Biobank network
A biobank is a collection of biological samples which are of human origin and include information on the donor’s state of healthcare. The samples are stored in the biobank for biomedical research purposes.
Finnish biobanks collect samples and donor-related health information from consented sample donors typically during regular laboratory and hospital visits or for specific research cohort collections.
Finnish biobanks adhere to stringent quality standards and legislation, utilising state-of-the-art techniques for sample collection, management, storage, and dissemination. Biobank sample donors provide broad consent, permitting the use of their samples and associated data in various biobank research projects. Consequently, this framework eliminates the need for researchers to obtain separate consent from the patients for each individual study, streamlining the research process while ensuring ethical compliance.
If you are interested in utilising the samples and/or data collected by the Finnish biobanks for your research, please visit the Fingenious service portal managed by the Finnish Biobank Cooperative – FINBB. This service is an easy way to check the availability of suitable samples and related data.
There are currently eleven registered biobanks in Finland. The Finnish Medicines Agency Fimea directs and supervises the biobank activities in Finland and maintains a national biobank register. In Finland, biobank activities are regulated by the Biobank Act (688/2012), which entered into force on 1 September 2013. Only a registered biobank may engage in biobanking activities regulated by the Biobank Act.
Read more about the Finnish biobanks through these links: