BBMRI-ERIC — Biobanking and Biomolecular Resources Research Infrastructure

Overview

BBMRI-ERIC (Biobanking and Biomolecular Resources Research Infrastructure, European Research Infrastructure Consortium) is the European research infrastructure for biobanking, connecting national biobank networks across 25 members and observers as of 2024 to enable standardised biological sample and data sharing for biomedical research. Established as an ERIC in December 2013 under ESFRI coordination with headquarters in Graz, Austria, BBMRI-ERIC provides the governance, standards, and IT infrastructure that allow researchers to discover, access, and use biological samples and associated data from biobanks across Europe.

Structure

National Nodes

BBMRI-ERIC operates through national nodes in each member country. BBMRI-ERIC.fr (BIOBANQUES) is the French national node and federates French biobanks including AP-HP biological resource centres and research biobanks. BBMRI-ERIC.nl (Netherlands) includes population biobanks such as Lifelines and the Netherlands Twin Register. BBMRI-ERIC.de (Germany) coordinates the German Biobank Alliance. BBMRI-ERIC.se (Sweden) is one of the founding member nodes. Austria is the host member state, with the central coordination office in Graz.

Key Services and Tools

The BBMRI-ERIC Directory is a federated catalogue of European biobanks and collections, enabling researchers to find samples matching their inclusion criteria. The BBMRI-ERIC Negotiator is an access negotiation platform connecting researchers with biobank data access committees, implementing GA4GH DUO for consent terms. The GBA (Generic Biobank Application) is an open-source biobank LIMS for sample tracking and management.

Data and Metadata Standards

BBMRI-ERIC promotes standardised metadata and data models across its network. MIABIS (Minimum Information About BIobank data Sharing) is the BBMRI-ERIC metadata standard for describing biobanks, sample collections, and study designs. OMOP CDM is the recommended common data model for clinical and phenotypic data associated with biobank samples. HL7 FHIR is used for clinical data exchange between biobanks and EHR systems. VCF is the standard for genomic variant data, and Phenopackets (GA4GH) is used for structured phenotype-genotype descriptions.

ESFRI Cluster

BBMRI-ERIC is part of the ESFRI Health and Food Research Infrastructure cluster together with ELIXIR, EATRIS, ECRIN, and Euro-BioImaging. These five ERICs collaborate on integrated life science research infrastructure for translational medicine.

Connections

• ESFRI cluster: ELIXIR, EATRIS, ECRIN, Euro-BioImaging
• Access governance: GA4GH (DUO for consent term machine-reading)
• Partners with: IRDIRC, BNDMR

Resources

• https://www.bbmri-eric.eu
• https://directory.bbmri-eric.eu (BBMRI-ERIC Directory — biobank catalogue)
• https://negotiator.bbmri-eric.eu (Negotiator — access request platform)
• https://www.miabis.net (MIABIS metadata standard)