ESBB and BBMRI-ERIC formalise closer collaboration

Prof. Jens Habermann, Director General of the Biobanking and BioMolecular Research Infrastructure (BBMRI-ERIC),and Dr. Dominik Lermen, Outgoing President of The European, Middle Eastern & African Society for Biopreservation and Biobanking (ESBB), signed a historic memorandum of understanding between their organisations at the recent Europe Biobank Week (EBW) Roadshow Meeting & Exhibit in Regensburg, Germany.

Strengthening collaboration

ESBB, an international non-profit organisation located in Brussels, Belgium, and BBMRI, a European research infrastructure consortium based in Graz, Austria, have a long history of fruitful collaboration. Despite the numerous challenges of the past two pandemic years, the strength of this collaboration has only grown, through a series of events including the Annual Europe Biobank Week which is the foremost congress for biobanking in Europe.

Each organisation represents diverse biobanking interests and shape both the European and international biobanking landscape. The efforts of Dr. Lermen and the ESBB leadership, and Prof. Habermann and his team, have been driven by the dual interests in advancing the biobanking and biomolecular fields to benefit society.

Formalising cooperation

This successful history of collaboration culminated in signing a historic memorandum of understanding, designed to further stimulate mutually beneficial exchanges between ESBB and BBMRI-ERIC.

Both organisations agree to plan and carry out diverse collaborative activities, ranging from future EBWs, joint symposium and workshops to increased efforts in public affairs, and joint applications for EU funding calls.

While ESBB and BBMRI-ERIC have carried out many successful joint activities in the past, the act of signing this formal document further solidifies the firm commitment of both organisations to continue to advance biobanking and shape the biobanking landscape around the world.