Providing high-quality biological samples and associated data for cancer research
Medical research would be unthinkable without the analysis of biological material (biological samples) and medical data. At the UKSH, biological samples are processed and stored in specialized facilities known as “biobanks.” Biobanks are key to the development of new, improved diagnostic methods and treatment options for serious and, in some cases, incurable diseases such as cancer. There are various biobanks at the UKSH that operate across departments and in which biosamples such as blood, blood components, tissue, urine, and stool, as well as the accompanying data, are stored for research purposes. Research into so-called biomarkers—molecules or characteristics that enable reliable diagnosis and targeted treatment of diseases—is often the focus of research projects involving clinical biosamples.
Access to biological samples and data is available to researchers upon request and requires a project-specific ethics approval as well as authorization by the UKSH Use and Access Committee (UAC-UKSH).
Contact UCCSH Biobanks: biobank.uccsh@uksh.de
P2N Biobank Network
The PopGen 2.0 Network (P2N) is a consortium of scientific “biobanks” located on the Kiel campus of the University Medical Center Schleswig-Holstein (UKSH) and at the Borstel Research Center (in collaboration with the LungenClinic Großhansdorf and several clinics at the UKSH Lübeck campus).
Translational Interdisciplinary Biobank Kiel (TRIBanK)
The TRIBanK biobank has been well established at the University Hospital Schleswig-Holstein (UKSH), Campus Kiel, for more than 25 years. Its biospecimens are used in numerous national and international research projects and clinical studies, with the Institute of Experimental Cancer Research closely involved in these activities.
To date, TRIBanK has collected liquid samples (e.g., blood, bone marrow, urine) as well as tissue samples from more than 10,000 patients. These samples are available for scientific research, provided that all ethical and legal requirements are met. Sample collection and use are strictly based on prior medical information and written informed consent from each patient.
A particular focus of TRIBanK lies in collecting biospecimens from patients with gastrointestinal cancers, including cancers of the esophagus, stomach, pancreas, liver, and colon, as well as lung cancer. These samples contribute to the development and validation of new approaches in cancer screening, diagnostics, and therapy.
With the growing importance of precision medicine, biobanking has become increasingly relevant for enabling personalized diagnostic and treatment strategies. TRIBanK is a certified cooperation partner of the Center for Personalized Medicine – Oncology (“Zentrum für Personalisierte Medizin”, ZPM-O) at the University Hospital Schleswig-Holstein, which was certified by the German Cancer Society in early 2024.
Interdisciplinary Center for Biobanking Lübeck (ICB-L)
The Interdisciplinary Center for Biobanking Lübeck (ICB-L) is a central infrastructure facility of the University Medical Center of Schleswig-Holstein (UKSH) on the Lübeck campus. As a hospital-integrated biobank, the ICB-L supports researchers in the quality-assured collection, processing, and storage of biological samples, as well as in the collection and processing of descriptive data from clinical practice and research. The goal of the ICB-L is to provide standardized and quality-assured biological samples and associated data that serve the fundamental research of diseases. Since 2011, the ICB-L has had a DIN EN ISO 9001-certified quality management system (TÜV Nord), which is continuously developed and improved to meet the growing demands in the field of biomedical research.
In the field of oncology, the ICB-L supports sample collection and logistics for the Molecular Tumor Board (MTB) at the Lübeck Campus and participates as a member of the “Research Task Force” of the University Cancer Center of Schleswig-Holstein (UCCSH).
The ICB-L is a certified partner of the Center for Personalized Medicine – Oncology at the UKSH, which will be certified by the German Cancer Society in early 2024.
