14th National Biobanking Symposium 2026

This session provides practical insights into the workflows of modern biobanking—from biospecimen collection to distribution. Using examples from local and multicenter projects, we will discuss strategies for the processing, documentation, storage, and provision of biospecimens. Learn how targeted harmonization, automation, and collaboration help ensure the highest biospecimen quality for translational research.

This session presents innovative solutions in biobanking: A biobank will demonstrate how creative problem-solving enables the in-house development and production of laboratory components tailored to its specific workflows. Industry representatives will showcase new approaches in storage technologies and automation processes—from reducing reliance on liquid nitrogen to specialized IT modules and intelligent automated workflows.

A subsequent panel discussion with the speakers will provide an opportunity for in-depth exchange on key success factors, practical insights, and applicable strategies for improving efficiency and optimizing resources. A session highlighting forward-looking innovations that are transforming biobanking.

The session “Ethics and Law” focuses on the inclusion of vulnerable groups in clinical trials and the secondary use of their data and biospecimens for medical research—a topic of great scientific, ethical, and legal relevance. Experts in medical ethics, healthcare, and health law will provide insights into current developments. Using children and adolescents as an example, we will examine the heterogeneity of regulatory procedures and consent processes across 16 European countries. In addition, the speaker of the MII Working Group on Consent will present the recently adopted MII Consent for Individuals Lacking Capacity to Consent, including the accompanying guidance document. This will be complemented by two legal perspectives on the admissibility of spousal emergency representation rights in epidemiological cohort studies. The session will conclude with a debate on how to responsibly balance research interests, the protection of vulnerable participant groups, legally and socially accepted forms of representation, and the preservation of each individual’s right to self-determination.

The "Biobank Platform for Germany" is being established within the Network of University Medicine (NUM) as a nationwide research infrastructure. Its goal is to facilitate and standardize cross-site access to high-quality biospecimens and associated clinical and analytical data for medical research. The initiative implements objectives outlined in the coalition agreement and the Federal Government’s High-Tech Agenda and builds on the structures established by the German Biobank Network (GBN). In the future, a central access point to the platform will be provided through a NUM "one-stop shop." This session will introduce the objectives of the platform, provide insights into the current status of its implementation and next steps, and highlight opportunities for collaboration, particularly with industry.

This session highlights the thematic and organizational diversity of biobanks in Germany. The focus is particularly on biobanks outside the academic environment, which will provide insights into their areas of expertise, activities, and daily operations. A concluding panel discussion will explore commonalities, different perspectives, and current challenges.

This session highlights how biobanks can make their operations more sustainable while maintaining high quality standards. The first part focuses on sustainable solutions for biospecimen storage, including new approaches for storage at temperatures above −40 °C and a resource-efficient storage system with reduced nitrogen consumption. The second part addresses current developments in accreditation. Experts will present different perspectives, which will then be discussed in a panel discussion.

Data—whether originating from clinical care or research studies—is becoming increasingly important in biobanking. Under the ISO 20387 accreditation standard, biobanks are required to implement quality assurance measures for all data associated with their biospecimens. This session therefore addresses the integration of data from different sources and quality assurance across organizational and legal boundaries. A particular focus this year will be on multicenter activities, including collaborations with community-based research practices.