Manchester University: developing biobank infrastructure.
The Centre for Integrated Genomic Medical Research, based in the School of Translational Medicine will develop the Biobanking and Biomolecular Resources Research Infrastructure alongside scientists and funding agencies in other European member states.
This infrastructure will link new and existing biobanks across Europe, with the cost of construction estimated at around €170 million.
The initial planning phase, lasting two years and costing Euro 5 million will decide if the infrastructure should comprise a number of physical buildings in locations across Europe, whether a virtual infrastructure would be the best option, or a combination of both.
Martin Yuille, Reader in Biological Resource Management and associate coordinator for the planning phase, said the European biobanking infrastructure is as important to biomedical science as CERN is to physics.“It will counter fragmentation in Europe that is impeding access to valuable resources essential for translating the human genome sequence into health benefits.”
Manchester is host to the UK Biobank, a project to study of how genes and lifestyle contribute to health and disease. It also leads the UK DNA Banking Network, the biobanking facility that manages UK samples and associated data from key priority diseases, such as cancer, mental health, heart disease, ageing and diabetes.
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