The German Biobank Node (GBN) and German Biobank Alliance (GBA) have elected a new Steering Committee (SC). The following persons have been elected:
As GBN’s deputy spokesperson: Prof. Dr. Thomas Illig (Hannover Unified Biobank)
As the biobank representatives:
- Dr. Daniel Brucker (Interdisciplinary Biomaterial Bank and Database Frankfurt (iBDF))
- Prof. Dr. Jens Habermann (Interdisciplinary Centre for Biobanking-Lübeck)
- Prof. Dr. Roland Jahns (Interdisciplinary Biomaterial Bank and Database Würzburg)
- Dr. Romy Kirsten (BioMaterialBank Heidelberg)
For the work areas:
- Stakeholder engagement and communication: Dr. Ronny Baber (Leipzig Medical Biobank)
- Quality management: PD Dr. Michael Kiehntopf (Integrated Biobank Jena)
- Continuing education and training: PD Dr. Sara Nußbeck (Central Biobank – University Medical Center Göttingen)
- IT: Prof. Dr. Hans-Ulrich Prokosch (Chair of Medical Informatics, Friedrich Alexander University Erlangen-Nuremberg)
Prof. Dr. Michael Hummel, head of the German Biobank Node (GBN), remains a member of the Steering Committee without needing to be re-elected.
The SC supports GBN in implementation of its work programme and ensures effective communication between the GBA partners. It decides on all GBA matters and determines the strategic direction.
In the past, the SC consisted of the heads of all GBA partners and the IT development centres as well as Michael Hummel (on behalf of GBN). Due to the rapid increase in the number of biobank partners since 2019, the SC decided during its meeting in December 2019 to reduce the number of committee members and to elect a new committee at the start of 2020.
Of the 20 eligible voters, 18 cast valid votes. The outcome of the vote was initially announced internally at GBN and GBA on 9 January 2020.
In addition to the information published on the GBN website, newsletter and via other channels, from 2020 GBN will also inform all GBA partners during an annual meeting.
