A strategic alliance for one annual biobanking conference in Europe

BBMRI-ERIC and ESBB form a strategic alliance for the benefit of European biobanking efforts.

On 30 September 2015, BBMRI-ERIC and ESBB formed a strategic alliance for the benefit of European biobanking efforts. Starting in 2016, the two organisations will jointly organize the most important annual biobanking conference in Europe and facilitate collaboration on activities related to biobanking and biopreservation of samples for research and development. This agreement emphasizes that biobanks are a European strength.

BMRI-ERIC is an international organization established under EU law, facilitating access to biological resources as well as biomedical facilities. Seventeen European Member States and one International Organisation (IARC) have joined forces in establishing BBMRI-ERIC.

ESBB is an association established under French law (Loi 1901) for people involved in the collection and storage of biological materials from all species. The society is focused on Europe, the Middle East and Africa.

As a part of strengthening overall collaboration in several complementary fields in biobanking between both organisations the purpose of this MoU is to define areas of collaboration between BBMRI-ERIC and ESBB, including 4 consecutive joint annual conferences from 2016 through to 2019.

Background Information:

Biobanking and BioMolecular resources Research Infrastructure (BBMRI-ERIC)

BBMRI-ERIC is an international organization established under EU law, facilitating access to biological resources as well as biomedical facilities. Seventeen European Member States and one International Organisation (IARC) have joined forces in establishing BBMRI-ERIC. BBMRI-ERIC relies on a close collaboration between researchers, biobankers, patient advocacy groups, and the pharmaceutical and biotech industry. The specific legal form of an ERIC is designed to facilitate the joint establishment and operation of research infrastructures of European interest in the European Research Area (ERA). BBMRI-ERIC offers to use its organisation involving numerous stakeholders throughout Europe to reach this aim. Especially, in order to reach well-balanced and secure procedures for handling health data, the opinions of all concerned stakeholders have to be taken into account. Countries outside EU can also join BBMRI-ERIC.

The European, Middle Eastern and African Society for Biopreservation & Biobanking (ESBB)

ESBB is an association established under French law (Loi 1901) for people involved in the collection and storage of biological materials from all species. The society is focused on Europe, the Middle East and Africa. The mission of ESBB is to advance the field of biobanking in support of research relating to healthcare, agriculture and the environment. The goals of ESBB are as follows: (1) Identify problems in the biobanking field and provide solutions. (2) Encourage high professional standards in biobanking. (3) Provide high value membership services for key actors in the biobanking field. (4) Encourage participation from a wide range of repositories across the Europe Middle East Africa (EMEA) region. (5) Provide a strong united voice for biobankers in the region, to influence development of their field. (6) Partner with other organizations involved with, or related to biobanking. (7) Encourage and support public-private biobank-related partnerships because of their scientific, medical and commercial importance. (8) Promote stakeholder support for biobanking.

Contact Persons:

For BBMRI-ERIC: Michaela Mayrhofer [e-mail]
For ESBB: Robert Hewitt [e-mail]

Countries

Austria