Briefly in English
What are biobanks?
A biobank is a collection of human samples (e.g. tissue, blood, cells, extracted DNA) that is linked to the sample donor’s health data (with the informed consent of the donors). Samples for clinical studies and diagnostic purposes have been collected throughout the history of medicine, but in the new biobank concept, defined by the Biobank Act, the collected samples can be used for a variety of future research needs, not just for a defined specific research purpose as previously. Furthermore, the new research results are obliged to be returned to the biobank that further enriches its data set.
Biobanks are key resources for unravelling the molecular basis of disease subtypes, identification of new therapeutic targets and biomarkers – all of which lead to personalized healthcare and more effective treatment strategies via translational medical research. Especially the digitalization of biological samples and generation of big data will create great opportunities to develop new forms of treatment, targeted drugs and health services.
Biobank Borealis of Northern Finland
Northern Ostrobothnia Hospital District, the University of Oulu, NordLab and the hospital/healthcare districts of Lapland, Länsi-Pohja, Central Ostrobothnia and Kainuu have established a biobank in Northern Finland. The Finnish biobanks collaborate via the national Finnish Biobanks Co-operative FinBB and BBMRI.fi (Biobanking and Biomolecular Resources Research Infrastructure) network.
CONTACT INFORMATION
Phone:
+358 (0)40 504 9025 (Mon-Fri 9am–3pm)
Email:
biopankkiborealis@ppshp.fi
Biobank staff emails:
firstname.lastname@pohde.fi
Postal address:
Pohjois-Suomen biopankki Borealis
Pohjois-Pohjanmaan sairaanhoitopiiri
PL 10
90029 POHDE
PROJECT MANAGEMENT AND RESEARCH COLLABORATION
Anne-Mari Moilanen
Pia Nyberg
Heljä-Marja Surcel, Finnish Maternity Cohort
Hanna Öhman, Finnish Maternity Cohort
QUALITY MANAGER
Johanna Korvala
BIOMEDICAL LABORATORY SCIENTISTS
Sini Korhonen
Sara Kuusiniemi
Susanna Nylander
DATA SCIENTISTS
Elli Heikura
Juha Kivelä