The Leipzig Medical Biobank (LMB) achieves the BBMRI Quality Label

This article is 449 words and a 2-minute read.   

The Leipzig Medical Biobank (LMB) of the University of Leipzig has achieved the BBMRI Quality Label. LMB is a state-of-the-art biobank for the quality-assured collection, processing, storage and provision of biospecimens. Founded in 2010, it initially focused on collecting, processing, storing and making available primarily liquid samples from epidemiological studies conducted by the Leipzig Research Center for Civilization Diseases (LIFE). Since 2017, tissue samples from patients with cancer and, since 2021, samples from patients with cardiovascular diseases have also been collected and stored for research. 

The path to the Quality Label   

The German Biobank Network (GBN) audit programme was launched in 2018, marking the beginning of Leipzig Medical Biobank’s (LMB)  journey as one of the first biobanks in Germany to be audited and representing a significant milestone. Since then, the biobank has been visited every 18 months by highly trained and motivated auditors.  

Over the past eight years, the professionalism of the GBN audit programme has steadily increased while LMB has continuously improved the documentation of its biobank activities. Through the GBN quality programme, LMB has gained valuable experience, including in areas such as sample certificates, risk assessments and management reviews. Webinars, audits and accumulated experience have laid the foundations for achieving the Quality Label, an award recognising this long journey.  

As Juliane Weikert, Quality Manager at Biobank LMB underlines:  

“Having a good team is essential for a professional biobank. We are proud and grateful to have such a team. They accompanied us on our journey to achieving the Quality Label and will hopefully support us in future challenges. This will benefit our users, the research community and the LMB as an integral part of the German Biobank Network (GBN).” 

Ronny Baber, Head of Leipzig Medical Biobank, adds:   

“Quality management is an important aspect of biobanking that sets biobanks apart from simple sample collections. Setting up, developing and improving a quality management system in order to achieve the Quality Label was not always easy and was akin to climbing a mountain. However, using internal and external networks makes it easier! I would like to thank all the colleagues who made this possible!” 

Commenting the achievement, Maike Tauchert, Deputy Head of Quality Management at BBMRI-ERIC, highlights:   

“The journey of the LMB shows that building and continuously improving a quality management system takes commitment over many years. Achieving the BBMRI Quality Label is a well-deserved recognition of the team’s dedication to quality and to supporting high-quality research.” 

With the BBMRI-ERIC Quality Label, the Leipzig Medical Biobank joins a growing number of biobanks across Europe that demonstrate high standards in biobanking and quality management, strengthening trust in biological resources used for research. 

Further reading  

More on BBMRI-ERIC audit programme and Quality Label.