News Report / Profile
Biobank-IMM - Presentation
The IMM-Biobank is a structure set up by the Institute of Molecular Medicine (IMM) of the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Lisbon, which receives and stores a vast collection of biological samples donated on a volunteer basis, aiming at boosting biomedical research.
With over 26 000 samples (26 323) from 3 252 donors, including blood, saliva, urine, bone, tumour tissue, and corresponding clinical data, the IMM-Biobank is a unique platform that provides technical support to research on the origin of diseases which have huge impact on the health of citizens, such as cancer and osteoporosis.
The existence of more than one sample from the same donor and of samples from both healthy donors and sick ones, and the availability of clinical data on the donors may be an important resource in identifying new diagnostic and prognostic tests and innovative drugs.
Recently, the IMM-Biobank won the 2nd place in the Biotechnology category of the “Hospital of the Future Awards 2001/2012”, which are jointly organized by the Hospital of the Future Forum and SINASE and aim to recognize and reward people and organizations that have contributed the most to development in health organizations in Portugal.
Join the IMM-Biobank, make it a cause!
The stored samples result from voluntary donations from people who wish to support the efforts of IMM-Biobank to boost and sustain scientific knowledge, which the entire population may benefit in the future.
The success of the IMM-Biobank depends on the availability of samples from a wide range of the country’s population. In addition to the donation of blood samples, the IMM-Biobank accepts donations of human tissue resulting from waste from biopsies or surgery.
Samples collected by the IMM-Biobank are cryopreserved (stored at -80ºC and/or -196ºC temperatures) and are available to the scientific community in order to facilitate and develop national and international cooperation.
The donor’s clinical data collected at the time of sampling, which is essential to its use for research purposes, is encrypted, and the IMM-Biobank guarantees strict confidentiality of all personal data collected.
In addition to storage space, the IMM-Biobank provides other services, such as the automatic extraction of DNA and RNA of various types of samples and cultured cells.
The IMM-Biobank is committed to:
• Keeping and taking care of your sample with utmost safety and confidentiality.
• Gathering as many samples and respective clinical data as possible, increasing the chances of research on diseases with major impact on the health of citizens.
• Making the samples available only to research teams that possess the human and technical conditions that allow fostering scientific development.
• Promoting the advancement of science according to the principles governing the IMM-Biobank, namely scientific rigour, exemption and respect for human beings.
• Taking biomedical research conducted in Portugal to the highest international level.
• Contributing to the promotion of health and well-being of all.
Ethical and Legal Aspects and Information Management at the IMM- Biobank
The collection and storage of biological samples by the IMM-Biobank is authorized by the Ethical Committee of the Northern Lisbon Hospital Centre – Santa Maria Hospital. The collection and processing of clinical data associated to samples has to be approved by the National Commission for Data Protection. The IMM-Biobank possesses state-of-the-art software for managing samples and clinical data, adapted according to their specific needs. Stored biological samples are protected by a 24 hour security system and subject to strict access rules. Samples are made available for research following authorization by the Ethics Committee, which validates the scope and the purpose of the scientific research, and in accordance with the Scientific Committee, which ensures the most appropriate use for each sample.
Organization of the IMM-Biobank
The IMM-Biobank is directed by Doctor João Eurico Fonseca, who runs and supervises the operation and coordinates the Scientific and Technical Committees. Biologist Joana Caetano Lopes collaborates in the management of projects and biochemist Ângela Afonso provides technical support, being in charge of collecting, processing, storing, and controlling the quality of the biological samples and of managing the database. Biologist Rita Cascão is responsible for cell culture, while Doctor Joaquim Pereira is in charge of medical counselling and communication. The IMM-Biobank also has a tumour technical consultant, biologist Ricardo Pires, who advises on collecting, processing, storing, and quality control of tumour samples.
The IMM-Biobank is part of the Lisbon Academic Medical Centre (CAML), which brings together on the same campus a medical school (the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Lisbon - FMUL), a teaching hospital (Northern Lisbon Hospital Centre - Santa Maria Hospital) and a scientific research institute (Institute of Molecular Medicine - IMM). It is a structure of the IMM, a non-profit entity that enjoys a strategic position that can enhance new forms of scientific cooperation.
The Institute of Molecular Medicine (IMM)
The IMM is a scientific research institution of reference in Portugal. It has the status of Laboratory Associated to the Ministry of Education and Science. It is a non-profit organization funded by governmental public funds, the European Union and private foundations.
The mission of the IMM is to foster biomedical research and contribute to the understanding of disease mechanisms and to the development of new therapeutic approaches and diagnostic tests.
O Centro Académico de Medicina de Lisboa (CAML)
The Lisbon Academic Medical Centre (CAML)
The Lisbon Academic Medical Centre comprises the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Lisbon, the Northern Lisbon Hospital Centre – Santa Maria Hospital and the IMM. It aims to develop an integrated perspective of medicine by fostering research from bench to clinical practice.
The Faculty of Medicine of the University of Lisbon is directed by Professor J. Fernandes e Fernandes (Director).
The Northern Lisbon Hospital Centre – Santa Maria Hospital is directed by Dr João Correia da Cunha (Chairman of the Board of Directors).
The Institute of Molecular Medicine is directed by Professor João Lobo Antunes (President) and by Professor Maria Carmo Fonseca (Executive Director).
The IMM-Biobank is directed by Professor João Eurico da Fonseca (Director).
Location and contact details of the IMM-Biobank
The IMM-Biobank is located in the Egas Moniz building of the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Lisbon, on the campus of Santa Maria Hospital in Lisbon.
Address: Edifício Egas Moniz Av. Prof Egas Moniz 1649-028 Lisboa
Additional information: Find us on www.biobanco.pt and on www.facebook.com/BiobancoIMM
Telephone: (+351) 217 999 437 and (+351) 965 152 588
E-mail: immbiobanco@fm.ul.pt
Site: www.biobanco.pt
On Facebook: www.facebook.com/BiobancoIMM
Embrace this cause!
Donate a blood sample and support the dissemination of the IMM-Biobank!
IMM-Biobank, closer to you than you think!
BiobanK Team
immbiobanco@fm.ul.pt