About Us
Human tissue samples play a vital role in medical research. We actively connect biobanks that collect these samples with biotech companies focused on developing new therapies, diagnostics, and vaccines.
About The Company
Overview
Biosample Hub, established on 12th March 2020, operates as a UK-based not-for-profit company (Company Number: 12514786). The not-for-profit status aligns with the non-commercial biobanks we serve.
Our Network
Our network, which includes around 100 biobanks from 18 countries, thrives particularly in North America, Western Europe, and Australia.
Resources in Other Languages
Academic Biobanks
Countries
Director
Dr Robert Hewitt
Biography
Educational Background and Early Career
Robert holds a medical degree from the University of London and a Ph.D. in Virology from the University of Glasgow. Initially, in 1998, he encountered biobanking at Hammersmith Hospital, London, where he helped establish a biobank that collaborated with major biotech and pharma companies. During this period, he read the Nuffield Council on Bioethics report on “Human Tissue: ethical and legal issues” which drew him to the idea of organizing biosample procurement on a non-commercial basis.
Career Highlights
Subsequently, between 2000 and 2009, Robert established biobanks in Riyadh and Singapore. He also became ISBER’s first non-US president, organized the first ISBER meeting in Asia (Singapore, 2007), and transformed the Cell Preservation Technology journal into Biopreservation and Biobanking. In recognition of his contributions, ISBER honored him with the Outstanding Achievement in Biobanking Award.
In 2010, Robert co-founded ESBB in France and organized annual biobanking conferences across Europe for seven years. The 2017 Stockholm conference, Global Biobank Week, stands out as a significant collaboration between ESBB, ISBER, and BBMRI, attracting 857 participants from 53 countries.
Founding Biosample Hub
In 2020, Robert launched Biosample Hub, an ethical online platform that facilitates industry researchers in accessing reliable human specimens. He drew upon his extensive experience at Hammersmith Hospital, ISBER, and ESBB to establish this platform.
For more details, visit Robert’s LinkedIn profile.
International Strategy Advisor
Dr Sakshi Setia
Personal Statement
“I am a medical professional with experience in policy design and execution for health programmes in both the public and commercial sectors. My medical degree is from Baba Farid University of Health Sciences in Faridkot, India, where I received a distinction and an academic achievement award. Throughout my studies, I got fascinated by the inner workings of health systems and the development of health policies across systems. So I went on to City, University of London to obtain a Postgraduate Certificate in Health Sciences, which I received with honours. Following that, I pursued an MSc in International Health Management at Imperial College London, where I graduated with distinction, once again.
I enjoy working with a range of stakeholders to understand their needs and then building solutions that are personalised to address them using a multidisciplinary approach. In the past year, I’ve done consulting work for a Nigerian digital health start-up, an NGO in Lebanon and, most recently, Qatar’s Ministry of Public Health. I am a strategic thinker, focused on designing and implementing systems that achieve improved health outcomes through evidence-based interventions.
Biosample Hub is an excellent online platform that connects biotech and pharmaceutical companies with non-profit biobanks while ensuring financial transparency. The ideals on which it is based, drew me in the most, particularly in terms of minimising any ethical issues about biobanking commercialization and bridging the gap between public and private sector human tissue sample providers. Bio-sample traceability is frequently jeopardised due to commercial interests. It’s vital to understand the ethical and scientific consequences of this.
I believe that by combining my abilities and knowledge with the rest of the Biosample Hub team, we will be able to develop an effective and sustainable strategy for this not-for-profit company and contribute to the global movement of uniting Biotechs and Pharma with non-commercial Biobanks.”
Biobanking Advisor
Mr Romain Belot
Personal Statement
“I am Romain Belot. I have a master’s degree in Health Engineering – Biobank Management.
I have always wanted to support research and participate in the improvement of human health.
I was an operational and quality manager at the Brest hospital where I was able to prepare and obtain ISO 9001 and ISO 20387 certifications. I was also able to participate in the technical direction of the CRB, in the management of the QMS.
I was also a consultant for a large pharmaceutical company where I participated in the management of imports, exports and regulations associated with biological resources.”
