On 9 and 10 April 2025, representatives of the German biobanking community came together at Jena University Hospital. The two-day network meeting provided a platform for dialogue, strategic discussions and insights into current developments. "Personal interaction creates space for new ideas and is essential for the strategic development of biobanking in Germany," emphasised PD Dr Dr Michael Kiehntopf, member of the German Biobank Node (GBN) Board of Directors and Head of the Integrated Biobank Jena (IBBJ).
Research from Jena: focus on sepsis and cancer
In the local part of the programme, Prof. Dr Michael Bauer and Prof. Dr Diana Dudziak presented research approaches on sepsis and cancer. Both showed how clinical research and biobanking go hand in hand - for example through interdisciplinary models or integrated care structures.
News from the working groups
Presentations from the working groups highlighted central topics of network work. The Tissue working group discussed challenges in the standardisation of sample processing: despite established standards, there is a high degree of variability in existing procedures. The Financing working group presented a tool for calculating flat-rate costs to make it easier for biobanks to calculate costs in third-party funded projects. The Data Quality WG is working on a guideline for data control that summarises definitions, data flows and ISO-compliant concepts. All WGs welcome new members from the community.
Quality management
Sven Heiling and Dr Christine Hess (both from the Integrated Biobank Jena, IBBJ) provided insights into current projects. The focus was on the Liquid 2024/25 round robin test and the accreditation of the IBBJ in accordance with DIN EN ISO 20387. Christine Hess showed how QM acts as a structuring instrument today - far beyond formal requirements. Nhutuyen Nguyen (QM Coordinator at GBN) reported on the last annual auditor meeting. The key figures for 2024 alone were impressive: with seven on-site audits, over 700 findings and 87 hours of travelling by train, this was a remarkable achievement by the 21 active auditors.
Strategic orientation and integration into the NUM
The second day focussed on strategic issues relating to the further development of the network, particularly with regard to the Network University Medicine (NUM). GBN Managing Director Dr Cornelia Specht reported that with the funding approval for the new "NUM 3.0" phase, the integration of GBN into the NUM Coordination Office is official - with its own biobanking work area. GBN also remains the national node of the European biobank network BBMRI-ERIC.
Digitalisation and European networking
Zohaib Hassan (IT Coordinator of GBN) and Dr Cecilia Engels (DKTK) provided insights into the IT activities of BBMRI-ERIC, including the further development of the directory and the implementation of the EvolveBBMRI project. The focus was also on the MIABIS standard: more than a semantic model, MIABIS sees itself as a dynamic ecosystem for harmonising biobank-related data.
Conclusion: Together into the next network phase
In the midst of upcoming structural changes - such as the planned renaming to "German Biobank Network" - the community meeting in Jena was also a moment to take stock. "Especially in times of structural change, it is important to come together as a network in order to set new impulses together," summarised GBN board member Dr Gabriele Anton.