BBMRI-ERIC DIRECTORY 3.3 IS NOW AVAILABLE

BBMRI-ERIC is pleased to announce availability of the BBMRI-ERIC Directory 3.3, which brings interesting new features that allow for fine-grained and more accurate representation of the biobanking infrastructure: collections and biobank networks. Based on the MIABIS 2.0 standard, the biobanks now describe only the institutional aspects of biobanks, while all the samples and data are provided via collections embedded in biobanks. The collections allow biobanks to describe in more detail what sample sets and data sets are available, in order to better meet the needs of users browsing and searching the Directory. Furthermore the Directory can now capture how biobanks are organised into biobank networks, indicating what properties are shared by them and which institutional biobanks host collections for multiple biobank networks.

On top of the content of the Directory 2.0, the new release of Directory 3.0 also includes data for imaging, biobank capabilities and basic quality metrics.

WHAT IS BBMRI-ERIC DIRECTORY?

What it is?

• A tool to share aggregate information about the biobanks that are willing external collaboration

Who is it for?

• Biobankers: 
  • Do you want to increase your biobank visibility? BBMRI-ERIC Directory is where to publish information about yourself and your biobank.
  • Do you want to share experiences with fellow biobankers? BBMRI-ERIC Directory is where you find contact information.
• Researchers:
  • Are you looking for samples or related data? BBMRI-ERIC Directory will help to you to spot relevant biobanks and get their contact information.
  • Are you looking for an infrastructure to store samples for your research? BBMRI-ERIC Directory will help you to indentify such facilities and get their contact information.
• Patients, donors, and their organizations:
  • Are you interested in knowing which biobanks store specific samples or in obtaining general information about certain biobanks? You can browse and search for them in the BBMRI-ERIC Directory.

What it is NOT?

• Full infrastructure for sample query processing (this will be available later as a part of the BBMRI-ERIC infrastructure)

How to get included

BBMRI-ERIC operates on the basis of a federated model, composing of National Nodes. Therefore if you wish to register your biobank in the Directory, please contact your National Node. You will then be advised with regards to next steps, following which your biobank and relevant data will be integrated into the BBMRI-ERIC Directory.

Should you require assistance with getting in touch with your respective National Node or have any further questions about the Directory, please do not hesitate to contact us our Helpdesk. We will do our best to address any questions you may have.