Biopankki Borealis

For researchers

How Biobanks can facilitate scientific research?

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. Samples for clinical studies and diagnostic purposes have been collected throughout the history of medicine, but in the biobank concept, defined by the Biobank Act (688/2012), the collected samples can be used for a variety of future research needs, not just for a defined specific research purpose as previously.

Therefore, the sample collections in biobanks enable a broader use of the material and researcher do not need to set up laborous sample collections themselves if the material is already available in biobanks. Furthermore, the new research results are obliged to be returned to the biobank that further enriches its data set. Via the network of Finnish biobanks large enough sample sets even for the studies for rare diseases can be obtained.

Diagnostic FFPE tissue samples

The sample archive transferred from Pathology department of the Oulu University Hospital includes 1 800 000 pathology tissue and cell samples beginning from 1979. In addition, the pathology archives of four central hospital starting from early 90s are included in the Biobank Borealis collections.

Finnish Maternity Cohort serum samples

The Finnish Maternity Cohort (FMC) collection contains over 2 million serum samples, collected from mothers living in Finland during their pregnancies. The FMC material was transferred to Biobank Borealis in fall 2017. Based on the FMC sample material, hundreds of scientific articles and doctoral dissertations have been published since 1985.

On-going collection of blood samples

A growing collection of blood samples (serum, plasma, whole blood, cell-free DNA) collected from people who have signed a prospective consent to participate in Biobank Borealis.

DNA samples and genomic data

The blood samples collected from people who have signed a prospective consent to participate in Biobank Borealis are being isolated to DNA and GWAS sequences from the FinnGen project (www.finngen.fi) are available to the research community.

Fresh frozen tissue samples

On-going collection of fresh frozen tissue sample pairs of tumor and normal tissue.

Cerebrospinal fluid samples

On-going collection of cerebrospinal samples.

The biobank can assign samples and related data only for high-quality health science research and development.

You can make a feasibility request on sample availability by using FINGENIOUS® service . You can also contact Biobank Borealis directly, Biopankkiborealis@ppshp.fi. If needed, you can also get assistance with the study design, particularly with the FMC collection.
The sample and data request can be done by using FINGENIOUS® service. You can also contact Biobank Borealis directly, Biopankki@pohde.fi
A Scientific Committee will evaluate all sample and data requests.  Specifically, the Scientific Committee evaluates the scientific level, significance and ethicality of the research project. The amount of requested material will be assessed in relation to the number of available samples and the criteria for selecting the samples for the research project are defined. Based on the decision of the Scientific Committee, the Medical Director decides on the transfer of the material.
Following a positive decision, a Material transfer agreement (MTA) with the researcher’s organization will be signed, and then the data and samples can be transferred.  At the end of the study, the analyzed results related to the samples and / or the raw data will be returned to the biobank as stated in the Material transfer agreement.
Upon completion of the project, the new primary research results will be returned to the biobank for future research use. The results of the study must also be published, e.g., in a scientific peer-reviewed journal.

Chair 

Minna Ruddock, Docent, Research Director, Northern Finland Birth Cohorts, University of Oulu (vice Juha Auvinen, Professor)

Members 

Outi Uimari, Docent, Specialist in Gynaecology, Oulu University Hospital (vice Elina Keikkala, PhD, University researcher, Specialist in Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Oulu University Hospital)
Jukka Moilanen, Professor, Chief Physician, medical genetics,  Oulu University Hospital  (vice Outi Kuismin, Associate Chief Physician, Oulu University Hospital)
Juha Väyrynen, Docent,  University researcher, Specialist in Pathology, Oulu University Hospital and University of Oulu
Joonas Kauppila, Professor, gastrosurgery,  Oulu University Hospital and University of Oulu  (vice Juha Saarnio, Professor, gastrosurgery, Oulu University Hospital and University of Oulu)
Mirva Saaranen, Docent, Faculty of biochemistry and molecular medicine,  University of Oulu (vice Peppi Karppinen, Professor, Dean, Faculty of biochemistry and molecular medicine, University of Oulu)
Jenny Joutsen, PhD, Medical Cell Biologist, Wellbeing Services County of Lapland (vice Anna Hyvärinen, MD, PhD, Mehiläinen)
Jussi Koivunen, Docent, Specialist in oncology, Oulu University Hospital  (vice Katri Selander, Docent, Specialist in Oncology, Oulu University Hospital)
Johanna Magga, Docent, pharmacology, University of Oulu (vice Jukka Hakkola, Professor, pharmacology, University of Oulu)
Eeva-Riitta Savolainen, Docent, Head of section, laboratory medicine, Nordlab (vice Katri Pylkäs, Professor, Nordlab and Oulu University)

Presenting official

Raisa Serpi, Director of biobank Borealis, Docent, Oulu University Hospital (vice Pia Nyberg, Docent, Planning Manager, Oulu University Hospital)

Secretary

Anne-Mari Moilanen, PhD, Project Manager of biobank Borealis, Oulu University Hospital (vice Pia Nyberg, Docent, Planning Manager of biobank Borealis, Oulu University Hospital)

Meetings of the Scientific Committee
(Last day to submit the material in parentheses):

SPRING 2025:

23.1. (7.1.)
20.2. (3.2.)
27.3. (10.3.)
24.4. (7.4.)
22.5. (5.5.)
12.6. (26.5.)

AUTUMN 2024:

22.8. (5.8.)
19.9. (2.9.)
17.10. (30.9.)
21.11. (4.11.)
12.12. (25.11)

The Biobank offers the research community:

Opportunity to obtain large sets of high-quality sample materials (collected and stored in controlled conditions) linked to e.g., various clinical data, data from national registries and genome data.
A preliminary feasibility mapping or study of the research materials can be conducted cost-effectively in the early stages of the research project.
In addition to that, biobank Borealis offers various services related to e.g., research infrastructures and collaboration possibilities:
Digitalization of tissue samples: hardware and related services in Whole Slide Imaging/Digital Pathology
Planning and production of tissue microarray (TMA) blocks
Processing and analysis of samples
Histological processing of tissue samples
Isolated DNA
Support with study design and registry linkages
Support with obtaining permissions
- - File the Biobank request form for access of FMC samples and data including register based data from biobanks, health registers and hospital archives
  - applications for requested ethical and register approvals
Collection of biobank consents, samples and related data in collaboration with researchers
Provision of infrastructure and tools related to the storage, management and search of samples and data

A preliminary feasibility mapping or study of the research materials can be conducted cost-effectively in the early stages of the research project.

The fees for the services are based on a price list negotiated on a case-by-case basis.

For researchers

How Biobanks can facilitate scientific research?

Fingenious® – Your Gateway to Finnish Biobanks and Biomedical Research

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