Accelerating datafication for support of EU health priorities, greening of biobanks and integrated approach to “One Health”

Project Information

EvolveBBMRI

Grant agreement ID: 101131701

DOI

10.3030/101131701

EC signature date 3 November 2023

Start date 1 January 2024

End date 31 December 2026

Funded under

• Research infrastructures

Total cost

€ 4 999 943,75

EU contribution

€ 3 999 955,00

Coordinated by

BIOBANKS AND BIOMOLECULAR RESOURCES RESEARCH INFRASTRUCTURE CONSORTIUM (BBMRI-ERIC)
Austria

Periodic Reporting for period 1 - EvolveBBMRI (Accelerating datafication for support of EU health priorities, greening of biobanks and integrated approach to “One Health”)

Reporting period: 2024-01-01 to 2025-06-30

Summary of the context and overall objectives of the project

The EvolveBBMRI project aims to further develop BBMRI-ERIC for the benefit of its scientific communities and users, increase its capacity to serve EU policy priorities and further deepen its collaboration with industry. It is structured in four thematic pillars: 1) Acceleration of datafication of biobanks and biomolecular resources to enable reproducible advanced medical research in support of EU health priorities ; 2) Teaming with industry towards greener biobanking; 3) Long-term sustainability measures for BBMRI addressing also RI landscape gaps; and 4) Strengthened approach for career paths, training and outreach activities to maximise impact. The overarching goal of the EvolveBBMRI project is to, together with the Member States, further develop BBMRI-ERIC for the benefit of its scientific communities and users, increase its capacity to serve EU policy priorities and further deepen its collaboration with industry.

Work performed from the beginning of the project to the end of the period covered by the report and main results achieved so far

The first reporting period of the EvolveBBMRI project spans from 1 January 2024 (M1) to 30 June 2025 (M18). During this period, the project focused on advancing key objectives across its six Work Packages. Eleven deliverables were submitted, and ten milestones were reached (two were postponed to the second reporting period -M21 and M24). The deliverables and milestones were co-created not only with the Member states taking part in the consortium, but with all Member and Observer via discussion and feedback though the BBMRI-ERIC governance bodies (assembly of members, management committee). This will ensure that the implementation of the deliverables will have an overall impact across the infrastructure.

Some of the key deliverables are: Deliverable 1.1 "Concept for Datafication of Biobanks," was successfully developed, laying out the conceptual and technical groundwork for enabling biobanks as data integration centres. The Green Biobanking Gaps and Challenges Survey (D2.1 "Green Biobanking Mapping") gathered responses from 93 biobanks across 18 BBMRI-ERIC National Nodes. Furthermore, Deliverable 3.1 the "Draft 10-Year Strategy of BBMRI-ERIC on the 'One Health' Approach in Biobanking," outlining the strategic focus of BBMRI-ERIC for the next decade is the ground document for BBMRI-ERIC actions in the next years.

Progress beyond the state of the art and expected potential impact (including the socio-economic impact and the wider societal implications of the project so far)

Based on the results from the first reporting period, impact has been generated in multiple areas.

In WP1, a comprehensive concept to transform biobanks into advanced data integration centres was developed (D1.1) leveraging cryptographic solutions for secure, cloud-based data processing. Additionally, a robust provenance mechanism was established (D1.2) ensuring quality, transparency, and traceability of biological materials and associated data in a machine-actionable way, thereby enhancing reproducibility and data trust. By the end of the reporting period, a secure cloud storage infrastructure was also implemented (D1.5).

In WP2, which focuses on advancing green biobanking practices, two workshops and a comprehensive survey were conducted to identify critical barriers, such as reliance on fossil fuels, limited waste management systems, lack of staff training, and insufficient funding. The survey, which gathered responses from 93 biobanks across 18 National Nodes (informing D2.1) lays the foundation for actionable next steps in Reporting Period 2 (RP2).

In WP3, sustainable impact is being fostered through the development of the 10-Year Roadmap (D3.1) which provides a strategic outline for BBMRI-ERIC over the next decade, and through a concept for industry collaborations (D3.2) to be further explored in RP2.

WP4 mapped the educational needs of the BBMRI-ERIC community through a catalogue of training activities (MS16), visualised via a competence matrix (MS17) in preparation for the BBMRI-ERIC Academy. These efforts informed a gap analysis of the training offer for Research Infrastructure staff (MS18).

WP5 has been instrumental in ensuring the scientific and operational coherence of the project through effective coordination, structured data management, and strategic external engagement.

WP6 has ensured the ethical integrity of the EvolveBBMRI project through the appointment of an exernal ethics advisor, providing invaluable recommendations for the continuing activities in RP2.