Biobanking Advisor
Ms Sandra Nanyonga
Personal Statement
Sandra Nanyonga is a research scientist specializing in biobanking with extensive experience in managing daily biobank operations and ensuring compliance with quality, regulatory, ethical, and legal standards. Her training across biobanks in Uganda, France, and Portugal has equipped her with a comprehensive skill set.
Currently finishing her Master of Science in Biobanks & Complex Data Management from Université Côte d’Azur and a Bachelor of Science in Biotechnology from Makerere University, Sandra has been recognized with awards such as the ELSI Young Researchers Award. As an active member of the International Society for Biological and Environmental Repositories (ISBER), she serves as a Regional Ambassador for the EMEA region and contributes to the Community Engagement Task Force.
Fluent in English and Luganda, with intermediate proficiency in French, Sandra is dedicated to advancing biobanking practices across the globe, particularly in Africa, with the goal of improving research quality and health standards across the continent
Advisory Panel
Dr Eng Chon Boon
Dr Eng Chon Boon, is the director for the Tissue Repository, National University Hospital (NUH) and runs the Hospital-based Cancer Registry (HCR) at the National University Cancer Institute (NCIS) and has an adjunct position in the Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health (SSHSPH), National University of Singapore (NUS). He is also the principal person-in-charge of tissue banks across the National University Health System (NUHS) public healthcare cluster and the lead PI for the Singapore Integrated Network of Biorepositories (SINB), an infrastructure network formed by academic tissue repositories in Singapore. He is the Singapore’s convenor for ISO//TC276 Biotechnology and in the editorial board of “Biopreservation and Biobanking” by Mary Ann Liebert.
He is a past recipient for International Society for Biological and Environmental Repositories (ISBER) special service award (2010) and had numerous voluntary responsibilities within the ISBER over the years (Councilor, Chair of the ISBER Marketing Committee, members of ISBER Finance, Nominating, Strategic Planning, Program Committee). He is also the Vice-chair of Local Organizing Committee for the 2007 ISBER Annual Meeting in Singapore.
He has numerous publications/book chapter/patent in the field of biobanking and had given talks, conducted biobanking workshops and consulted for various international biobanks over the past 15 years. For a list of biobanking activities and further info, please refer to the following:
Dr Rajeev Singh
Dr. Rajeev Singh, MD, MBA, is Director, Biorepository at Houston Methodist Research Institute, Houston, TX, USA. Dr. Singh is a trained pathologist, obtaining his basic medical and specialist degree in India and his MBA from USA. Dr. Singh has been a biobanker for last 15 years having worked across various positions in biobanks in Singapore and US.
Dr. Singh is an active ISBER member for last 15 years and has been involved with the Biospecimen Science, Standards and Finance committees of ISBER, currently and in the past. Dr. Singh has co-chaired sessions and led round table discussions on important biobanking issues in past ISBER meetings. Dr. Singh has been a part of the task force that reviewed the 4th edition of ISBER Best practices. Dr. Singh has delivered international talks on biobanking related topics and sits on the advisory panel for an Indian biobank. Dr. Singh has published/presented biobanking related articles and posters in various journals and conferences.
Dr. Singh’s focus areas in biobanking are biospecimen quality and donor perspectives. Dr. Singh is currently driving his biorepository towards CAP accreditation and is a certified CAP Biorepository Inspector.
Mr Barjinder Sahota
Mr Barjinder Sahota is a barrister practising at the independent Bar and a member of the Honourable Society of the Inner Temple, London. His practice address is at 7 Bell Yard, London, WC2A 2JR. He has a special interest in biobanking and has served on two committees, as a lay member, involving biobank access and research involving biobanking.
