Who we are
The BBMRI-ERIC IT team provides the digital backbone for BBMRI-ERIC’s services and project portfolio. We work with BBMRI-ERIC members, National Nodes and project consortia to deliver secure, reliable and user-oriented platforms that enable federated discovery and access to biobanking resources across Europe. Our work includes:
- Common Service IT, who help to develop and operate the services that connect biobanks and researchers across BBMRI-ERIC (Directory, Locator, Negotiator), and
- The Federated Search Task Force, a key initiative within the BBMRI-ERIC infrastructure. They play a central role in advancing federated search capabilities, allowing researchers to query distributed biobank data without centralising sensitive information.
What we do
We operate and continuously improve BBMRI-ERIC Common Services, the federated Authentication and Authorisation Infrastructure (AAI), and interoperability components that enable unified discovery and access.
Our work covers software engineering, infrastructure operations (hosting, monitoring, security, DevOps) and project delivery support for major initiatives (e.g., EUCAIM, ERDERA, UNCAN*, EHDS-related work).
We also host centralised data cohorts, such as the CRC-Cohort, and organise access committees for expedited access to the centralised data cohorts. In addition, we develop and implement security and privacy policies and operate the centralised IT infrastructure of BBMRI-ERIC HQ.
To ensure that our services are accessible and used effectively, we support user experience improvements, training and community onboarding.
Why it matters
Cross-border biomedical research depends on trustworthy digital services: discoverability, secure access, interoperability and operational reliability at scale. The IT Team reduces technical barriers for the biobanking community by providing robust, standards-aligned services and operational practices that support consistent service delivery and long-term sustainability. This strengthens BBMRI-ERIC’s capacity to support European research and policy-driven developments (e.g., EHDS) through practical, deployable solutions.
IT Headquarters Team
RNDr. Jiří Horák, PhD
Developer for Whole Slide Imaging Visualisation Tooling
