On 23 and 24 April 2026, the German Biobank Network (GBN) community met in Mannheim for the largest community meeting to date. More than 80 participants from all over Germany came together at the University Medical Centre Mannheim to discuss current developments in biobanking, share experiences and initiate new collaborations. The event was hosted by the Integrated Biobank Mannheim (IBM) under the direction of Dr Romy Kirsten and the Institute of Pathology at the University Medical Centre Mannheim under the direction of Prof. Dr Christoph Brochhausen-Delius.
Dr Romy Kirsten, Prof. Dr Christoph Brochhausen-Delius, Prof. Dr Wolf-Karsten Hofmann (Director of the Clinic for Haematology and Internal Oncology) and Prof. Dr Maurice Stephan Michel (Director of the Clinic for Haematology and Internal Oncology) opened the event. Maurice Stephan Michel (Director of the Department of Urology and Urosurgery) gave the participants an insight into the development of IBM and the close integration of biobanking, pathology and data infrastructures at the Mannheim site.
"It was a great pleasure for us to organise the community meeting in Mannheim. The intensive exchange within the network not only provides important professional impetus, but also highlights the central role biobanks play as Research Infrastructures at the individual locations," said Dr Romy Kirsten.
Diverse programme from tissue to biobank platform
The programme reflected the thematic breadth of the GBN community. One focus was on contributions from the fields of pathology and tissue biobanking. Prof. Dr Christoph Brochhausen-Delius presented the Tissue Image Centre and an international cooperation project. The Tissue Working Group also presented current work, ranging from quality parameters for tissue samples and PDX models to fresh tissue and slice cultures.
Technological developments were also the focus of Dr Jens Langejürgen, Head of Research Division Health Technologies and Processes at Fraunhofer IPA. He provided insights into current single-cell technologies. PD Dr Stephanie Witt also presented the biobank of the Mannheim Central Institute of Mental Health and showed the importance of biobanking for psychiatric research.
A central topic of the meeting was the planned "Biobank Platform for Germany". Members of the GBN Executive Board provided information on the current planning status, work packages and the role of GBN biobanks within the initiative, which is anchored in the German government's coalition agreement.
Community and exchange at the centre
In addition to the specialist presentations, the focus was primarily on personal dialogue. Whether during the breaks, over dinner together or during a city tour of Mannheim - the opportunity to network was used intensively.
"The Community Meeting shows every time anew how much dynamism there is in our network. The personal exchange is a decisive driver for joint developments," emphasised GBN Board Spokesperson PD Dr Sara Y. Nußbeck.
The meeting also received extremely positive feedback from participants, with PD Dr Kristina Heyne, Head of the Biobank at Saarland University's Faculty of Medicine, summarising: "It was my first time at a GBN meeting and I was totally impressed by the atmosphere and the content. A big compliment to the organising team!"
Integrated Biobank Mannheim (IBM)
Concept "A biobank platform for Germany"
Interview with Dr Ronny Baber on pharma-fakten.de: "Planned biobank platform" (10.05.2026)