The BBMRI-ERIC community has developed several original initiatives that make a significant contribution to the life sciences. These are described below.
Directory
The BBMRI-ERIC Directory is the central catalogue for discovering samples, data and servicesavailable across BBMRI-ERIC’s biobanks and biomolecular resources. Researchers can search aggregate descriptions of collections and identify resources relevant to their studies, including services such as prospective collection or analytical capabilities. The Directory builds on the MIABIS Core data model and controlled vocabulary and is implemented using MOLGENIS EMX2. Its operation and continued development are supported through BBMRI-ERIC’s Common Service IT (CS IT). Home: BBMRI-ERIC Directory
Federated Platform
The BBMRI-ERIC Federated Platform is a vendor-neutral environment supporting federated discovery and analysis, primarily of data and samples, while sensitive individual-level data remain under local governance. You can read the Federation Platform Data Protection Concept here. Different technologies can therefore serve different scientific communities: Locator supports FHIR-based discovery, Finder is being redeveloped for OMOP data, cohort communities use DataSHIELD, and the genomics community contributes to approaches based on GA4GH Beacons. BBMRI-ERIC also contributes to standardisation of federated search APIs through ISO/TC 276/WG 5; the forthcoming ISO 25999 is being developed for cross-network discovery of human biological material and associated data.
Further information and how to connect your biobank to the Federated Platform.
Locator
The BBMRI-ERIC Locator enables detailed, privacy-preserving federated discovery of samples and associated data represented using HL7 FHIR. Participating sites operate a Bridgehead as a local connector component, allowing harmonised data to be queried while remaining under the governance of the originating institution. The central search interface is based on the open-source Samply Lens toolkit, developed for federated exploration of medical data. Locator is operated and further developed as part of BBMRI-ERIC’s Common Service IT, which also supports onboarding participating sites. Lens is explicitly used to build the BBMRI-ERIC Locator. Home: BBMRI-ERIC Locator
Finder
The BBMRI-ERIC Finder is currently being redeveloped to enable federated discovery of biomedical data represented using the OMOP Common Data Model (OMOP CDM). The new implementation aims to make harmonised OMOP data distributed across participating institutions searchable without requiring sensitive individual-level information to be centralised. Finder will complement the FHIR-oriented Locator, allowing the vendor-neutral Federated Platform to support communities using different established data models and technological approaches. Technology preview: BBMRI-ERIC Finder
Negotiator
The BBMRI-ERIC Negotiator supports the facilitation of access to samples, data and other services provided by biobanks and biomolecular resources. This extends beyond retrospective sample and data access to capabilities such as prospective sample or data collection, analytical services and other specialised service provision. Once potentially relevant resources have been identified, Negotiator provides a structured environment in which researchers and providers can refine requirements, exchange information and agree conditions for provision. The ultimate decision on access remains with the relevant resource provider or data custodian. Home: BBMRI-ERIC Negotiator
MIABIS
MIABIS – Minimum Information About BIobank data Sharing – is a community-driven, component-based standard supporting interoperable representation of biobank information. MIABIS Core provides aggregate descriptors for biobanks, their collections, related research resources and networks and underpins services such as the BBMRI-ERIC Directory. The individual-level Sample, Sample Donor and Event components standardise how granular data are represented when biobanks connect to the BBMRI-ERIC ecosystem, particularly the Federated Platform. Recent development of these individual-level models has increasingly moved towards HL7 FHIR as a systematic modelling and exchange framework. Home: MIABIS on GitHub
DUC/CCE – Digital Use Conditions and Common Conditions of use Elements
The DUC/CCE community develops interoperable, machine-readable approaches for describing conditions governing the use and reuse of samples and data. The work originated in the European Joint Programme on Rare Diseases (EJP RD), where the Digital Use Conditions (DUC) schema and the first Common Conditions of use Elements (CCE) were developed. DUC provides a structured representation of conditions of use, while CCEs provide atomic concepts that can be combined to express specific permissions, obligations and restrictions. BBMRI-ERIC supports their further development and integration into its interoperability ecosystem. Home: DUC/CCE Profile Creator