Belgium
Belgium’s scientific participation in BBMRI-ERIC was initiated in 2013 by merging the three existing Belgian network biobank initiatives. The activities of BBMRI.be are coordinated from the coordination office located at the Belgian Cancer Registry.
All relevant biobank topics are addressed by more than 60 biobank experts in the six working groups of BBMRI.be (IT, ELSI, Quality, Sustainability, Stakeholder Involvement, Networking & Valorisation). The BBMRI.be network currently connects 21 Belgian biobanks linked to public institutions such as hospitals, universities and research centres. More about bbmri.be
Top 3
Areas of expertise
Clinical biobanks
Healthcare integrated biobanking
Quality management of samples and data
Top 3
Achievements
ISO20387 audit training: In November 2025, BBMRI.be organised a two-day training for biobank staff to become quality auditors for ISO 20387 in collaboration with BBMRI-ERIC
Validation of the BIOCOST model: The BIOCOST model previously developed within the Sustainability Working Group was validated by nine BBMRI.be biobanks. The results of the validation were written down in a manuscript that was submitted to “Biopreservation and Biobanking”.
Overarching QM manual: The first version of the overarching QM manual was finalised in collaboration with the National Nodes from Germany, Switzerland and Poland.
Achievements linked to calendar year 2025
National Node Director: Annelies Debucquoy
✉️ Email: annelies.debucquoy@kankerregister.org
🔗 Web: https://www.bbmri.be/