HUB is now the first university-based liquid biobank in Germany and only the second biobank nationwide to successfully complete this demanding accreditation process. Across Europe, only four other biobanks have received this prestigious certification. The accreditation is therefore both rare and rigorous – and serves as a clear signal of the high quality and professionalism of HUB’s biobanking processes.

“The accreditation reflects our consistent commitment to quality and our culture of continuous improvement,” emphasizes Prof. Dr. Thomas Illig, Director of HUB. “It ensures that researchers can rely on high-quality, standardized samples and data – a critical foundation for reproducible and robust research.”

For the German Center for Lung Research (DZL), this accreditation represents a significant added value: it underlines the methodological excellence of its translational research and increases the international visibility of the DZL sites. Since both accredited biobanks – HUB and the biobank at the DZL site TLRC – contribute to the work of both the DZL and the German Center for Infection Research (DZIF), this achievement also strengthens the broader network of German Health Research Centers (DZG).

The accreditation was preceded by an intensive preparation phase. Inga Bernemann, Quality Manager at HUB and responsible for quality management within the DZL Biobanking Platform, particularly highlights the strong team collaboration: “This accreditation was truly a team effort. Without the dedication and diligence of everyone involved, this success would not have been possible.” She also emphasizes the valuable support provided by the German Biobank Node (GBN) through its Friendly Audit program, which played a key role in guiding HUB through the process.

With two accredited biobanks now under its umbrella, the DZL positions itself as a national and European leader in quality-assured biobanking for biomedical research.

Text: BREATH/IB, AB

Photo: © www.bbmri-eric.eu