A match-making platform to promote ethical access to human biospecimens: mission, vision and values

Mission – Vision – Values

Mission: To connect Biotechs and Biobanks directly, for sample sharing with traceability

Vision: A global movement uniting Biotechs with non-commercial Biobanks

Values: Free communication | Sample traceability | Not-for-profit

How Companies Benefit

  • Direct contact with a large network of non-commercial biobanks. 
  • 100% of the biobanks want to work with industry

  • 75% of the biobanks provide prospective collection

  • You know where your biospecimens come from (traceability is ensured)

  • No contractual restrictions

  • Financial transparency
  • Platform is simple to use
  • Free attendance at all Biosample Hub conferences and meetings

How Biobanks Benefit

  • We place you in direct contact with biotech companies
  • We introduce you to more biotech companies 
  • We provide a free service
  • You are free from ethical concerns
  • You are free from contractual restrictions
  • You have free attendance at all Biosample Hub conferences and events
  • Our platform is free and easy to use

Global Access To Human Biospecimens

Biosample Hub is an expanding global network of biobanks and companies. At last count, there were approximately 80 biobank members and 20 company members.

Translated guides:

Suppliers of human biospecimens from around the world

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Why is Biosample Hub not-for-profit?

Biosample Hub serves not-for-profit biobanks. So being not-for-profit is in keeping with this role.

In addition, there are strong arguments against organising procurement of human biospecimens along commercial lines. These arguments are given in the following document. Nuffield Council on BioEthics entitled ‘Human tissue: ethical and legal issues’. See pages 50 to 53.

Furthermore, commercial interests often lead to reduced sample traceability. It is important to realise that this has ethical and scientific consequences. Hofman et al, 2017.

What does not-for-profit mean?

Biosample Hub is a company limited by guarantee, without share capital. So we have no shareholders. Moreover, in the articles of incorporation, we specify the payment of fair and proper wages. We also specify how we will apply surplus funds and distribute assets on dissolution (articles 5, 56, 62 and 65). See records at Companies House.

How is Biosample Hub sustained financially?

The annual subscriptions paid by company members provide the necessary funding.

What is the geographic scope of Biosample Hub?

Biosample Hub is global in its operations and connects providers and requesters of human biospecimens from around the world. Accordingly, members are from North and South America, Europe, the Middle East, Asia and Australasia.

Articles Explaining Why Biosample Hub Is Needed

February 2022

Biospecimen access for Biotechs: quality, provenance, and “taking pot luck”. The Pathologist, February 14, 2022

Why there is a block between bench and bedside. Neoconnected.co.uk, February 11, 2022

January 2022

Crises can’t be dealt with until they are recognised. Pharmiweb, January 5, 2022

November 2021

Why Biotechs Lack Biospecimens With Adequate Provenance. International Clinical Trials, November 2021

Why Public Sector Biobanks Must Support Biotech Companies. Clinical Researcher, November 16, 2021

Dealing with a crisis requires recognising it. Neoconnected, November 11, 2021

Please, Sir, May I Have Some Samples? The Medicine Maker, November 03, 2021

October 2021

Are The Business Practices Of Commercial Biospecimen Brokers Conducive To Reliable And Ethical Biospecimen Procurement? Business Mondays, October 12, 2021

Biosamples: The need to recognise a crisis. Healthcare Newsdesk, October 08, 2021

A crisis in biotech? ScientistLive, October 01, 2021

September 2021

The biosample industry crisis in waiting. Health Tech World, September 30, 2021

Biospecimen Procurement. Chemistry & Industry, September, 2021, p38

Why there is a blockage in the biosample system. Drug Target Review, September 24, 2021

Biobanks, Biotechs and the Need to Recognize a Crisis. Technology Networks, September 21, 2021

Why Hospital Biobanks Should Supply Biotechs. Drug Discovery & Development, September 13, 2021

The Challenges of Biosample Access and What Needs to Change. Labmate Online, September 10, 2021

The Challenge Of Solving A Huge Biotech Problem. Published in:

Wellbeing Insider, September 6, 2021

Biotech Asia News, September 6, 2021

Global Pharma Times, September 8, 2021

Lifesciences India, September 6, 2021

August 2021

The Obstacles To Hospital Biobanks Supplying Biotechs. CPOstrategy, August 27, 2021

Biosample Provenance – What Researchers Need to Know and What Needs to Change. Labmate Online, August 10, 2021

Why Hospital Biobanks Need To Supply Industry – and Why There Is a Blockage in the System. Technology Networks, August 9, 2021

July 2021

Connecting Biobanks With Biotech and Pharma Successfully. Technology Networks, July 20, 2021

Fix the pipeline for biological samples. ResearchProfessional News, July 14, 2021

Biosample Hub: making biobanks more accessible to industry. Health Tech World, July 6, 2021

Why the system for biospecimen procurement is broken. Drug Target Review, July 5, 2021

Are the business practices of commercial biospecimen brokers conducive to reliable and ethical biospecimen procurement? Business In The News, July 2021

The Business of Biospecimen Procurement needs to be Revised. The Journal of mHealth, July 5, 2021

Are the business practices of commercial biospecimen brokers conducive to reliable and ethical biospecimen procurement?. Healthcare Newsdesk, July 2, 2021

Do Commercial Biological Sample Broker Business Practices Help Procure Reliable and Ethical Biological Samples? Eminetra, July 2, 2021

June 2021

The problem with biospecimen procurement. Scientist Live, June 28, 2021

Biosamples – business vs ethics. Health Tech World, June 24, 2021

We need to talk about biospecimen procurement. Manufacturing Chemist, June 24, 2021

Can business interest and reliable and ethical biospecimen procurement coexist? Pharmiweb.com, June 24, 2021