Biobanks need pharma: Which is why Europe’s citizens need reassurance that their donations will be in the public interest? http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v461/n7263/full/461448a.html

The European Biobanking and Biomolecular Resources Research Infrastructure – BBMRI - held its first Stakeholder’s Forum Information/Discussion meeting in Brussels, Belgium on September 16th, 2009. Read the report here.

The Forum aims to build a community of international BBMRI stakeholders, through increasing awareness of the value of networked biobanking activities and by developing support for key initiatives in biobanking. Its activities focus on the provision of mechanisms for participants and stakeholders to ask questions, to discuss their concerns, thereby encouraging stakeholders to participate actively in the decision-making processes within BBMRI.

Pan-European biobanking moves closer: http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/61f71d30-a29a-11de-ae7e-00144feabdc0.html?nclick_check=1

 

For  a list of papers referencing the UK DNA Banking Network, click here.

4th Practical Biobanking course

Date: 26 to 29 October 2009
Venue: Nowgen Centre 29 Grafton Street Manchester, M13 9WU
Booking
     By email: bookings@nowgen.org.uk 
     Online: www.nowgen.org.uk/events
     By phone: Nowgen Events Team +44 (0)161 276 5956

Building on the success of Practical Biobanking meetings inaugurated in 2007, this four day intensive course is designed for researchers and sponsors looking to establish and maintain a successful biological sample resource. These international courses have evolved in close consultation with national and international biobanking communities to address the practical issues of establishing and running a biobank that manages liquid or tissue samples.

The course will include:

• Optional practical laboratory day on sample log-in, normalisation and cherry picking.  
• Talks from distinguished liquid and tissue biobanking scientists
• Guided Tours: UK Biobank and NHS Blood and Transplant, Tissue Services biobank
• Discussion and networking forums
• Trade exhibitions and stands