The IT network of the German Biobank Network (GBN) connects biobanks and thus makes it possible to find human biospecimens and associated data across locations.
The value of a biospecimen collection for science increases with the availability of comprehensive, quality-assured and comparable data. With this aim in mind, the German Biobank Network (GBN) has established an IT network that connects the biobanks both within the consortium and with international biobank infrastructures such as BBMRI-ERIC.
The infrastructure forms the technical basis for the Sample Locator search tool, which enables researchers to search for samples and associated data across biobanks. Together with the Directory - a centralised directory of biobanks - the Sample Locator gives biobanks greater visibility and significantly supports biomedical research.