International Biobanking Education

International Biobanking Education

One of the largest clinical biobanks in Europe is located at Med Uni Graz. The Biobank Graz stores about 20 million biological samples and corresponding data and provides them for research purposes. As we have gained many years of experience in the multidisciplinary field of biobanking, we offer different educational opportunities for international biobankers.

  • Various biobanking courses:
    • a biobanking course for those who are involved in setting up a new biobank (Basic-Course) and
    • a biobanking course for those who are advancing the activities of established biobanks (Advanced Kurs)
    • a course "Sustainability in Biobanking" (incl. Team Management and Project Management in Biobanking)
  • distance learning Master course “MSc CE Biobanking”
  • Individual training possibilities as well as guided tours are offered upon request

For more information about the respective courses please see below.

Teaching Language:

The teaching language of all courses offered under the heading "International Biobanking Education" is English.

Forscherin

How to build a biobank (Basic)

This interactive course has been designed for all those who are involved in setting up a new biobank, who look to collaborate with a biobank or research institute, who face the challenges of a growing biobank or who try to overcome the challenges of maintaining a large biobank.

The format of this course is a mixture of presentations and discussion sessions allowing participants to learn from the expert advice and the specific experience of their peers. Bring your questions with you for discussion.

  • Next date:  30.09.2024 - 01.10.2024
  • Time:         8.30 a.m. - 1.30 p.m. (CET) - each day
  • Cost:          300 Euro
  • ONLINE via WEBEX

At a glance

  • Language: English
  • Teaching Method: 80 % lecture and 20 % discussion
  • Location: ONLINE via Webex

This course is set up to

  • Deliver the theoretical, operating and hands-on comprehensive knowledge essential to enable the activities of emerging and established biobanks.
  • Transfer best practices for biobank personnel, investigators, clinicians and interested personnel.
  • Encourage exchange of knowledge and skills across different biobanking activities from biospecimen preservation and storage to science and research.
  • Enhance research quality in and public awareness of biobanks.

Insights

  • Definitions and types of biobanking, what and how
  • Governance types and possibilities
  • Biobanking ethics, privacy, informed consent and data security
  • Design and services of a biobank
  • Cost calculation and funding
  • Quality management and process improvement
  • Sample collection and processing (Fluid and Tissue)
  • Sample storage and retrieval
  • Biobank data systems and records management
Biobank

How to Operate a Biobank (Advanced)

This course has been designed for all those who have already set up a biobank and want to operate a biobank successful. On the basis of lectures and various practical examples, the participants learn how a quality management system in a biobank can be implemented or adapted and quality control and assurance can be improved. A further course content is sample workflow advancement in a biobank through automation. The indispensable topics data management and IT systems for biobanks will be taught through practical examples, such as the development of URDs (user requirement documents) for biobanking software. For the sustainability of a modern biobank it is essential to know how a business plan can be developed. This course will also focus on the most important tools, which should be included in a business plan. Therefore the participants will gain insight into designing of a meaningful collection strategy and the implementation of additional services of a biobank.

  • Next date:  14.10.2024 - 18.10.2024
  • Time:        
    • Day 1 - Day 3:  8.30 a.m. - 3.30 p.m. (CET) each day
    • Day 4 - Day 5:  8.30 a.m. - 11.30 a.m. (CET) each day
  • Cost:          750 Euro
  • ONLINE via WEBEX

Overview

At a glance:

  • Language: English
  • ECTS: 1
  • Teaching Method: 70 % lecture and 30 % group work & discussions
  • Location: ONLINE via Webex

This course is set up to

  • Deliver theoretical, operating and practical comprehensive knowledge to enable the activities of current and emerging biobanks
  • Transfer best practice principles on this topic for biobank personnel, investigators, clinicians and interested personal
  • Encourage exchange of knowledge and skills across on the topic via group works and discussions

The format of this course is a mixture of presentations and group works with discussion sessions allowing participants to learn from the expert advice and the specific experience of their peers. Therefore, bring questions with you for discussion!

Insights

Inisights: Quality Management, Control and Assurance

These lectures have been designed for all those who are implementing or adapting a quality management system in a biobank or want to improve their quality control and quality assurance processes. Participants will gain insight into different processes of quality measures in a biobank. Another objective is to give an overview of different standards and definitions of quality, with particular focus on the implementation of CEN/TS standards in a modern biobank.

