A biobank is a collection of human samples (tissue, blood, cells or for example extracted DNA) that is linked to the sample donors health data (with the informed consent of the donors and following strict data protection principles). Biobanks are key resources for unraveling the molecular basis of disease subtypes, identification of new therapeutic targets and biomarkers – all of which lead to personalized healthcare and more effective treatment strategies via translational medical research. The Biobank Act enables the establishment of a biobank in Northern Finland, which will take place in 2014. The Northern Finland Biobank will offer the research community an access to professionally maintained sample collections linked to clinical data and accumulating research data as well as sample storage, management and datamining infrastructures. More information in English starting from September 1^st 2013 from www.biopankki.fi and in Finnish from the link below.

Pohjois-Suomen biopankki