Dr Ray Perkins
Dr. Ray Perkins, PhD, is Founder and President of New Liberty Proteomics Corp., an organization whose unique mission is integration of Drug and Diagnostics development in support of Personalized (Precision) Medicine. NLP assesses the impact of disease and drugs on fundamental molecular and cellular activity. Areas of emphasis include development of network-based diagnostics for cancer and dementia. Dr. Perkins earned a PhD from Vanderbilt University where he was a research fellow for the Muscular Dystrophy Association, adapting magnetic resonance technologies to assessment and diagnosis of Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy. Recent activities include expert panelist for events such as “Medicines in the 21st Century” recently held in Wales, and multiple publications*, each of which has been downloaded thousands of times. In this era of the COVID pandemic Dr. Perkins is called upon in multiple capacities including evaluation of likely therapies and diagnostics.
* “Making the Case for Functional Proteomics”
“Proteases, Pivot Points in Functional Proteomics”
“COVID-19 Pandemic Surgery Guidance”
Dr Jeanne-Hélène di Donato
Jeanne-Hélène di Donato has been involved in biobank professionalization for almost 25 years, first as manager of the French AFM-Généthon biobank for a period of 14 years, then as a consultant for biobanks through her 3C-R Company for the past 15 years. She worked for many years on the establishment of best practices for Biological Resource Centres. For example, she was a Member of the French delegation to the OECD BRC Task Force and leader of the working group on best practice guidelines for human-derived material. She participated in the development of French law on management of collections and use of human samples for research. She is also co-author of French Standard NF S 96-900 for a biobank quality management system.
Today she is certified for her consulting activities (helping biobanks with their logistics, quality management systems, administrative, ethical and legal development requirements) and training missions. She is also an auditor (NF S 96-900, ISO 20387, ISO 9001). She is the manager of the largest francophone biobank network (125 biobanks are members of Club 3C-R) established to promote discussion, collaboration and problem solving, In addition, she is a lecturer on Master degree for biobank managers at the Catholic University of Lyon. She is a member of the French Ethical Committee for clinical trials, and also a member of Eurobiobank, ISBER and ESBB international biobanking networks.
Dr Fay Betsou
Dr Betsou (PhD, HDR) is Chief Scientific Officer at IBBL. She has 25 years of experience in molecular diagnostics, disease-oriented biobanking and biospecimen research, and 15 years of experience in ISO 9001 and ISO 17025 application to biobanks. She holds 3 patents, authored of more than 100 peer-reviewed publications and teaches in several biobanking training courses across Europe. She is the chair of the ISBER Biospecimen Science Working Group and of the Proficiency Testing Advisory Group and the Luxembourg national delegate in ISO REMCO and ISO TC276.
Mr Liam Burke Masterson
Liam Burke Masterson is a Clinical Partnership Manager at Genuity Science. One of his current key roles is to build longstanding mutually beneficial collaborations with clinicians and academic cohort custodians. Genuity Science is a contract genomics and data-sourcing, analytics and insights organization headquartered in Boston, Massachusetts, USA with offices in Dublin, Ireland and Reykjavik, Iceland. Genuity works in collaboration with clinicians, patients, academic researchers and global pharmaceutical companies to use the power of population genomics to discover pathways to new treatments and new diagnostics.
Liam has an M.Sc. in Project and Programme Management as well as extensive background in Biobanking having been a key member of the Qatar Biobank team from initiation stages through collaboration with Imperial College London towards biobank maturity. During this time, he gained extensive insight from biobanking experts including many of the leading international experts, including hands on experience such as disaster management, cryopreservation and transition to automaton. During this time Liam became involved with ESBB and ISBER and has continued to participate in the biobanking community. Liam spent over 7 years in the Middle East until returning to his native Ireland in 2018 to take up his current position with one of the leading genomics organisations.
Mr Daniel Uribe
CEO & Co Founder of Genobank.io, Serial Entrepreneur, +15 years experience in UNIX, Cybersecurity, Cloud Computing; +5 years experience in Blockchain & Smart Contracts. Recently specialized in the intersection of Privacy Laws, Genomics & Bioinformatics.
Holds BS Electronics Engineering, MBA from IPADE Business School, Executive Programs @ Stanford GSB, Singularity University; Data Science at Galvanize & RNAseq at EcSeq Bioinformatics GmbH (Berlin).
