Position paper on biobanks and patient participation published

In a pioneering initiative, the German Biobank Node (GBN) and patient organizations have drafted a joint position paper. The aim is to strengthen the use of academic biobanks and to intensify patient involvement in biomedical research. These measures are intended to increase the effectiveness and sustainability of research. Four patient organizations are among the initiators, and ten further organizations and associations support the paper. 

The donation of human biospecimens, such as blood or tissue, from sick and healthy people is an important contribution to both biomedical research and safe patient care. Academic biobanks that process, store and provide these samples for research projects have developed into important infrastructures in Germany in recent years thanks to federal funding programs. With the GBN and the German Biobank Alliance (GBA) coordinated by it, initiatives have emerged that have enabled the establishment and networking of centrally organized and quality-assured biobanks. 

The press release with further information on the background and on who supports the position paper can be found here. 

And here is the direct link to the position paper (PDF): Positionspapier_Biobanking-und-Partizipation_Stand-24032025.pdf