Copyright Karin Kaiser/MHH

Mehr maßgeschneiderte Medizin
MHH koordiniert: Für bessere personalisierte Medizin startet in Niedersachsen das Projekt MoReHealth....
weiterlesen

Pipetting at the Long Night of Science 2022

🔬 Curious about biobanks? Join ZeBanC & GBN at Berlin’s Long Night of Science this Saturday (28/6)!

🧪 Hands-on workshop with pipetting
📍 Charité Mitte, CCO Auditorium 1
🕔 17:00–00:00

Discover how biobanks support future medicine!

#LNDW25 #SciComm

New in the GBA: Central Biobank Ulm The German Biobank Alliance continues to grow. The Central Biobank of the University of Ulm (CBBU) is the latest research-oriented institution to join the GBA.

🙌 New in the German #Biobank Alliance: Central Biobank Ulm (CBBU)! With strong links to research & clinics, CBBU brings valuable expertise to the network.
💬 Steffen Halbgebauer from CBBU: “Inclusion in the GBA helps us professionalise & develop new standards together.”
More: tinyurl.com/4aap7vab

Portrait of Ulrike Felgenhauer.

👏 Welcome Ulrike Felgenhauer to the GBN!
Since May 2025, she’s our new project manager & coordinator for Education & Training. With a background in biomedical research, digital health & intl. project mgmt, she’ll support strategy & EU collabs incl. @bbmrieric.bsky.social.
🎉 Welcome aboard, Ulrike!

Double recognition for the IBBJ Accredited according to DIN EN ISO 20387 and awarded the ‘Quality Label’ by BBMRI-ERIC: The Integrated Biobank Jena impresses with its quality.

🎉 Double success for the Integrated #Biobank Jena (IBBJ)!
Accredited to #ISO20387 and awarded the @bbmrieric.bsky.social Quality Label – a big step for quality in #Biobanking.

👏 Congrats to the IBBJ team!
🤝 Supported by GBN’s quality programme

More information: tinyurl.com/ynat8yr8

13. Nationales Biobanken-Symposium 2025 Das 13. Nationale Biobanken-Symposium 2025 findet im Aquino Hotel in Berlin-Mitte statt. Erfahren Sie mehr zur Veranstaltung.

📢 Call for Papers & Registration Now Open – 13th National #Biobank Symposium

This year's National Biobank Symposium will take place 22-23 September in Berlin, hosted TMF e. V.

📝 Submit your abstract by 10 June!

👉 Learn more and register here: tinyurl.com/598b35jn
#biobanken2025

Pic: TMF e. V.

Michael Kiehntopf, Alexandra Nieters, and Jens Habermann at the Molecular Diagnostics Annual Conference of the DGKL in Tutzing, Germany.

🔬 #Biobanking meets #MolecularOncology!
At the #MolecularDiagnostics meeting of the German Society for Clinical Chemistry & Laboratory Medicine, GBN, GBA & @bbmrieric.bsky.social highlighted how biobanks drive precision cancer care. Big thanks to all speakers!
#PrecisionMedicine #Oncology

That’s a wrap on @biobankweek.bsky.social #EBW25 in Bologna! Here are our highlights from the last day:
🏅 Prof. Michael Hummel honored by @bbmrieric.bsky.social
🎖️ 3 DE biobanks got Quality Labels
🏆 Poster prize for the Integrated Biobank Mannheim team
Next up: #EBW26 in Prague, 19–22 May 2026!

Michael Neumann at EBW 2025.

Getting rid of paper-based and manual processes: At #EBW25, Michael Neumann explains how electronic order entry and biobank registration for tissue samples was set up at the Interdisciplinary Bank of Biomaterials and Data Würzburg (a partner of the German #Biobank Alliance).

#Biobanking

Mait Metspalu at EBW 2025.

🧬 Imagine checking your genetic risk for type 2 diabetes or how meds might affect you via a secure online portal. With MyGenome, 200K+ Estonian #Biobank participants already can! As Mait Metspalu shared at @biobankweek.bsky.social #EBW25, seeing your data in context can inspire lifestyle changes 💪

EBW presentations on 15 May Michael Neumann: “Electronic order entry and biobank registration for tissue samples”​ Nicole Großkinsky, Sabrina Schmitt and Katharina Hofmann: “Biobanking in the German National Cohort (NAKO): A pivotal resource for epidemiological research + The Tumor Tissue Bank of the German National Cohort (NAKO): Pilot of a centralized epidemiologically networked biobanking”​ Verena Huth: “Fostering biobank sustainability and patient participation through collaborative advocacy”​

Day 2 of @biobankweek.bsky.social #EBW25 has arrived and we're so excited about the programme! Check out the GBN/GBA presentations scheduled for today 👇

#Biobanking #Biobank

Ronny Baber at EBW 2025.

Still a strong turnout late in the day at #EBW25 for Dr. Ronny Baber’s talk on quality control and specifically on validation and verfication in #Biobanking:

💬 “Think about your process first. And join proficiency tests to compare with other biobanks.”

