Karubiotec™ is a mono-site Biological Resources Center (BRC) and the only human biobank of Guadeloupe. It is an infrastructure of the University Hospital of Guadeloupe, which governed it. Located inside the hospital it is equipped with a molecular biology platform that allows all the processes from reception to preparation, storage and transfer of biological resources and their associated clinical data. These data are either part of specific research projects or of the BRC’s own research programs. After studying requests, Karubiotec™ can provide samples from blood (serum, plasma, cells, DNA, RNA), secretions and tissues for most common diseases found in the Caribbean [1], in respect of ethics requirements according to the proposed use. Paraffin blocks and slides from pathology units are also collected for some cancer sites for research reuse.

BCU Imaging Biobank (BCU-IB) is a non-profit biorepository aimed at the collection, storage and retrieval of diagnostic images, derived descriptors and clinical data. The main scope of BCU-IB is to foster scientific advances in imaging and analysis, opening up new ways for biomedical research to diagnose, treat and potentially prevent diseases. BCU-IB collects a vast amount of images of the human body, including healthy and pathological subjects. Diagnostic images, clinical, anamnestic and demographic data are made available to study the associations between imaging phenotypes, diagnostic and prognostic factors. Curated datasets are stored and organized in a secure and reliable dedicated information systems based on the Extensible Neuroimaging Archive Toolkit (XNAT), hosted by Bio Check Up Srl.

Charlie Teo Foundation Brain Tumour Bank (CTFBTB) was started by Charlie Teo Foundation (CTF), an Australian charity funding brain cancer research. CTFBTB was established under the CTF’s research strategy of More Data – to produce and share high-quality, well-annotated, biological and clinical data that has the potential to drive further innovation and scientific breakthroughs. CTFBTB collects samples of human tissue, live cells, DNA and blood to be used for brain cancer research. CTFBTB also has a cell line repository of real-world brain tumours. Researchers can apply to use these valuable and accurate models that enable more refined analysis of the mechanisms that regulate individual patient response to treatment and allow for the further development of models for precision medicine.

The Hannover Unified Biobank (HUB) was established in 2012 as the central biobank of the Hannover Medical School (MHH) to provide an infrastructure for the standardised collection and storage of liquid biosamples and associated data in the context of research projects and clinical studies. For the comprehensive collection of tissue samples from the clinical routine the HUB cooperates with the MHH Institute of Pathology. All samples are connected with the associated clinical data stored in the ECRDW (Enterprise Clinical Research Data Warehouse) of the MHH. Headed by Prof. Dr. Thomas Illig the HUB developed into one of the biggest state of the art clinical biobanks in Germany and today stores about 2.88 Mio samples (mainly FFPE tissue and blood derived liquid samples) of a wide range of diseases.

The Faroe Genome Project (FarGen) explores the genetic variation within the isolated population of the Faroe Islands. FarGen is an open bioresource comprising 3% of the entire Faroese population, available for further investigation of both rare and common diseases. The 1,541 volunteers include representatives from all sub-regions of the islands, and health- and socio-demographic data is collected by questionnaire, Multi-Generation Registry, Diagnostic-Registry, and National Registry. The FarGeninfrastructure is already open to research teams, and is being used in research of various complex disorders. Future aim is to reach 5000 samples i.e. 10% of the entire Faroese population.

The VetBiobank was established in 2007 as part of the VetCore Facility for Research at the University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna. The primary objectives of the VetBiobank are (1) to achieve comprehensive collections of high quality animal samples to support research projects and (2) to provide biological reference material as controls e.g. for method verification. Currently, collections mainly contain tumor tissues and healthy reference tissues from cats and dogs, but also a small number of biospecimens from other diseases and other species, including macaque, horse, pig, and small companion animals. A total number of around 58000 individual samples are stored. The VetBiobank is partner of BBMRI.at (the Biobanking and BioMolecular resource Research Infrastructure Austria [1]), the Austrian national node of the European research infrastructure BBMRI-ERIC [2], comprising the only member with a focus on veterinary medicine. Funding statement: The VetBiobank is part of the central research facility of the University of Veterinary Medicine, which takes over personnel and running costs. Additionally, the VetBiobank was and is currently supported by two grants from the federal ministry of Austria to BBMRI.at (BMWFM GZ: 10.470/0016-II/3/2013, BMBWF GZ: 10.470/0010-V/3c/2018).

The biobank of the Assistance Publique Hôpitaux de Marseille (AP-HM) works as a multi-site biobank around one Quality Management System. The biobank works on the collection, preparation, storage and release of biological resources and their associated data. It receives tissue samples for neoplasms, DNA and cells for rare genetic diseases and blood samples for hematological and cardiovascular diseases. These samples are provided and classified by experts of different domains; the samples are under strict technical protocols with appropriate clinical data. This wide range of sample types, diseases and services allows collaborations with public or private laboratories to customize research projects or therapeutic trials. Funding statement: The AP-HM biobank is supported by the French government’s MIG grant, intended to cover part of its annual cost based on its annual activity, valorization of released samples and funds from the AP-HM.

The Biological Resource Center (BRC) for 'Toxoplasma gondii' is a certified structure (NF S96-900 standard) that manages the storage of 'Toxoplasma gondii' strains (protozoan parasite) and strain derivatives from human or animal toxoplasmosis to make them available to the scientific community.

Ethical Tissue (ET) is a Research Tissue Bank specialising in researcher led prospective collection of tissues. ET does not focus on specific conditions nor is it restricted in who it can supply. We consider requests for any type of tissue, including biofluids such as blood, serum, plasma and urine, from researchers in academia or industry from any part of the world. Tissues and biofluids are collected under generic and lasting consent, maximising reuse/sharing potential. ET also provides tissue processing services including tissue micro-arrays from both fresh frozen tissues and FFPE blocks, primary cell cultures, subcellular fractions and DNA/RNA preparations. A list of banked tissues, including biofluids, cell lines and processed samples is available on the ET website. Funding statement: The major source of income for Ethical Tissue is through cost recovery. In addition the authors would like to acknowledge the ongoing support of the University of Bradford.

The Centre de Ressources Biologiques-Tumorotheque ICO is a biobank integrated in a clinical cancer center (ICO, Institut de Cancerologie de l’Ouest, Saint-Herblain, FR) that collects tissues (snap frozen, FFPE, TMA) and biological (serum, plasma, DNA, RNA, stools, etc) samples from oncology patients and dedicated to translational research. The biobank started its activities in 2002 and is certified NF S 96 900. Activities are framed by a quality management system with established and validated SOPs for all work procedures. Samples stored into the biobank are available for both academic as well as commercial researchers, through a defined access procedure. Currently the bioresources consist in more than 99.500 samples with informed consent and associated clinical data.