First joint meeting of BBMRI.at and other BBMRI-ERIC national nodes

BBMRI.at initiated and organized the first joint meeting of BBMRI national nodes at the alpine University Centre in Obergurgl (Ötz-Valley, Tyrol, Austria), one of Europe’s highest ski villages. The joint meeting gathered members from more than 10 BBMRI-ERIC national nodes and cooperation partners (e.g. from the life science industry), and from the BBMRI-ERIC headquarters.

Main goal of the joint meeting was to bring together members and key representatives of  BBMRI.at and other BBMRI-ERIC national nodes to allow a direct exchange of experience and to explore fields for developing synergies and sharing efforts in implementing the national nodes.

The meeting focused on the following topics:

• National Biobank & Sample Catalogues: How to retrieve information from biobanks and how to present this information in the national and BBMRI-ERIC catalogues.
• Access to Biobank Samples & Data: Presenting and discussing access procedures including harmonization of access criteria and material transfer agreements.
• Quality Management in Biobanks: Establishing common criteria for assessing quality of samples and data, application of quality standards, and auditing.
• Financial sustainability of Biobanks: Presenting and discussing financial sustainability of biobanks including the question of how to improve cost efficacy, models for cost recovery, and long-term business models.