The establishment of a nationwide biobank platform on 1 July marks the start of the implementation of a key initiative set out in the Federal Government’s coalition agreement and the Biotechnology Roadmap of the High-Tech Agenda. The ‘Biobank Platform for Germany’, funded by the Federal Ministry of Research, Technology and Space (BMFTR), is intended to facilitate access to biological samples such as blood or tissue, as well as the associated clinical and analytical data, for medical research – whilst adhering to the strictest quality, data protection and ethical standards. Yesterday’s kick-off event in Berlin focused on dialogue, networking and future collaboration.
The ‘Biobank Platform for Germany’ project is being implemented within the Network University Medicine (NUM) in conjunction with the German Biobank Network (GBN), which is integrated into the NUM. The NUM is responsible for overseeing the Biobank Platform and is establishing the structural framework for its development and long-term operation. The Federal Ministry of Research, Technology and Space (BMFTR) is providing funding of approximately 50 million euros for the development of the platform until 2030. By 2030, the platform will be integrated into the existing research landscape in terms of organisation, technology and content. The underlying concept was developed within University Medicine in collaboration with the German Biobank Network (GBN), Fraunhofer Health, the German University Medical Centres, the Technology and Methods Platform for Networked Medical Research (TMF), the Association of Research-Based Pharmaceutical Companies (vfa), the German Pharmaceutical Industry Association (BPI), the German Diagnostics Industry Association (VDGH) and the biotechnology association BIO Deutschland.
Making biological samples and data available more quickly across different sites
Biobanks are a central component of medical research and care. They form the basis for precision medicine, molecular diagnostics and modern data-driven research. The aim of the project is to network and further harmonise the university biobanks within the GBN in such a way that biological samples and data can be utilised more quickly and easily for research across different sites. To this end, the decentralised biobanks at 38 sites will be brought together organisationally within a single biobank platform. A central service centre will be established within the NUM to coordinate and facilitate access to samples and data from the participating biobanks. Researchers from academia and industry will then no longer need to contact individual biobank sites separately or enter into individual contracts with them. This will provide them with better conditions for researching diseases, further developing diagnostics and therapies, and thus improving patient care in the long term.
The platform makes an important contribution to achieving the German Government’s objectives in the fields of prevention, personalised medicine and biotechnology. State Secretary Dr Rolf-Dieter Jungk emphasised this point, stating: “The Biobank Platform combines technological capability with transparency, accountability and trust. It creates a modern and reliable framework for excellent biomedical research. With the establishment of the Biobank Platform, we are not only reaching a significant milestone, but also achieving a goal of the High-Tech Agenda and, consequently, a key objective of the coalition agreement.”
The project was made possible by the decision of the German Bundestag’s Budget Committee to provide the necessary funding for its development. Another key prerequisite was the continuation of the NUM, which thereby provides the long-term framework for the development and operation of the biobank platform. Members of the Bundestag Svenja Schulze and Holger Mann presented the Parliament’s perspective, commenting on the project as follows: “I am convinced that biobanks are a real treasure for medicine,” said Svenja Schulze. “We absolutely need this kind of collaborative approach. We are in a global race – the more we can pool our expertise, the better.” Holger Mann emphasised: “Today marks a real boost for medical research in Germany. With the launch of this biobank platform, we are not only establishing a technical infrastructure, but also laying the foundations for a more modern, data-driven medicine.”
From the perspective of university medicine, Prof. Dr Heyo Kroemer, Chairman of the Executive Board of Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin, put the initiative into context: “In Germany, we have a large number of very well-established academic biobanks at university hospitals. They operate to high quality standards and provide important resources for research and translation. The German Biobank Network has already harmonised key standards in this area over the past few years. These are ideal conditions for taking the next step and developing the existing network into a biobank platform within the Network of University Medicine – in other words, moving from a networked structure towards a shared, usable infrastructure for all partners.”
Many of the participating biobanks from across Germany joined the kick-off event in a live video call and jointly welcomed the launch of the biobank platform, on whose successful implementation they will work together in future.
PD Dr Sara Nußbeck, spokesperson for the GBN’s Executive Board, presented the project and explained: “The advantages lie in the fact that we can initiate the collection of new biological samples and data in a targeted and swift manner; that we can effectively integrate the clinical data and the OMICS data derived from the biological samples; and that we can make these resources available in a transparent, legally compliant and quality-assured way. We will work very closely with industry to jointly build this platform in a truly future-proof manner, so that all parties – and ultimately all patients – benefit from it.”
Dr Stefanie Houwaart, patient representative at BRCA-Netzwerk e. V., advocated for an international perspective in the subsequent panel discussion: “On the one hand, we need links to clinical data; on the other, we need large cohorts, which we can only assemble on an international scale. To achieve this, a great deal of solidarity is required, despite all the competition. After all, the patient community does not stop at borders.”
Further information
The concept for the ‘Biobank Platform for Germany’, further information on the project, and photos from the kick-off event on 22 June and the Charité/BIH Central Biobank can be found on the event website.