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