Biomedical research is largely based on biospecimens. But the availability of these specimens is not always guaranteed and becoming even more difficult. We support scientists by collecting, processing, storing and providing high-quality samples and data suitable for research purposes. The German Biobank Alliance is a growing network of German biobanks and provides an important basis for researchers. The alliance offers biospecimens of a very high, comparable quality linked to medical information. Especially for the latest methods in molecular biology, this quality is essential to generate reliable data that serve as a basis for future developments. Sample quality is of enormous importance for biomedical research. In the past, even high-ranking journals have published research results that were not reproducible. Therefore sample quality has to be assured. The German Biobank Alliance has established several measures to improve sample quality in the biobanks: an audit programme as well as ring trials.
It is particularly important for researchers to have many parameters documented for the samples. Hence the German Biobank Alliance has established quality standards so that the samples can be joint with many quality features to enable the researcher to decide which experiments they are suitable for. We are developing different IT components for the German Biobank Alliance. One of the most important tools in this context is the so-called Sample Locator, which enables researchers to locate biosamples across different biobank sites. The big advantage of the Sample Locator is that we can query any number of sample collections from a single central web portal to quickly discover whether there are enough biosamples available in Germany – or prospectively throughout Europe – for research projects. Biobanks are not large freezers but facilities In which very complex, partially automated processes run under very standardised conditions. This requires employees to be especially well-trained in the operation of these devices – technicians who work in the laboratories of the biobanks. We are developing further training opportunities for these employees: an e-learning course for example, and on-site training sessions have already been very successful. For these training sessions the technicians traveled to different biobank sites and learnt about specific topics such as DNA isolation or tissue preparation.
Researchers benefit indirectly from highly qualified staff in biobanks. Hence researchers do not measure artefacts caused by the wrong treatment of the biospecimens, but differences actually caused by a disease for example. For researchers, the German Biobank Alliance has a huge advantage: We provide access to biosamples of high, comparable quality from different biobank sites. This is an excellent basis to generate reproducible research results..