BBMRI.de
Germany (Member)

Contact: Dr. Sara Nußbeck

Website: https://www.bbmri.de/

The German Biobank Network (GBN) is the umbrella organisation of biobanks in Germany and represents the interests of German biobanks within BBMRI-ERIC. GBN is also the primary contact in Germany for all stakeholders in biobanking.

The current network has evolved from two closely connected structures: the German Biobank Node (GBN), serving as the coordinating umbrella organisation and ‘National Node’ of BBMRI-ERIC, and the German Biobank Alliance (GBA), which comprised the collaborating biobanks. In 2017, under the leadership of the then GBN, biobanks from eleven German university hospitals and two IT development centres joined forces within the GBA. Since 2025, biobanks at 37 sites, along with one IT development centre, have been actively involved in the network. In 2025, both structures – GBN and GBA – were merged under the new name German Biobank Network (GBN). At the same time, the GBN was integrated into the Network University Medicine (NUM), funded by the Federal Ministry of Research, Technology and Space (BMFTR).

The common goal is to make biospecimens and associated data available for (inter)national biomedical research and to offer researchers multicentre sample collections. To this end, all partners are harmonising their quality standards, establishing a networked IT structure, and creating a further training programme for biobank technicians. Activities in the field of quality management include proficiency tests, a training programme for auditors and “friendly audits” meeting the ISO standard 20387 for biobanking. Cross-biobank searches for biosamples and related data can be carried out using the “Sample Locator” online search tool.

GBN develops strategies to engage with stakeholders relevant to biobanks – from researchers to patients. GBN offers its partners and observers a biobank toolkit for stakeholder communication that includes an information campaign aimed at sample donors. The campaign provides information on sample donations and biobanks: it comprises posters and flyers used in hospitals as well as the website www.biobanken-verstehen.de featuring further information.

GBN’s commitment is not limited to the German biobank community. With many of their experts being active within the BBMRI-ERIC common services as well as European working groups, GBN also strongly supports biobank developments in Europe.

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