Walter Ricciardi at EBW 2025.

Powerful keynote by W. Ricciardi at #EBW25:
Climate crisis + democratic decline + rising anti-science = urgent call to action.

His message:
🔹 Push policymakers
🔹 Communicate science clearly
🔹 Be sustainability role models

How can the #Biobanking community step up? #SciComm #Sustainability

List of GBA presentations at EBW 2025 on day 1: Tilman Pfeffer: “Infectious diseases tissue biobanking and biodata management of the German Center for Infection Research – a key infrastructure for multiple research approaches” ​ Ronny Baber: “Enhancing biobanking quality: Validation and verification strategies with insights from the Leipzig Medical Biobank”​ Sven Heiling: “Three years of proficiency testing in liquid biobanking: A proven tool for identifying variations in process and sample quality”​ Jörg Geiger: “Monitoring of the cold-chain of deep-frozen samples” and ​ “Electronic Consent – the key to compliant, secure and efficient biobanking”

Don't miss the presentations by representatives of the German #Biobank Alliance (GBA) at #EBW25! Highly interesting talks by wonderful colleagues coming up today 👇

Jens Habermann and Roland Leiminger at the Opening Ceremony of EBW 2025.

Kicking off Europe #Biobank Week @biobankweek.bsky.social #EBW25 in beautiful Bologna - record attendance this year! 👏

Prof. Jens Habermann (@bbmrieric.bsky.social) outlines a 10-year vision for the future of #Biobanking. Details: tinyurl.com/yp83at58

List of GBN/GBA contributions at EBW 2025

We are delighted to be taking part in @biobankweek.bsky.social in Bologna, which starts tomorrow! ✈️ #EBW25

GBN/GBA will be represented with numerous presentations, posters & by workshop leaders 👉 tinyurl.com/w7dc2u32

For general EBW information, download the conference app 👉 tinyurl.com/fzwc2y6v

Hannover Unified Biobank coordinates ‘MoReHealth’ 'MoReHealth' is a lighthouse project for personalised medicine based on quality-controlled biosamples and omics data in Lower Saxony.

Hannover Unified #Biobank coordinates the "MoReHealth" project, which will use standardised #MultiOmics & #AI to identify biomarkers for age-related infection risks.

💬 Thomas Illig: "MoReHealth demonstrates the value of infrastructures such as HUB for #PersonalisedMedicine." tinyurl.com/4vkb395r

Participants of the German Biobank Alliance meeting in Jena.

An exciting mix of different #Biobanking topics together with great conversations on the side and the opportunity for personal exchange & networking: our 1st German #Biobank Alliance meeting this year in Jena! Many thanks to all participants & to our hosts from the Integrated Biobank Jena (IBBJ)! 🙏

German Biobank Node becomes part of the Network of University Medicine The continuation of the NUM announced in the coalition agreement opens up a great opportunity for the GBN to continue its successful work in the long term.

🎉 We're thrilled to announce that the GBN will be integrated into the Network of University Medicine! 🎉

🤝 The merger of GBN and NUM brings together what belongs together – the combined expertise of the #biobank community and the German academic medical research landscape.

👉 tinyurl.com/23a4fsnd

Background article in @spektrum.de with commentary by Sara Nussbeck on the coalition negotiators' call for a 'national #Biobank': "There has long been a functioning decentralised structure of biobanks in Germany. This structure should now be strengthened and used more sustainably."

#Biobanking

Endometriosis, a condition affecting 10% of women of reproductive age, is under-researched. The FREEZE-Biobank in Germany is working on identifying biomarkers that will help speed up diagnosis and improve treatment options.

🧵 2/3

🧵 2/2 The Augsburg Central Biobank, part of the German Biobank Node/BBMRI.de, supports research on gestational diabetes and HELLP syndrome, a rare but potentially life-threatening pregnancy complication. HELLP is a form of the better-known preeclampsia but is difficult to diagnose.

📢 We are delighted to share this @bbmrieric.bsky.social multimedia story to mark #WorldHealthDay, featuring #Biobank supported research in Augsburg (Augsburg Central Biobank) and Freiburg (FREEZE Biobank)!

#Biobanking #MaternalHealth #HealthyBeginnings

Newborn holding adult's finger. Photo credit: Michal Jarmoluk/Pixabay.

On #WorldHealthDay, we highlight the importance of early health for a better future. The Leipzig Medical #Biobank supports key studies on:

🔬 Fertility treatment & pregnancy
👶 Healthy child development

More: tinyurl.com/ydzmh2u7

#Biobanking #MaternalHealth #HealthyBeginnings

Woman looking through a microscope.

The West German #Biobank Essen, a partner of the German Biobank Alliance, is looking for a new director to manage daily operations of the liquid & tissue biobank. Candidates need a PhD in #Medicine, Natural, or #LifeSciences plus management experience.

Interested? Apply here 👉 tinyurl.com/3t5nxmre

Not a subscriber yet? 👉 Get your GBN newsletter subscription here tinyurl.com/bdd5jpcu