About GBN

To fight widespread diseases such as cancer, cardiovascular, metabolic, infectious, lung or neurodegenerative diseases is the central concern of the German Centres for Health Research (DZG). They were founded with the support of the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF). The multi-site biobanks of the various DZG facilitate research projects on a national level with a long-term perspective.

German Cancer Consortium (DKTK)
German Centre for Lung Research (DZL)
German Centre for Infection Research (DZIF)
German Centre for Cardiovascular Research (DZHK)
German Centre for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE)
German Centre for Diabetes Research (DZD)

The National Cohort is an association of research institutes in Germany that are jointly conducting a long-term population study with 200,000 participants. The test persons will be examined medically and questioned about their lifestyle habits at 18 study centres over the next ten years. The central activity of the National Cohort is the collection of numerous different biosamples from all participants. This shall enable studies on the causes of widespread diseases such as cardiovascular diseases, cancer, diabetes, dementia and infectious diseases, in order to pioneer ways towards effective prevention, early recognition, diagnostics and therapy. The National Cohort further emphasises the importance of biobanking for medical research.

The „Arbeitskreis Medizinischer Ethik-Kommissionen in der Bundesrepublik Deutschland e.V." (AK EK, Permanent Working Party of Research Ethics Committees in Germany) established in 1983, harmonises the activities of the ethics commissions, particularly in the decision making and procedural issues. It offers further training on the work of ethics commissions and promotes the exchange of ideas and experience on a national and international level. It takes a stand on issues of the ethics commissions in public discourse.

Its members currently include 50 out of the 52 ethics commissions formed under national law. The results of the Working Party protect patients, test persons and researchers.

The Biobanks Working Group of AK EK has drafted a sample text for the donation, storage and use of biomaterials as well as for the collection, processing and extensive use of data in biobanks; the corresponding documents are also available in English. All documents can be found on the website of the AK EK.