Working Groups

ESBB Working Groups are composed of members who join forces in order to identify and tackle important, unresolved issues in the biobanking field. Their goal is to provide strategies for addressing these issues and to develop the tools that will address them.

Dr. Ayat Salman

SOCIAL MEDIA WG

Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Twitter and more. The truth is: “Social Media is a platform for real networking, growth and engagement for any venture irrespective of the industry” Scion social. So how is social media important for us and our biobank community? Together, we aim to: increase awareness for biobanking and its potentials and inform, educate, engage and involve patients & public within ESBB focus areas and form strong partnerships for the patient’s benefit

Co-Chair & Mentor: Dr. Ayat Salman, McGill University Health Centre, Canada

Anna Michalska-Falkowska

ACADEMIC & INDUSTRY COOPERATION WG

Our aim (formerly ESBB Translate) is to bring together ESBB members and pharma/biotech industry representatives in order to identify, elaborate and promote academic-industry co-operations. We will identify the needs of Industry, what the biobanks can offer and how both Industry and academia can ensure they are ready to work together when the need arises. We focus on appropriate documentation, contract needs, sample & data requirements, and regulatory aspects.

Chair: Anna Michalska-Falkowska, Medical University of Bialystok, Poland

Prof. Christoph Brochhausen Delius

Valentina Colcelli

Rosita Kammler

REGULATORY, ETHICS & GDPR (ELSI) WG

To provide a voice and exchange on regulatory and ethics issues, including GDPR, and its implications on biobanking and research.

Co-Chair: Prof. Christoph Brochhausen-Delius, Regensburg University, Germany
Co-Chair: Valentina Colcelli, Institute CNR_IFAC, Italy
Mentor: Rosita Kammler, International Breast Cancer Study Group (IBCSG)European Thoracic Oncology Platform (ETOP), Switzerland

Dr. Ronny Baber

Agnieszka Matera Witkiewicz

QUALITY MANAGEMENT WG

Quality of biosamples, data and biobanking processes is critical for excellence of biomedical research. It determines the future success of repeatability and reproducibility of the scientific experiments resulting in the creation and development of new biomedical outcomes. The work group will be focused on developing and improving the knowledge regarding quality aspects based on best practices and dedicated standards for biobanks. The key points will be concentrated on biobanks accreditation and certification processes to ensure the conformity with the highest quality and safety standards.

Co-Chair: Dr. Ronny Baber, Leipzig Medical Biobank – University Leipzig, Germany
Co-Chair: Agnieszka Matera-Witkiewicz, Head of Wroclaw Medical University Biobank , Poland

Anna Michalska-Falkowska

SUSTAINABILITY TASK FORCE

This task force (TF) addresses sustainability for biobanks on all levels with the aim for financial and infrastructural sustainability. We work on concepts on how to reach sustainability for individual biobanks while addressing this substantial topic overall with authority bodies, funding agencies and politicians nationally and on the EU level. For more information and activities, please visit this TF’s domain or contact the TF chair.

Chair: Rosita Kammler , International Breast Cancer Study Group (IBCSG)European Thoracic Oncology Platform (ETOP), Switzerland