What BBMRI.at plans until 2023
Until 2023 BBMRI.at will put emphasis on further networking between industry and science, sample and data quality, „Lighthouse Collections“ (internationally outstanding collections), facilitating access to biobank samples/data, and fostering research collaborations using biobanked samples/data and expertise.
- Foster dialogue between science and industry
- Continue to improve sample quality
- Further implement CEN and ISO standards and bring in its expertise to the development of new CEN and ISO standards
- Put data quality in biobanking into the focus particularly in the context of the new general data protection regulation.
- Optimize access to biobanks across Austria, based on the BBMRI-ERIC access policy.
- Identify and promote Austrian „Lighthouse Collections“- best practice collections in the international biobanking scene. They are of exceptional value to certain users and serve as models for new collections to be established or further developed.
- Operate the Austrian National Node and facilitate the integration and participation of the Austrian biobanking community in BBMRI-ERIC.
Dialogue between science and industry
BBMRI.at aims to establish a state-of-the-art biobanking infrastructure in Austria and to increase close cooperation and harmonization between biobanks. These are prerequisites to facilitating access and fostering the use of biological samples and data for academic and industrial research projects. Biologic samples and data collected in biobanks are valuable resources for innovations in personalized medicine, and development of biomarkers, diagnostics and therapeutics.
Improve sample quality
Closely related to this, BBMRI.at will continue to focus on sample quality. This helps to improve the reproducibility of research data as a prerequisite for the re-use and integration of data generated by the analysis of biosamples.
CEN and ISO standards
Therefore, the focus will be on the implementation of biobanking-related CEN and ISO standards, which are particularly important to meet the requirements of the new European in-vitro diagnostic prescription. BBMRI.at is also strongly involved in the development of new ISO and CEN standards.
Data quality and DSGVO
In addition to sample quality, data quality will also be a key issue. Solutions for combining biosamples with associated meta- and medical data related to quality will be developed.
In addition, existing data management measures need to be updated to ensure compliance with the European General Data Protection Regulation and its national implementation.
Access to biobanks
In order to improve access to biosamples and data, a dedicated work package will be in charge of optimizing access procedures across Austria, based on the BBMRI-ERIC access policy.
„Lighthouse Collections“
To increase the visibility of Austrian biobanks and certain sample collections, so-called „Lighthouse Collections“ will be defined. These collections should be best practice collections in the international biobanking scene. They are of exceptional value to certain users and serve as models for new collections to be established or further developed.
Biobanking strategy
Another important part of BBMRI.at is the investigation of the dynamics of societal expectations of biobanks in the context of new legal frameworks, such as the General Data Protection Regulation and an overall rapidly developing science and innovation landscape. This work on social aspects makes an important contribution to development new governance models for the sustainability of the organic banking strategy. It will also be included in the BBMRI-ERIC Common Service ELSI.
European network BBMRI-ERIC
Ultimately, BBMRI.at #2 will finance the operation and required activities of the Austrian National Node and will facilitate the integration and participation of the Austrian biobanking community in BBMRI-ERIC.