The quality of biological samples and associated data is a major issue in biomedical research. It allows to achieve a reliable and robust diagnosis and research.

The IT Expert Service provides services and tools to meet researchers needs

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BIOBANQUES includes a community of lawyers and ethicists who invest their ideas and expertise in the improvement of ethical standards for healthcare practice and biomedical research.

BIOBANQUES and Genopole acquired a platform developed by Imagene, providing an alternative method for the DNA storage at room temperature and based on the encapsulation of desiccated DNA under anhydrous argon in tightly sealed corrosion-proof metallic capsules. This robotised technology fully protects samples against water, oxygen, light and any atmospheric pollutant which would damage DNA molecules if present in the container. The innovative platform allows robotised processing of DNA samples from extraction to encapsulation, as well as automated qualitative and quantitative analysis.

The applicant must complete the Biospecimen request form and returns it by mail to the national infrastructure BIOBANQUES. BIOBANQUES after checking and possibly request for clarification from the applicant, spreads the request to its national network at first and then Europe if necessary. Biological resource centres (BRC) that can meet the demand inform BIOBANQUES. The applicant must complete the additional information and returns it to BIOBANQUES (biobanques.siege@gmail.com) transmitting the BRC that responded positively. Both parties (applicant and BRC) agree on the terms of access and cooperation as well as the complementary characteristics of samples and associated data. The applicant shall inform the infrastructure of the request’s progress.

In order to increase the knowledge of regulations within biobanks, the Biosafety and Biosecurity Expert Service provides basic training, harmonised documents and initiatives in this field. - Publications In coordination with the French society for microbiology, this service initiated a “national educational repository for biosafety and biosecurity” project in 2012 and drafted a guide of good practices and recommendations for laboratories that have obligations in terms of biosafety and biosecurity (1st French version out of stock – 2nd version in English planned for 2017). - A training session is scheduled in conjunction with the annual seminar of the National Network of Biotox-Piratox Laboratories.

The methodology and statistics unit helps researchers with their projects from conception, management to data analysis. The area of the Methodolgy & Statistics expertise includes - Clinical trials - Cohort studies - Biomarkers validation - Identification of therapeutic targets