BBMRI-ERIC: Resources for the Future of Medicine Biological resources, such as cells, tissues or biomolecules are considered as the essential raw material for the advancement of biotechnology, human health, and for research and development in life sciences. The pan-European Biobanking and Biomolecular Resources Research Infrastructure European Research Infrastructure Consortium (BBMRI-ERIC) improves the accessibility and interoperability of the existing comprehensive collections, either population-based or clinical-oriented, of biological samples from different (sub) populations of Europe. These collections include the attached data on factors such as health status, nutrition, lifestyle, and environmental exposure of the study subjects. Combined with the expertise of the clinicians, pathologists, bio-informaticians, and molecular biologists involved, a globally unmatched, Europe-wide platform for translational medical research is envisaged with the aim to develop personalized medicine and disease prevention for the benefit of European citizens. To reach this goal, also biotech and pharmaceutical industry must have a possibility to collaborate with academic researchers in order to fully realize the enormous potential of European biobanking. In addition to clinical, ethical and legal experts, patient communities are involved to achieve standards and guidelines that properly balance individual values, such as protection of privacy and informed consent, with shared values of facilitated access to progress in health care and disease prevention. The Preparatory Phase of BBMRI In 2008, BBMRI was one of the first projects entering the European Research Infrastructure Preparatory Phase of the ESFRI roadmap funded by the European Commission (GA 212111). The preparatory phase of BBMRI lasted for three years and came to its end in January 2011. At this time, BBMRI has grown into a 54-member consortium with more than 225 associated organisations (largely biobanks) from over 30 countries, making it one of the largest research infrastructure projects in Europe. Awarded ERIC Legal Status On 3 December 2013, BBMRI was officially awarded the Community legal framework for a European Research Infrastructure Consortium (ERIC). This specific legal form is designed to facilitate the joint establishment and operation of research infrastructures of European interest. The ERIC status allows pulling together biobanks and biomolecular resources into a pan-European facility and providing access to collections of partner biobanks and biomolecular resources, their expertise and services on a non-economic basis. BBMRI-ERIC is set up as a distributed research infrastructrure in most, if not all European Member States. Members and Observers of BBMRI-ERIC Members: Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Malta, the Netherlands, Sweden Observer Countries: Norway, Poland, Switzerland, Turkey, IARC The Headquarter of BBMRI-ERIC BBMRI-ERIC’s Central Executive Management Office ("Headquarter or HQ") is located in Graz, Austria. It coordinates the interaction of National Nodes established in several Member States. The HQ will provide a common access portal to resources available to BBMRI-ERIC Partners as well as appropriate facilities and expertise. For further information, please contact: contact@bbmri-eric.eu or visit: www.bbmri-eric.eu Media Enquiries Jessica Hadjis ISC Intelligence in Science e-mail: jessica.hadjis@iscintelligence.com Tel: +32 2 88 88 100 Mob: +32 487 163 107 www.iscintelligence.com Countries Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Czechia, Germany, Denmark, Estonia, Greece, Spain, Finland, France, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Latvia, Malta, Netherlands, United Kingdom