Mr Neil Mitchell-Clark
Neil is a Fellow and Lifetime Member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants (ICAEW) and has worked as a professional CFO, for many years, across a broad range of publicly listed and larger privately owned businesses.
He has been working as a Corporate Advisor since 2014, advising a broad range of businesses and NFP’s on strategic planning and development, performance improvement, turnarounds, workouts, managing insolvency situations, litigation support/expert witness, corporate governance, M&A, IPO’s, capital raisings and investor relations.
Acknowledgements
Special thanks are due to Mr Barjinder Sahota, a barrister at 7 Bell Yard, London, UK, for his excellent advice on legal and business development matters. Also, for his solid and continuous support for the Biosample Hub project.
Additional thanks to:
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Aberystwyth Innovation and Enterprise Campus (AberInnovation) for support through their BioAccelerate business development programme.
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Crowdfight for recruiting volunteers to help with the website development and language translations.
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CL Web Developers, Victoria, Canada, for help in website development. In addition, special thanks are due to Mr Paul Atkins for his extra voluntary support.
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AgorIP, Swansea University, Wales, UK, for business planning support.
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Social Business Wales for guidance on business planning.
Volunteer Program
Biosample Hub actively welcomes volunteers who wish to help run our not-for-profit service.
Invitation
Are you passionate about biobanking and eager to contribute to groundbreaking medical advancements? Biosample Hub invites you to join us as a volunteer ‘Biobanking Advisor’. This virtual volunteering opportunity offers flexibility, growth, and a meaningful impact.
Experience Required
- Bachelor’s degree in biological sciences
- Minimum of 3 years of experience in a hospital biobank
Key Responsibilities
- Enhancing Biobank Profiles: Work directly with specific biobanks to enhance their profiles and ensure accurate representation in our directory. This task involves email and Zoom communications with the biobanks.
- Biobank Recruitment: Actively recruit academic biobanks to join our platform.
- Sample Request Alerts: Notify member biobanks promptly about relevant requests to ensure timely responses.
What You Gain
- Training & Support: Receive comprehensive training and ongoing support through email, phone, and regular Zoom meetings.
- Learning Opportunities: Deepen your understanding of biotech companies’ human specimen needs and the challenges biobanks face in meeting these demands.
- Networking: Expand your professional network by collaborating directly with biobank representatives.
- Professional Growth: Enjoy flexible, remote work while gaining valuable experience in the biobanking sector.
Time Commitment
- Flexible hours: Commit a few hours per week or more, depending on your availability.
- Duration: Commit to a minimum of 6 months.
- 100% remote work: Contribute from anywhere in the world.
Additional Perks
- Volunteer Recognition: Although unpaid, your contributions will be acknowledged and valued.
- Webinar Hosting: Enhance your skills and visibility by helping to host our annual webinars and introducing esteemed speakers.
Embark on this rewarding journey with Biosample Hub, where your expertise can lead to significant advancements in medical science. Apply today and help us connect biobanks with the innovators shaping the future of healthcare.
Published Articles
Published articles explaining why biotech companies must have access to traceable human tissue samples and making the case for Biosample Hub
List
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
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
Please, Sir, May I Have Some Samples? The Medicine Maker, November 03, 2021
Biospecimen Procurement. Chemistry & Industry, September, 2021, p38
Why there is a blockage in the biosample system. Drug Target Review, September 24, 2021
Why Hospital Biobanks Should Supply Biotechs. Drug Discovery & Development, September 13, 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
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
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
Press Releases
Press releases about the launch of Biosample Hub
List
NE Connected, May 25, 2021
Health Tech World, May 13, 2021
Business News Wales, May 13, 2021
SME Business News, May 12, 2021
West Wales Chronicle, May 11, 2021
Manchester TV, May 11, 2021
PharmiWeb, May 11, 2021
OpenSpecimen, May 4, 2021
Lab Bulletin, May 3, 2021
The Daily Brit, May, 2021
Business In The News, May 2021
Healthcare Newsdesk, April 27, 2021
London News Today, April 27, 2021
Eminetra, April 27, 2021
Herald Wales
Kent Business Radio
All Post News
News From Wales
