Quality should be built into every stage of the biospecimen lifecycle rather than assessed only at the end. This session explores risk-based quality management, process design, validation, certification, accreditation and evidence-based practices that support reliable biobanking. It examines how these approaches improve biospecimen quality, researcher confidence and interoperability, while helping biobanks demonstrate competence and adapt to emerging technologies. EQA, proficiency testing and interlaboratory comparisons will be highlighted as tools for harmonisation and continuous improvement.

As the European Health Data Space reshapes health data governance, how can biobanks enable secure and responsible international data sharing? This session explores practical approaches at multiple levels, from individual biobanks to National Nodes and the European Open Science Cloud (EOSC). It addresses regulatory frameworks, GDPR compliance, cross-border collaboration and trusted research infrastructures, highlighting strategies that facilitate data access, interoperability and international research while respecting ethical, legal and governance requirements.

Biobanking increasingly connects clinical, veterinary and biodiversity research, creating opportunities for collaboration across disciplines. This session explores how shared quality standards, harmonised procedures and interoperable data practices can bridge these fields. It will highlight approaches to ensuring reliable, FAIR-compliant biospecimens and datasets, supporting data exchange and cross-sector research. By connecting human health, animal welfare and ecosystem conservation, the session demonstrates how integrated biobanking can advance scientific discovery and address shared global challenges.

This session explores how education, training and capacity building can make biobanking future-proof. It addresses the skills and competencies needed for emerging technologies, quality, ethics, data, stakeholder engagement and sustainable biobanking, while highlighting lifelong learning, mentoring, knowledge transfer and capacity building across institutions, sectors and countries. The session asks how biobanks can invest in people today to remain resilient, innovative and impactful tomorrow.

Reproducible science begins long before the analytical assay – with the biospecimen. This session explores new evidence and methods for understanding and controlling preanalytical variability, alongside practical approaches to improving biospecimen quality and research reproducibility. It welcomes innovative biobank operations, programmes and workflow solutions that strengthen standardisation, traceability and consistency from sample collection to downstream analysis. By connecting advances in preanalytics with real-world biobanking practice, the session highlights how biobanks can contribute to more reliable data and reproducible biomedical research.

Digital biobanks are transforming how biospecimens and associated data are collected, managed and accessed. This session explores emerging digital infrastructures, cloud-based platforms, automation and innovative governance models that enhance scalability, interoperability, data integration and researcher access. It will highlight practical solutions for streamlining workflows, strengthening data security and supporting sustainable operations, showcasing how digital transformation can improve efficiency, facilitate collaboration and prepare biobanks to meet the evolving needs of biomedical research.

This session explores the unique challenges and scientific value of disease-specific biobanks, spanning rare disease cohorts, complex conditions and infectious disease outbreak response. It will address key issues such as sample scarcity, specialised collection strategies, data integration and rapid information sharing. Speakers will highlight practical solutions and international collaborations that strengthen research capacity, facilitate scientific discovery and accelerate the development of improved diagnostics, treatments and patient outcomes in these specialised fields.

This session explores how academic biobanks and industry can create long-term value for research, healthcare and innovation. It addresses opportunities and challenges in public–private partnerships, including biospecimen and data access, standardized processes, quality and regulatory requirements, governance, intellectual property, contracting and sustainable funding. Successful collaboration models will illustrate how transparent frameworks, shared standards and clear expectations build trust, enable scalable partnerships, strengthen biobanking infrastructures and accelerate translation from research into application.

How do we know whether a biospecimen is suitable for its intended downstream use? This session explores the shift from process-based quality assurance towards measurable, evidence-based assessment of fitness for purpose. Topics include molecular and functional quality indicators, DNA/RNA integrity, haemolysis, proteomic and metabolomic signatures, cellular viability, acceptance criteria, assay-specific quality control and retrospective qualification of stored samples, highlighting how these approaches build confidence in biospecimen suitability for research and analytical applications.

Moving from principles to implementation, this session explores practical strategies for making biobank data Findable, Accessible, Interoperable and Reusable (FAIR), including through the European Open Science Cloud (EOSC). It will showcase real-world examples, address common challenges and highlight solutions that improve data quality, accessibility and usability. The session will demonstrate how FAIR practices can strengthen research collaboration, facilitate data sharing and maximise the long-term scientific value of biobank collections.

Biobanks provide essential infrastructure for advancing personalised medicine and public health by enabling the integration of high-quality biospecimens with genomic and clinical data. This session explores how well-characterised samples and interoperable data support tailored diagnostics, treatment strategies and population health research across Europe. It will highlight opportunities for biobanks to facilitate precision medicine, strengthen research collaboration and translate scientific discoveries into improved healthcare, while addressing the importance of data quality, accessibility and responsible use.

This session invites biobanks, start-ups, SMEs and technology companies to present innovative solutions for biobanking and biomedical research. Topics include automation, digitalisation, AI, data integration, sample processing and quality management. It will explore how biobanks can identify unmet needs, test emerging technologies and scale promising solutions within established infrastructures. By connecting biobanks with innovators, the session highlights how agile partnerships can accelerate innovation and create sustainable value for research and healthcare.

