How can I donate biosamples?
If you are being treated in a clinic due to an illness or are participating in a study, it is often necessary to collect blood, tissue, or other biological material for diagnostic or therapeutic purposes. With your consent, this material can also be used for research. For this purpose, it is first stored in a biobank and later used for scientific research.
What will my sample be used for?
Biosamples are essential for biomedical research aimed at preventing, detecting, and treating diseases. A single sample can be used for many different future research purposes. Often, the exact use is not yet known at the time of donation.
After donation, your sample is processed and stored in a biobank, where it can be preserved for a long time. When researchers require specific samples for a project, they request them from the biobank. Before samples are released, the project must be approved by an ethics committee. In addition, the biobank’s scientific advisory board must agree to the release of the requested samples. In this way, every donation can contribute to the development of new therapies and improved treatment for future generations of patients.
Are my data secure?
Biobanks at German university hospitals are highly secure repositories for samples and data, operating under strict oversight by hospital management, data protection authorities, and ethics committees. All samples and data are protected against unauthorized access.
Along with the biosamples, certain personal data such as diagnosis, age, or disease progression are stored. These data are encoded (pseudonymized) and stored in accordance with applicable data protection laws. Samples and data are only used for research in this encoded form, without direct reference to your identity.
Will I personally benefit from my donation?
You will not receive any direct personal benefit from donating biosamples. However, your contribution supports medical progress and helps improve the diagnosis and treatment of diseases in the long term.
What are my rights as a donor?
You may withdraw your consent to the use of your biosamples and data at any time, without giving reasons and without any disadvantages. In the event of withdrawal, your samples will be destroyed and the associated data will be deleted or anonymized (without any link to your identity) and may continue to be used for research.
How long will my sample be stored?
Most academic biobanks store samples and data for long periods (often decades) in order to make them available for a wide range of future research purposes.
Will I receive feedback on research results?
You will generally not receive individual feedback from research projects. However, if research reveals findings that are highly relevant to your health, there may be the possibility of informing you. This would be done through your treating physician.
Who oversees the work of biobanks?
Biobanks at German university hospitals are overseen by hospital management and supported by a scientific advisory board. Decisions on the use of samples and data are made by an access committee. In addition, an independent ethics committee evaluates whether research projects comply with applicable regulations. Samples and data are only released if both the access committee and the ethics committee give their approval.
You can find more information here.
