IHBT Biobank

The Biobank of the IHBT Prague is a research infrastructure that stores rare samples from patients with hematopoietic disorders and samples from healthy individuals. It also receives samples historically stored in the freezers of individual departments of the Institute and samples collected for specific research projects. Samples are processed at the Central Receiving and Processing Unit for Biobanking according to the defined type of material for a given diagnosis.

The Biobank itself is located in the underground premises of Hall D. In early 2023, two Askion C-line® robotic systems were commissioned here, in which samples are stored in liquid nitrogen vapour. Historical samples for biobanking originally stored in liquid nitrogen are currently being transferred to the smaller Askion C-line HS200-M system. At the same time, the robot is being filled with prospective samples coming from the outpatient clinics of our clinicians. After half a year of filling, the smaller robot holds almost 2000 samples for biobanking, including 1363 frozen leukocytes, 165 plasma samples and 290 DNA samples. The biobank also has an ASKION C-line® Work bench freezer, which allows for safe sample handling and programmed freezing.

In the course of 2023, the biobanked samples database - a new module within the existing UNIS system - was optimised in cooperation with the IT department of the Institute of Biological Sciences and Steiner, s.r.o. This database links information on stored samples with clinical and laboratory data of the patient.

Since 1 January 2023, the Biobank of the Institute of Biomedical Research in Prague has been a member of the BBMRI.cz biobanking network (https://www.bbmri.cz/cs). It is the Czech national node of the European network of biobanks BBMRI-ERIC and a large research infrastructure supported by the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports ("MEYS"). The involvement of the Biobank ÚHKT Praha in the projects of the BBMRI.cz network enables its state-of-the-art equipment, including the necessary automation. IHBT Biobank plans to offer its samples through the BBMRI Directory. This is the largest biobank catalogue, currently offering a selection of 1418 collections from 412 organisations.

A new laboratory for Central Receiving and Processing of Biobanking Samples will be completed in 2024 as part of the renovation of Building B. This laboratory will be equipped with an automated "liquid handling system" that will increase the quality and uniformity of sample processing and minimize the occurrence of human error.

Accreditation of the Central Sample Receiving and Processing Facility for Biobanking and Biobanking to ISO 20387 is planned for the end of 2023.

The aim of the Biobank of the IHBT is to automate laboratory processes processing primary patient samples for long-term preservation and to digitally integrate clinical and laboratory data for individual samples. Thanks to efficient IT tools, it will be possible to efficiently search for samples according to the required parameters relevant for research projects.