As biomedical research advances, biobanks are expanding beyond conventional collections to include diverse biospecimens and biological models. This session explores emerging specimen types, including liquid biopsies, extracellular vesicles, microbiome samples, single cells, organoids, stem cells and 3D models. It addresses challenges in collection, processing, preservation, quality assessment, storage and distribution, highlighting innovative methods, technologies and biobanking models that enable reliable integration of advanced biospecimens into research infrastructures and support emerging biomedical and translational applications.

Interoperability is essential for enabling collaborative research at scale. This session explores standards, ontologies and technical approaches that allow biobanks to exchange, harmonise and integrate data effectively across diverse infrastructures. It will showcase successful initiatives, practical solutions and lessons learned from connecting biobank resources, highlighting how interoperable systems can improve data discoverability, facilitate cross-institutional collaboration, support international research and maximise the scientific value of biospecimens and their associated data.

Clinical biobanks can play a key role in drug repurposing by connecting high-quality patient samples with multi-omics data and real-world evidence. This session explores how these resources support the identification of new therapeutic uses for existing medicines. Drawing on REPO4EU’s approach, it will highlight the biobanking infrastructure, data integration and collaborative research needed to accelerate drug discovery, validate therapeutic opportunities and translate scientific findings into improved treatment strategies for patients.

This session explores how patients, researchers, healthcare professionals, industry and policymakers can be meaningfully engaged throughout the biobank lifecycle, from design and sample collection to data use, research and governance. It highlights patient and public involvement, co-creation and stakeholder dialogue, alongside strategies for building trust and transparency. Practical examples will demonstrate how incorporating diverse stakeholder perspectives can strengthen the relevance, acceptance and impact of biobanking and ensure research better reflects societal needs.

Preserving biospecimen integrity and long-term value remains a key challenge for biobanks. This session explores advances in cryobiology and biopreservation, including innovative technologies, cryoprotective strategies, freezing and thawing methods, and preservation of viable cells, tissues and complex biological models. It addresses storage conditions, long-term stability, freeze–thaw effects and the assessment of legacy collections, highlighting approaches that maximise sample quality, functionality and scientific value, alongside emerging technologies shaping the future of biobanking.

Discover how artificial intelligence is transforming the use and value of biobank data beyond traditional collection and storage. Through real-world examples and interactive discussion, this session explores practical applications, opportunities and limitations of AI for enriching datasets, improving data quality and research readiness, and uncovering new insights from existing biobank resources. It will highlight how AI-driven approaches can support data integration, accelerate discovery and strengthen the contribution of biobanks to biomedical research.

Longitudinal and population cohorts provide valuable insights into health, disease progression and ageing through repeated biospecimen collection and long-term follow-up. This session explores how initiatives such as the INTEGRATE Large Medical Cohorts support population health research through robust cohort design, sustained participant engagement and effective data linkage. It will highlight how integrating high-quality biospecimens with longitudinal clinical and health data can strengthen research, identify disease patterns and advance understanding of long-term health trends.

This session showcases success stories demonstrating how biospecimens and associated data contribute to scientific breakthroughs, new diagnostics, therapies, clinical applications and public health. It explores how knowledge generated through biobanking can be translated into research, healthcare, industry and society. The session highlights key enablers of successful translation, including collaboration, accessibility, high-quality samples and data, sustainable infrastructures and effective knowledge transfer, while examining how biobanks can better demonstrate and communicate their scientific, clinical and societal impact.

Automation and emerging technologies are transforming biospecimen collection, processing, preservation, storage and management. This session explores robotics, automated processing and aliquoting, high-throughput storage and retrieval systems, smart monitoring, advanced tracking and identification technologies, and integrated laboratory workflows. It highlights innovations that improve efficiency, traceability, consistency and biospecimen quality, welcoming practical examples of how new technologies can help biobanks become more reliable, scalable and prepared to meet the evolving demands of biomedical research.

How can researchers analyse data across countries and institutions while respecting local governance? This session explores federated analysis approaches that enable collaborative research while data remain with their custodians. Speakers will share practical examples, technical solutions and governance challenges, highlighting lessons learned from connecting biobanks across different infrastructures and regulatory environments. The session will examine how federated approaches can support secure data use, strengthen international collaboration and enable trustworthy research at scale.

Biobanks play a vital role in advancing oncology research, from tumour and liquid biopsy collection to biomarker discovery and validation. This session explores how high-quality biospecimens, robust quality standards, sample traceability and integrated clinical and molecular data support precision oncology. Speakers will highlight innovative approaches and collaborative initiatives that strengthen cancer biomarker research, improve data reliability and facilitate translation into clinical applications, supporting ISOBM’s mission to advance cancer biomarker science and personalised medicine.

This session explores how ethical, legal and social implications (ELSI) can be translated into practical approaches across the biobank lifecycle. Topics include consent, data protection, governance, access, return of results, secondary use, benefit sharing, equity and emerging challenges related to digitalisation and AI. Drawing on practical experiences and stakeholder perspectives, the session will highlight implementable solutions that support responsible innovation, maintain trust and enable valuable research in everyday biobank practice.