IBBL Release: Annual Report 2014 Multiple Contracts, Grants And Certifications
Having renewed its performance contract for the period 2014-2017 with the Ministry for Higher Education and Research, IBBL (Integrated BioBank of Luxembourg) was keen to start making good on its promises right away. Based on the results presented in the 2014 Annual Report, the biobank reached its goal, in some areas even surpassing the objectives laid out in the contract: 2 certifications, 12 new service contracts, 5 new grants, of which 4 are for European consortia and 14 scientific publications, all the while fulfilling its core mission of supporting Luxembourg biomedical research.
Arguably the most important moment for IBBL in 2014, was in December, when the biobank was awarded 2 international certifications: for ISO 9001 (general quality management) and for NF S96-900 (quality of biological resource centres). Having established quality as a core concept since the beginning, this official recognition was a big accomplishment and the first big step on the biobank’s quality journey. In 2015, IBBL will strive to achieve its next target: accreditation. Since only a handful of biobanks worldwide are accredited as testing laboratories, this will be crucial for IBBL’s goal of becoming a worldwide centre of excellence in biobanking. Related to this, is the biobank’s continued investment in biospecimen research. In 2014, IBBL’s research team was able to celebrate substantial achievements; the setup of collaborations with the US National Cancer Institute, the publication of 12 scientific papers and 2 book chapters and the validation of numerous laboratory procedures, which can be used as references and guidelines by biobanks worldwide. IBBL’s CEO, Dr Catherine Larue explains: “Biospecimen research does not only give us international recognition, but also directly improves the quality of the services and samples we provide to our clients.” The positive impact on its reputation is already evident: IBBL signed a total of 12 service contracts in 2014, which is a substantial increase from the previous year. The biobank’s dedication to quality and the gain of more international reach has also helped it win a total of 5 grants last year. As IBBL officially announced in April 2015, one of these grants is from the European Innovative Medicines Initiative (IMI), where IBBL is working with prestigious partners from the pharmaceutical industry and academia on blood based biomarkers of cancer.
Though the biobank has international ambitions and celebrated substantial accomplishments on that level, it remains deeply rooted in the Luxembourg research landscape. As part of its core mission IBBL supports national biomedical research on multiple levels: through biobanking, research, coordination, funding and public outreach. In addition to the work on existing studies, IBBL and its partners have put considerable effort into setting up new studies in 2014, such as the National Centre of Excellence in Research on Parkinson’s disease. Similarly, IBBL focused on its collaborative spirit to fulfil its obligations within the Plan Cancer. The biobank ran campaigns to raise awareness of biospecimen donation, as well as setting up a close collaboration with the Laboratoire National de Santé (LNS) with the goal of improving the logistics of tumour sample collection between hospitals, IBBL and the LNS. Finally, IBBL’s CEO Dr Catherine Larue brought together a panel of cancer research experts to develop a national research strategy. Beginning its 6th year of activities, the biobank is determined to forge ahead and continue these efforts in the next years. Dr Larue concludes: “We cannot disappoint our stakeholders and our Ministry who supported us all along these five years; we therefore have only one thing to do: roll up our sleeves and succeed.”
