Follow on Google News News By Tag * Health * Biobank * Biobanking * Human Samples * Tissue * Adn * Health Research * Cells * Biotechnology * More Tags... News By Place Country(s) Industry News
Follow on Google News | European Network Of Biological Samples Key To Develop New Cures For Complex DiseasesA seminar to explore the challenges and requirements to create a European Biobanking and Biomolecular Resources Research Infrastructure (BBMRI) will take place at the EU Parliament on 28 May 2008.
Understanding those interactions will depend critically on the study of large sets of samples linked with accurate and up-to-date clinical, biological and molecular information. Europe is without a doubt in a very advantageous position to play a global leading role due to the existence of a long tradition of excellent health systems that have vast collections of samples and data. However, while these important collections already exist in hospital archives, biobanks, and biological resources centres across the EU member states, there is little collaboration and exchange between them. This fragmentation and the limited access by investigators are the main bottleneck impeding progress to the benefit of medical research, European health care, and ultimately, the citizens of the European Union. This seminar will discuss the importance and the future plans to develop a pan-European Biobanking and Biomolecular Resources Research Infrastructure (BBMRI). Members of the main European research centres and institutes, universities, industry and government representatives will participate in the session to determine the necessary steps to set up an unprecedented network that will enable researchers to interact better, to access larger collections of biological samples and data, and thus to translate already existing potentials into new opportunities. Some of the urgent actions in the agenda are the preparation of an inventory of existing resources, the search for common standards and access rules, the establishment of a data protection system and the definition of the legal, ethical, social and financial governance framework for this initiative. The planning consortium compromises 51 participants from 21 member states and more than 150 associated organizations. The successful implementation of a pan-European BBMRI will result into increased quality and reduced costs of research, more effective drug discoveries, improved health care and secure industrial competitiveness for the EU. For more information: Or contact: Fernando Anton ISC Intelligence in Science +32 (0)2 8888 112 fernando.anton@ Arne Koeppel ISC Intelligence in Science +32 (0)2 8888 107 arne.koeppel@ End
|
|