The format of this course is a mixture of presentations and group works with discussion sessions allowing participants to learn from the expert advice and the specific experience of their peers. Therefore, bring questions with you for discussion!

 

Insights:

  • Quality management in biobanking
  • Quality assurance and quality control in biobanking
  • Standards and definitions of quality
  • Implementation of CEN standards in a modern biobank

Insights: Sample Workflow and Automation

These lectures have been designed for all those who are implementing or adapting the sample workflow of a biobank or want to advance the sample workflow through automation. Participants will gain insight into the numerous processes of a sample workflow. Objective is to give an overview of collection & storage of biological samples in a modern biobank workflow, with particular focus on handling and processing (automation/safety/documentation). Furthermore, the students will be provided with skills that will help dealing with different storage systems and retrieval of biological samples including documentation and monitoring.

The format of this course is a mixture of presentations and group works with discussion sessions allowing participants to learn from the expert advice and the specific experience of their peers. Therefore, bring questions with you for discussion!

 

Insights:

  • Collection of biological samples in a modern biobank workflow
  • Handling and processing of biological samples (automation/safety/documentation)
  • Storage and retrieval of biological samples (documentation and monitoring)

Inisights: Data Management and IT

These lectureshave been designed for all those who are implementing or adapting a data management and IT system in a biobank. Participants will gain insight into functionalities of databases in general and specifically in the field of biobanking. Further objective is the introduction into the topic IT development and operation in general as well as in the field of biobanking. This module will also focus on the development of URDs for biobanking programmes so that they are operational for IT experts.

The format of this course is a mixture of presentations and group works with discussion sessions allowing participants to learn from the expert advice and the specific experience of their peers. Therefore, bring questions with you for discussion!

 

Insights:

  • Functionalities of databases in general & in the field of biobanking
  • IT development and operation in general & specifically for biobanks
  • Development of URDs in general & on example of project management software of Biobank Graz

Insights: Business Plan for a Biobank/Cost Calculation and Services of a biobank

This lectues have been designed for all those who seek to develop a business plan and/or implement a cost calculation scheme for a biobank. Participants will gain insight into the basics of setting up a business plan: the structure of a business plan and the challenges in establishing a business plan specifically for a biobank. This module will specifically focus on the most important tools which should be included in a business plan. Furthermore, the complex requirements for cost recovery models for biobanks will be discussed and a concept of a calculation grid for biobanks will be introduced on the example of Biobank Graz.

The format of this course is a mixture of presentations and group works with discussion sessions allowing participants to learn from the expert advice and the specific experience of their peers. Therefore, bring questions with you for discussion!

 

Insights :

  • Development of a business plan
  • Tools for organisation & management of a biobank (e.g. SWOT analysis, marketing plan, stakeholder analysis…)
  • Cost accounting in general and in biobanks
  • Sustainability in general and for biobanks
  • Designing of a collection strategy – Dos and Don’ts
  • Project design, monitoring and management of research/collaborative projects
  • Defining and highlighting unique selling propositions (USPs) of biobanks

International Biobanking and Education is also partner in different European projects. The idea for this course and the course development has been developed within the two EU-HORIZON 2020 projects CY-Biobank and ARICE.

Team Forscher*innen

Sustainability in Biobanks

This course has been designed for those who work in biobanks and biobanking-associated research facilities. It is compiled to provide theoretical knowledge and practical skills concerning team management and scientific project management, specifically adapted to the diverse and multidisciplinary challenges prevailing in biobanks.

The format of this course This course includes a mixture of lectures, group works and discussion sessions. Participants will benefit from the knowledge and experience

  • Next date:  04.11.2024 - 07.11.2024
  • Time:          8.30 a.m. - 2.30 p.m. (CET) each day
  • Cost:           680 Euro
  • ONLINE via WEBEX

At a glance:

  • Language: English
  • ECTS: 1
  • Teaching method: 70 % lecture and 30 % group work
  • Location: ONLINE via Webex

This course is set up to

  • Successfully form (lead) a multidisciplinary team in biobanks and biobanking-related scientific facilities
  • Transfer knowledge and best practices on the individual topics, regarding both, general biobanking staff and personnel with scientific tasks
  • Encourage the exchange of knowledge and skills on the topics via group work and discussion, specifically addressing the individual needs of the participants

