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Networked biobanks as drivers of research

Dr. Karoline Gaede, conference president and representative of the German Centre for Lung Research (DZL), opened the symposium with the statement: "Networked biobanks have become indispensable pillars that enable the development of new therapies and drugs. This was illustrated by several presentations, including that of Prof. Dr. Martin Witzenrath from Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin. He highlighted how biospecimens have advanced the understanding of the pathophysiology of COVID-19. Access to these samples has led to important insights that have enabled the development of diagnostics, therapeutics and vaccines.

IT integration and artificial intelligence in biobanking

The integration of digital processes and artificial intelligence (AI) in biobanking was another key topic at the symposium. In the IT session, Alexander Popov from the Hannover Unified Biobank (HUB) showed how an AI model can answer sample requests faster and more accurately than conventional methods. Patrick Skowronek from the University Hospital Mannheim and the DKFZ Heidelberg reported on progress in the development of 'Local Locators'. These tools, used at individual sites, are based on the GBN's Sample Locator, which allows researchers to find biospecimens and associated data across multiple sites.

Disaster management in biobanks

But what happens in the event of a hacker attack that cripples the IT system? Dr. Kristina Götze from the Interdisciplinary Biomaterial Bank and Database Frankfurt (iBDF) reported on the effects of such an attack on the IT of the University Hospital Frankfurt in 2023. This incident showed how important it is to develop contingency plans, test them regularly and adapt them accordingly. Dr. Juliane Weikert from the Leipzig Medical Biobank (LMB) emphasised the importance of backup strategies in the event of equipment failure and analogue documentation in the event of software failure. Dr. Sanela Kjellqvist from the Karolinska Institutet Biobank (KI Biobank) also used an incident in Sweden to illustrate the importance of clearly defined roles and responsibilities in emergency management.

GBN and GBA place great emphasis on prevention and risk management. GBN provides templates for contingency plans, conducts regular audits in GBA biobanks and reviews risk and contingency management requirements.

Anniversary session: 10 years of the German Biobank Node (GBN)

A highlight of the Biobank Symposium was the anniversary session on the occasion of the 10th anniversary of the GBN. Since its foundation, the GBN has decisively advanced the biobank infrastructure in Germany and is now closely networked internationally. Prof. Dr. Michael Hummel, who headed the GBN until the beginning of 2024, gave an overview of the development of the GBN from its beginnings to the present day. PD Dr. Dr. Michael Kiehntopf, member of the newly elected GBN Executive Board, presented the GBN's comprehensive quality programme, which also has an impact at the European level. For example, in 2024 the GBN Quality Centre in Jena carried out the first Europe-wide liquid ring trial with 21 biobanks from six countries.

At the end of the anniversary session, PD Dr. Sara Nußbeck, spokesperson of the GBN Board and National Node Director, gave an outlook on the future direction of the GBN. She emphasised the importance of 'biobanking on demand' to promote multi-centre studies and accelerate the collection of quality-assured, fit-for-purpose samples. Nußbeck emphasised the need to bundle biobanking activities in order to exploit synergies and avoid duplication – in line with the conference motto 'Networked biobanking: Strong together into the future'.

Further information and links:

• TMF press release and detailed follow-up report
• GBN anniversary video "Highlights of a decade"
• GBN conducts Europe-wide proficiency test
• KI Biobank: Cooling failure destroys decades-old samples