Biobank Day 2025

 Photography by Thijs Rooimans

Keynote: Biobanks as pillars of precision medicine 

The highlight of the day was the keynote lecture by Prof. Willem Ouwehand (University of Cambridge). He provided a convincing overview of how biobanks and biorepositories are shaping precision medicine in the UK. By illustrating how biobank-derived data is used in research and healthcare, he offered a forward-looking perspective on the role of biobanking in improving patient outcomes and driving medical breakthroughs. 

Exploring ethics, legislation, and patient involvement 

The event kicked off with a session on Ethical, Legal, and Social Implications (ELSI) & Patient. Harrie Storms (VWS) provided an update on the evolving biobank legislation in the Netherlands, while Susanne Rebers (Health-RI) explored the impact of the European Health Data Space (EHDS) on biobanking. Their insights sparked a lively discussion on the future of data governance and patient rights in research. 

Quality and standardization of biomaterials 

The second session focused on the quality of biomaterials in biobanking. Hilde Brouwerd (Erasmus MC) showcased the progress in pre-analytic standardization for cell-free DNA. Roeland Nieuwenboer (Raad voor Accreditatie) outlined the significance of biobank accreditation under the ISO 20387 standard and its national and international context. Chiel de Theije (MUMC) then showcased how quality management frameworks in the Netherlands connect to European biobank networks through BBMRI-ERIC. 

Leveraging biobank data for research and innovation 

The afternoon sessions explored biobank and cohort data and its applications. Niek van Ulzen (Health-RI) presented the developments of a metadata standard for the National Health Data Catalogue and the involvement of the biobanks & collections community in the progress. Patrick Kemmeren (Princess Máxima Centrum) presented NL-4C, a pioneering cloud-based platform for sharing pediatric cancer genomes, which is set to expand from 100 genomes today to over 4,000 in 2027. Luc Builtjes (Radboudumc) concluded the session by demonstrating how Large Language Models (LLMs) are transforming healthcare research, providing examples of their safe and effective use. 

Rapid-Fire pitches: showcasing biobank- and cohort- initiatives 

The event wrapped up with an engaging pitch session featuring short presentations on key biobank or cohort initiatives: 

• Miranda Beekman (LUMC) on the National Cohorts Consortium, a nationwide infrastructure for population health sciences.
• Johan de Rooij (Urimon) on longitudinal blood and urine collection for early disease detection and health monitoring.
• Eric Vermeulen (Health-RI, CCMO) on the BBMRI-ERIC Stakeholder Forum.
• Janet Vos (Health-RI) on BBMRI.nl and European collaborations in BBMRI-ERIC.
• Annelies Wind (St. Antonius Ziekenhuis) on the Biobank of Interstitial Lung Diseases. 

Citizen science and biodiversity in biobanking 

The final session highlighted citizen-driven biobank initiatives. Fred Verdult (Lymefonds) emphasized the importance of patient registries for Post-Acute Infectious Syndrome (PAIS) and advocated for stronger collaboration between researchers and patients. Closing the day, Joop Schaminée (Wageningen & Radboud University) presented a national living biobank for plants, highlighting efforts to protect the Netherlands' native flora. 

The 2025 Biobank Day provided valuable insights and facilitated discussions on key developments in biobanking. The sessions underscored the role of biobanks and cohorts in medical research and patient care while strengthening collaboration within the Dutch and European biobank community. We hope to see you again next year! 

For downloadable presentation slides in English click here. 

For more information, contact international@health-ri.nl