Do you operate a biobank and are interested in becoming a partner of the German Biobank Alliance (GBA) coordinated by the German Biobank Node (GBN)? As a partner in our alliance, you benefit from an IT connection to GBA’s decentralised sample search, quality management offers, and an intensive experience exchange with other network partners. Please apply by 15 March 2019!
Advantages of GBA
Under the GBN umbrella, eleven BMBF-funded biobank sites and two IT development centres work together within the German Biobank Alliance (GBA) to facilitate access to the biomaterials available at different biobanks for (inter)national biomedical research. Our mission statement outlining the fundamental principles, values and aims of this cooperation can be viewed here.
GBA partner biobanks can participate in ring trials and internal “friendly audits” as well as receive extensive advice on QM and IT matters. The decentralised online search allows researchers to locate biosamples and related data far more easily. This enhances the visibility of the biobanks we represent. Alliance partners benefit from the exchange with fellow partners during internal workshops and training courses as well as from the strong representation of their interests within the alliance. In addition, the stakeholder management and public relations offers yield many advantages for GBA biobanks. Last but not least, the alliance enables participation in collaborative projects.
Criteria for partner biobanks
If your biobank meets certain criteria, it can get involved as a GBA partner. One of the basic requirements is a willingness to make biosamples and related data available for research projects outside of your institution. Your biobank should also have an established quality management system – our QM handbook provides an excellent guide here. Other important factors for admission to the alliance include sufficient IT resources and the possibility to install and operate a “bridgehead” locally, which allows a connection to the online sample search across all biobanks. Commercial biobanks will not be admitted to GBA.
Organisational matters
Should you be interested in a partnership and your biobank largely meets the above criteria, we ask that you complete the questionnaire available for download here. Please email the completed form back to germanbiobanknode@charite.de by 15 March 2019. We will then invite you to a follow-up discussion during which our IT and QM coordinators will also be present. Based on the information about your biobank, the Steering Committee of the German Biobank Node (GBN) will then decide whether to admit you to GBA. The information you provide will of course be treated in the strictest confidence – see our privacy policy for full details.
Please note that for planning reasons, it will only be possible to consider applications submitted by 15 March 2019 in this first round. However, we will publish invitations for further biobanks to apply to join GBA here periodically, meaning that there will be regular opportunities to apply.
The inclusion of your biobank in the German Biobank Alliance (GBA) is not linked to any funding from the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) or any other funders. While admission to the GBA itself is free, costs may arise for your biobank as a result of your membership (e.g. travel expenses for your participation in workshops).
Please do not hesitate to contact us should you have any questions, either via email (germanbiobanknode@charite.de) or by telephone (+49 30 450 – 536 347).
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