The portal aims to foster greater collaboration and utilization of biobanks, which are valuable repositories of biological samples and associated health data.
The portal addresses common barriers such as different national legislation and lack of awareness, making it easier for researchers and healthcare professionals to use these resources. Developed in collaboration with the European Biobanking Research Infrastructure (BBMRI-ERIC), the portal provides detailed profiles and search functionality to support research and innovation efforts. Both BBMRI-ERIC and EIT Health are partners in the European Partnership for Personalised Medicine (EP PerMed). Biobanks and health data registries are invited to make information about their services easily available to other companies and collaborators by adding them to the platform.
In conjunction with the portal, EIT Health offers an online course titled “Unlocking Health Data: Navigating Biobanks for European Collaboration.” This six-week program provides foundational knowledge on the practical, legal, and ethical dimensions of biobanks. It includes engaging video modules, interactive sessions, and expert guidance, culminating in a certificate upon completion.