Insights

  • General
    • What is management
    • What is a project
    • What is project management
    • What is leadership (responsibilities)
    • What is a team, why is it important to act as a team
    • Team building activities and events
    • Motivating your team
  • Team Management Standards
    • How to communicate tasks
    • Define values/standards for internal and external communication
    • Communication tools and skills (which information and how)
    • Problems and mistakes
  • Knowledge Management
    • Competence matrix
    • A tool used to fulfill ISO 9001:2015 requirements
    • Can be used to oversee the key positions in the team and ensure sufficient competent/trained personnel and quickly respond to personnel changes
    • Strategies for knowledge management
    • Communication and documentation (to ensure that information is not limited to single employees (find the right amount of communication and information)
  • Documentation
    • How to structure large quantities of documents
    • Traceability of documents
    • Availability
  • Internal Communication
    • Can be defined in the QMS
    • Regular JF to inform the entire team
    • Adapted meeting structure to your specific needs (find the right dosage of meetings and information that needs to be exchanged)
  • External Communication (ethical and legal knowledge, trust-building, FAQs)
    • Defined communication with cooperation partners
    • Defined responsibilities
    • Patients and donors
    • Interested parties (how to handle requests, which information to provide)
    • Communication with stakeholders
  • Scientific Writing
    • Structure
    • Citation rules
    • What to consider (layout, rules for submission, …)
  • Research Proposals
    • What are your possibilities (what can you provide, what kind of collaboration do you need)
    • How to write a proposal
    • How to calculate a project
    • Legal and ethical limitations
Biobank

Individual Training & Support

Our team offers individual training and support in biobank development and biobanking. The expert know-how ranges from setting up/maintaining and expanding (international) biobanks to providing professional and educational support regarding

  • (International) collaboration possibilities
  • Management, quality management and communication
  • Sample workflow and automation
  • Business plan development
  • Ethical and legal issues
  • Technical requirements and IT
  • Sustainability and budgeting
  • Epidemology
  • Strategic (development) approaches and research

If you are planning to set up, improve or expand a biobank or seek to aquire expert know-how in the fields mentioned above, don’t hesitate to contact us. We will elaborate an individual development support plan.

Biobank

Master of Science CE Biobanking

The extensive international growth of biobanks requires the training of experts. The university course provides the knowledge required for the establishment, equipment, management and practical implementation of biobanks.

Further information

Projects

CY-Biobank

The CY-Biobank project will enable the concentration of a critical mass of experts at the CoE who will be thrilled to establishing collaborations and offering technology infrastructure and know-how to young investigators and medical doctors who are interested in pursuing innovative research projects.  Center of Excellence biobank.cy aspires to serve as an incubator of creative ideas for research based on valid and sound scientific hypotheses. At the CoE you will find postdoctoral fellows and graduate students working side by side with UCY faculty, medical doctors and other experienced researchers, pursuing projects of translational medicine, always aimed at serving the patient.

More information: https://biobank.cy

ARICE

This project aims at significantly strengthening the scientific and technological capacity of the linked institutions with a principal focus on the Yerevan State Medical University (YSMU), Armenia. The aim would be to enhance the YSMU research capacity in the field of infrastructure development for clinical genetic research, in particular targeting the collection and use of biological material, and the data integration for downstream analyses in relation to chronic, non-communicable diseases such as cancer. This will be achieved by networking the excellence from three leading research-intensive expert centres: the Medical University of Graz (Med Uni Graz), Austria; the Charles University (CU), Czech Republic; and the International Agency for Research on Cancer, World Health Organization (IARC/WHO).

More information: https://www.arice.am

TedXMeduniGraz

TED

TED is a nonprofit organization devoted to Ideas Worth Spreading. Started as a four-day conference in California 25 years ago, TED has grown to support those world-changing ideas with multiple initiatives. The annual TED Conference invites the world's leading thinkers and doers to speak for 18 minutes. Their talks are then made available, free, at TED.com.

TEDx (x = independently organized event)

In the spirit of ideas worth spreading, TEDx is a program of local, self-organized events that bring people togehter to share a TED-like experience. At a TEDx event, TEDTalks video and live speakers combine to spark deep discussion and connection in a small group. These local, self-organized events are brande TEDx, where x = independently organized TED events. The TED Confercnce provides general guidance for the TEDx program, bud indicvidual TEDx events ar self-organized. (Subject to certain rules and regulations.)

More information: www.tedxmedunigraz.com

Team

Staff