Human Biospecimens For Research
The Biosample Hub platform provides ethical access to human tissue samples for research, and it provides something more: human biospecimens with reliable provenance information. In addition, biotech and pharma companies can use this platform to communicate directly with non-commercial biobanks who can provide them with human biospecimens direct from the source.
For Companies: Access To Human Biospecimens With Provenance
For Biobanks: Direct Access To Industry
Biosample Hub makes biobanks visible to industry, through its simple and appealing platform. The platform also enables biobanks to contact companies directly, to discuss provision of human tissue samples for research. What’s more, the service is free of charge. Furthermore, it provides freedom from ethical concerns. As has been noted above, Biosample Hub offers complete financial transparency. In addition it allows full traceability of samples. Another key point is that the service is free of any contractual restrictions.
For Patients: Donated Tissue Samples Are Put To Good Use
Patients expect that researchers will use the tissue samples they donate for medical research. Significantly, Biosample Hub helps to ensure that patient expectations are met in two main ways:
(1) Improved biobank discoverability by companies that research new drugs, diagnostics, and vaccines. Accordingly, this results in less wastage of donated samples.
(2) Improved sample traceability that enables biobank staff to track the samples they provide. As a result, donors can have greater confidence that researchers will use their samples appropriately.
Mission: Improve Access To Human Biospecimens
Mission: To connect Biotech and Pharma companies with non-commercial Biobanks, in order to allow the ethical provision of reliable human biospecimens with full provenance information
Vision: A global movement uniting Biotechs and Pharma with non-commercial Biobanks
Values: Free communication | Sample traceability | Not-for-profit
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.
Why Biosample Hub Is Needed: Articles Making The Case
February 22
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 22
Crises can’t be dealt with until they are recognised. Pharmiweb, January 5, 2022
November 21
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 21
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 21
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 21
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 21
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 21
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