Germany

The German Biobank Network (GBN) unites academic biobanks at 38 sites that collect human biosamples to make them available for biomedical research across Europe. The network ensures harmonised quality standards and facilitates access to high-quality biospecimens and associated data. Funded through the Network of University Medicine (NUM) by the German Federal Ministry for Research, Technology and Space (BMFTR), GBN serves as Germany’s National Node of BBMRI-ERIC. In July 2025, the former German Biobank Node and the German Biobank Alliance merged under the new name, reflecting GBN’s role as a central infrastructure for university medicine. More about BBMRI.de.

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Areas of expertise

Integrated research support: Biobanks provide broad, high-quality bioresources and increasingly support multicentre studies, industry collaborations and translational research.

Quality management: Germany hosts one of Europe’s strongest biobank quality ecosystems, with multiple DIN EN ISO 20387-accredited biobanks and several recipients of the BBMRI-ERIC Quality Label.

Public engagement and outreach: GBN biobanks actively engage citizens through open days, science festivals and educational programmes.

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Achievements

Strategic integration and consolidation: In 2025, GBN was integrated into the Network of University Medicine (NUM) and consolidated under the name German Biobank Network (GBN), reinforcing its role as a central infrastructure for academic biobanking in Germany.

Biobank platform initiative: Building on the inclusion of a ‘National Biobank’ in Germany’s coalition agreement, GBN mobilised a broad alliance of academic, political and industry stakeholders and co-developed a national platform concept, positioning the network for major new funding and implementation from 2026 onwards.

Network growth: GBN expanded its national reach by welcoming new member biobanks in Munich, Ulm and Magdeburg.

Achievements linked to calendar year 2025