About IBBL
The IBBL (Integrated BioBank of Luxembourg) Institute is a biobank dedicated to supporting biomedical research for the benefit of patients. The mission of IBBL is to provide high-quality biospecimens and associated data, foster scientific excellence, catalyse partnerships and support research that translates scientific discoveries into new healthcare solutions. IBBL is an integrated research infrastructure, compliant with international quality standards, offering biobanking services, including the collection, processing, analysis and storage of biological samples and associated data. In addition, IBBL carries out research to optimise biospecimen processing and certify biospecimen quality. IBBL is an autonomous institute, organised within the Luxembourg Institute of Health (LIH). For more information, please visit our corporate website (www.ibbl.lu) or our public website (www.biobank.lu)
Contact
Arnaud d’Agostini (Marketing & Communication Manager)
Sarah Weiler (Science Communication Officer)
IBBL (Integrated BioBank of Luxembourg)
6 rue Nicolas Ernest Barblé
L-1210 Luxembourg
Tel: + 352 26 970 - 524
Fax: +352 26 970 - 502
Email: communications@ibbl.lu
Corporate website: www.ibbl.lu
Public website: www.biobank.lu
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Arguably the most important moment for IBBL in 2014, was in December, when the biobank was awarded 2 international certifications: for ISO 9001 (general quality management) and for NF S96-900 (quality of biological resource centres). Having established quality as a core concept since the beginning, this official recognition was a big accomplishment and the first big step on the biobank’s quality journey. In 2015, IBBL will strive to achieve its next target: accreditation. Since only a handful of biobanks worldwide are accredited as testing laboratories, this will be crucial for IBBL’s goal of becoming a worldwide centre of excellence in biobanking. Related to this, is the biobank’s continued investment in biospecimen research. In 2014, IBBL’s research team was able to celebrate substantial achievements; the setup of collaborations with the US National Cancer Institute, the publication of 12 scientific papers and 2 book chapters and the validation of numerous laboratory procedures, which can be used as references and guidelines by biobanks worldwide. IBBL’s CEO, Dr Catherine Larue explains: “Biospecimen research does not only give us international recognition, but also directly improves the quality of the services and samples we provide to our clients.” The positive impact on its reputation is already evident: IBBL signed a total of 12 service contracts in 2014, which is a substantial increase from the previous year. The biobank’s dedication to quality and the gain of more international reach has also helped it win a total of 5 grants last year. As IBBL officially announced in April 2015, one of these grants is from the European Innovative Medicines Initiative (IMI), where IBBL is working with prestigious partners from the pharmaceutical industry and academia on blood based biomarkers of cancer.
Though the biobank has international ambitions and celebrated substantial accomplishments on that level, it remains deeply rooted in the Luxembourg research landscape. As part of its core mission IBBL supports national biomedical research on multiple levels: through biobanking, research, coordination, funding and public outreach. In addition to the work on existing studies, IBBL and its partners have put considerable effort into setting up new studies in 2014, such as the National Centre of Excellence in Research on Parkinson’s disease. Similarly, IBBL focused on its collaborative spirit to fulfil its obligations within the Plan Cancer. The biobank ran campaigns to raise awareness of biospecimen donation, as well as setting up a close collaboration with the Laboratoire National de Santé (LNS) with the goal of improving the logistics of tumour sample collection between hospitals, IBBL and the LNS. Finally, IBBL’s CEO Dr Catherine Larue brought together a panel of cancer research experts to develop a national research strategy. Beginning its 6th year of activities, the biobank is determined to forge ahead and continue these efforts in the next years. Dr Larue concludes: “We cannot disappoint our stakeholders and our Ministry who supported us all along these five years; we therefore have only one thing to do: roll up our sleeves and succeed.”
About IBBL
The IBBL (Integrated BioBank of Luxembourg) Institute is a biobank dedicated to supporting biomedical research for the benefit of patients. The mission of IBBL is to provide high-quality biospecimens and associated data, foster scientific excellence, catalyse partnerships and support research that translates scientific discoveries into new healthcare solutions. IBBL is an integrated research infrastructure, compliant with international quality standards, offering biobanking services, including the collection, processing, analysis and storage of biological samples and associated data. In addition, IBBL carries out research to optimise biospecimen processing and certify biospecimen quality. IBBL is an autonomous institute, organised within the Luxembourg Institute of Health (LIH). For more information, please visit our corporate website (www.ibbl.lu) or our public website (www.biobank.lu)
Contact
Arnaud d’Agostini (Marketing & Communication Manager)
Sarah Weiler (Science Communication Officer)
IBBL (Integrated BioBank of Luxembourg)
6 rue Nicolas Ernest Barblé
L-1210 Luxembourg
Tel: + 352 26 970 - 524
Fax: +352 26 970 - 502
Email: communications@ibbl.lu
Corporate website: www.ibbl.lu
Public website: www.biobank.lu
Help employers find you! Check out all the jobs and post your resume.