The GBN is the umbrella organisation for academic biobanks in Germany and coordinates the German Biobank Alliance (GBA) – a network of biobanks at 36 locations and one IT development. The GBA biobanks establish common quality standards and make their human biosamples and associated data available for biomedical research. As the German representative in the European biobank network BBMRI-ERIC, GBN promotes the harmonisation and networking of biobanks in Europe.

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In the latest podcast episode of the German Biobank Node (GBN), Dr Stefanie Houwaart, patient representative at BRCA-Netzwerk e. V. and member of the GBN Scientific Advisory Board, is our guest. She will provide insights into patients&#39; expectations of biobanks and explain why strengthening academic biobanks is of particular importance to them. The important question is how biobanks can advance medical research and what role patients can play in this.In the interview, Stefanie Houwaart emphasises that increased patient participation in the entire research process is essential in order to make research more relevant to patients. She also talks about her motivation for working on the position paper recently published jointly by GBN and patient organisations. This paper advocates greater involvement of patients in biomedical research projects and the sustainable promotion of academic biobanks. (This podcast is available in German.)

Stefanie Houwaart on the GBN Podcast: Patient participation in biomedical research

https://s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/pod-public-media-files/2024/1/23/7/373d885f-5c2d-4bc7-907a-7489067b3123_podcast_mh_kopie.mp3

Prof. Dr. Michael Hummel has led the German Biobank Node (GBN) since its inception and has had a significant influence on the development of biobanking at national and international level. In 2024, the renowned molecular pathologist will hand over the management of the GBN to a newly elected board. He will continue to serve as a strategic advisor to the GBN during a transition period. In the podcast, he gives an insight into his experiences from ten years at the centre of the biobank umbrella organisation and talks about his wishes for its future. (This podcast is available in German.)

Michael Hummel on the GBN Podcast: Reflecting on ten years of shaping GBN

The GBN is the umbrella organisation for academic biobanks in Germany and coordinates the German Biobank Alliance (GBA) – a network of biobanks at 36 locations and one IT development. The GBA biobanks establish common quality standards and make their human biosamples and associated data available for biomedical research. As the German representative in the European biobank network BBMRI-ERIC, GBN promotes the harmonisation and networking of biobanks in Europe.