BBMRI.cz - The Network of Czech Biobanks
Large Research Infrastructure founded by government of Czech Republic
BBMRI.cz is a large research infrastructure that brings together member biobanks across the Czech Republic. It stores > 2 000 000 samples of biological material from patients and healthy donors. One of the main objectives of this biobank network is to support activities in the field of biomedical research, in particular by providing collected, processed and long-term stored material according to international standards and methodologies. This service can accelerate the transfer of laboratory knowledge into practical use.
Another objective is to unify legal, ethical and social principles at national level, together with the optimization of procedures and processes, so that all BBMRI.cz members achieve the minimum standards for quality management according to EU guidelines. Another important objective is to facilitate the registration, standardization and harmonization of clinical or other types of associated data for existing and newly established biobanks in line with other biobanks associated in the BBMRI-ERIC consortium.
Since 2010 BBMRI.cz is part of the ESFRI Roadmap (European Strategy Forum on Research Infrastructures). In the period 2023-2026, it is funded by the project: the Network of Czech Biobanks (BBMRI.cz), it can be found under the number LM2023033 (provider is the MEYS).
History of BBMRI.cz
In 2010, 5 biobanks focused on archiving, storing and providing samples from donors with cancer diagnosis were grouped together in a project and in the same year, a large research infrastructure BBMRI.cz was officially established, coordinated by the Biological Material Bank of the Masaryk Cancer Institute. BBMRI.cz is also a founding member of the pan-European research infrastructure BBMRI-ERIC (Biobanking and Biomolecular ResourcesResearch Infrastructure - European Research Infrastructure Consortium), which was formed in 2013.
What is a biobank?
The Bank of Biological Material (BBM) stores long-term frozen or otherwise processed tissues and other human biological materials from patients as well as healthy donors. BBM provides samples, including clinical information, for example at MMCI oncology research projects as well as national or international translational research projects. Access to such archived material, including clinical data, can facilitate and accelerate the translation of laboratory knowledge into clinical practice.
Where is biological material used?
The samples and associated data stored in biobanks can be used in biomedical research, for example, to study the etiology of diseases or to develop and validate new diagnostic methods. The sample- and data sets can also be used for the development of personalized medicine, aimed at preventing, detecting and treating diseases in ways that are adapted to suit each patient individually.