The European Research InfrastructureThe European Research Infrastructure
for Biobanking and Biomolecular Resources for Biobanking and Biomolecular Resources
(BBMRI): (BBMRI):
Preparatory Phase and European ContextPreparatory Phase and European Context
Eero Vuorio, University of Turku, Finland
September 2009
Preparatory Phase Grant Agreement Preparatory Phase Grant Agreement 212111212111
A concise history of biobanking in A concise history of biobanking in EuropeEurope
• Many European countries have a long history of epidemiological research using population cohorts and surveys; large sample collections
• Health records and health-related registries• Collections of human-derived biological
samples and data are national and often too small for modern genetic analyses (insufficient statistical power)
Biobanks in Medical Research
NCI: Biological sampels are #1 roadblock
700,000 Cancer deaths
(North America; 2007)
Cancer Genome Project struggels with sample shortage (Nature Medicine 2007)
ELSIFragmentation
FundingTechnical
Follow-up
BBMRI
Biobanks are a unique EuropeanBiobanks are a unique Europeanstrength in biomedical research, but strength in biomedical research, but they suffer from…they suffer from…
• their heterogenous history: lack of common standards, different ownership of samples, different access rules & concent practices
• heterogenous European ethical and legal landscape, and langauges
• different data protection practices• lack of sustainable funding ChallengesChallenges
ESFRI – European Strategy forESFRI – European Strategy forResearch InfrastructuresResearch Infrastructures• First Roadmap for Research Infrastructures: BBMRI • BBMRI-PP (Preparatory Phase), EU fundingAims: • Assessment of existing resources and technologies• Concept for integration and operation• Prototype• Infrastructure with sustainable funding
and agreed standard operating procedures and access rules
183 Associated organisations 28 Countries
50 Participating institutions
Preparatory phase 27 months
Funding 5 mio €
The pan-European Scale of BBMRIThe pan-European Scale of BBMRI
Key Components of BBMRIKey Components of BBMRI
Fam. historyLab. param.
Treatm. outcomeLifestyle
PBMC
Serum
FFPEtissues
Frozentissues
Cells
AntibodiesAffinity binders
Recomb. proteins
Gene clone collections*
siRNA libraries*Cell lines*
Model organisms*
Sample storage
Human biological samples and data
HealthyPopulation
Patients
Analysis tools Application
Basic research
Life sciences
Targets for
Drug discovery
Biomarkers for
Drug development
New diagnostics
Personalized medicine
Public health
Infrastructure
Data storageBiocomputing
DNA
*: ESFRI BMS report but not funded
Possible Legal Structure of BBMRI (ERIC)
Distributed hub and spoke structure
National members
Biobanks
Biomolecular res.
Technology centers
Associated partners
Hospitals
Universities
Service providers …
Secretariat
(statutory seat)
Organization (prep phase)Organization (prep phase)
Governance council(participants, ass. organizations)
Executive
Management
Disease-oriented
Biobanks
WP3
Biomolecular resources
Technologies
WP4
Data bases
Biocomputing
WP5
Advisory boardStakeholder
forum
Funders
Patients
Clinicians
Industry
Partners
Users
Science
Industry
ELSI
E L S I
WP6
Population-based
Biobanks
WP2
Participants Participants
Funding
Financing
WP7
Participants
Coordination board(external projects)
Project
Management
WP1
Steering committee(WP leaders, chairs)
Str
ate
gic
Execu
tive
Op
era
tive
Participants
Participants Participants Participants
The BBMRI Team: WP Leaders and ChairsThe BBMRI Team: WP Leaders and Chairs
Coordination/Executive Mgmnt. K. Zatloukal, AT; E. Vuorio, FI
M. Yuille, UK; M Pasterk, FR
Population-based Biobanks: L. Peltonen, FI/UK; A. Metspalu,EE
Disease-oriented Biobanks: E. Wichmann, GER, T Meitinger, GER
Biomolecular Resources: U. Landegren, SE; M. Taussig, UK
Databases & Biocomputing: J-E Litton, SE
Ethical, Legal and Societal Issues: A. Cambon-Thomsen, FR
Funding and Financing: G. Dagher, FR; J. Ridder, NL
C. Brechot, FR;
Governance Council Chair: L. Peltonen, FI
Advisory Board Chair: G-J van Ommen, NL
Coordination Board Chair: K. Zatloukal, AT
Stakeholder Forum Chair: M. Griffith, IR
51 Participants (6 Ministries, 18 Funding Organizations)
210 Associated Organizations 30 Countries
Synergies of BMS Synergies of BMS Research InfrastructuresResearch Infrastructures
EATRIS
ELIXIR
INFRAFRONTIER ECRIN
BBMRI
INSTRUCT
Target Id
Target Val Hit Lead
LeadOptim Preclininc Phase I Phase II
Research Discovery Development
Phase III
e-Infrastructure
EMBRC EISBIEU OpenScreen
Euro Bio-Imaging
BSL4Laboratories
B i o b a n k i n g
B i o i n f o r m a t i c s
PP projects
1st update of roadmap
Emerging infrastructures
The New Dimension in Life Sciences Research
networks
networks
networks
resources, technologiesservices
Individual research groups
pan-European research infrastructures
Access
CompetitionInnovation
CollaborationIntegration
HarmonizationInnovation
circle
Why is BBMRI so important?Why is BBMRI so important?
• Modern biomedical research is dependent on high-quality samples and analytical tools, and on data that can be linked to the samples:– For basic research– For diagnostic purposes– For improved (molecular) classification of diseases– For development of now drugs and therapeutic
concepts („Personalized medicine“) • Access to high quality resources, technologies,
services, education and training• Partner for academia and industry
Global interactions of the Global interactions of the Biobanking CommunityBiobanking Community• European Science Foundation, ESF (Science Policy Briefing,
2006)• European Commission: Funding for BBMRI• Interactions with FP5, FP6 and FP7-funded projects (e.g.
PHOEBE, BIONET), P3G (Public Population Project in Genomics) and ISBER (International Society for Biological & Environmental Repositories)
• OECD: Global Biological Resource Centre Network• WHO/IARC: Standards for biological resource centres