Healthcare-embedded biobanking

The aim of the healthcare-embedded biobanking at the University Hospital Schleswig-Holstein (UKSH) is to systematically biobank clinical data and biological samples (residual materials) that arise in the course of patient care. This broad collection of extensive patient records and samples at the second largest university hospital in Germany enables unprecedented characterization of disease heterogeneity, which is at the root of precision medicine. Moving forward, such healthcare-embedded biobanking will become increasingly relevant and will complement traditional cohort biobanks and research practices.  As early as 2016, the Faculty of Medicine at Kiel University decided to set up the healthcare-embedded biobank at the Kiel campus of the UKSH to complement the population-based PopGen biobank. DNA biobanking was then launched at the end of 2017, followed by liquid biobanking in 2020.

The healthcare-embedded biobanking system is regulated by ethical and legal processes that allows safe and sustainable access to patient data and resources. In the long term, this process is to be extended to both UKSH sites.

More information on healthcare-embedded biobanking can be found here.