1. BBMRI
Expert Centres
K. Zatloukal
Medical University of Graz, Austria
Paris, December 16th 2009

2. About BBMRI
• BBMRI should provide a pan-European research
inrastructure to foster excellence in biomedical research
Better projects, faster, cheaper
• Access to high quality resources, technologies, services,
education and training
• Partner for academia and industry
SMEs: Strategic partner, customer
Pharma: Biomarker and drug development
• Incubator for regional development

3. BBMRI Expert Centres
A new model of public-private-partnership
to improve efficacy of biospecimen
research for academia and industry

4. Why Expert Centres?
• To generate best possible use of biological
samples
Specific medical/scientific expertise required for proper sample
selection, study design and data interpretation
Standardized state of the art analysis platforms prerequisite for
data sharing and generation of knowledge
High level quality management is prerequisite for industry to
trust in data generated in public environment
• Alternative to sample shipment
Opportunity for research collaborations with countries with
export restrictions
Improved access to industry (and academia)
Avoids impression of sample commercialisation

5. Access by the Industry
Surgeons
Pathologists Scientific
Samples
collaboration
Med. data
Patient
Radiologists Patient‘s
Sample Industry
Oncologists Med. data
Cost recovery
Lab medicine
etc.
Problem if no scientific collaboration is possible since financial compensation
is no reasonable incentive for contributors and not accepted by public

6. Expert Centers: Model A
Samples Samples
Med. data Med. data Research data
Expertise Expertise Expertise
Hospital Expert Industry
Biobank Centers
Patients Cost recov. Data Expertise
Cost recov. In-kind
Cost recov.
Public-Private
Public pre-competitive Private – competitive
(not-for-profit) (not-for-profit) (for-profit)
Provides efficient access to samples, data and expertise
Mutual benefit from expertise and in-kind contributions
Joint generation of pre-competitive data and knowledge
Reduces requirements for sample shipment
Gateway for global collaborations

7. Expert Centers: Model B
Samples Samples
Med. data Med. data Research data
Expertise Expertise Expertise
Hospital Expert Industry
Biobank Centers
Patients Data Data In-kind
Cost recov. Cost recov. Cost recov.
Public
Private – competitive
(not-for-profit)
(for-profit)
Provides efficient access to samples, data and expertise
Benefit from in-kind contributions
Generation of pre-competitive data and knowledge
Reduces requirements for sample shipment
Gateway for global collaborations

8. Expert Centers: Model C
Samples Samples Processed
Med. data Med. data samples
Expertise Expertise Expertise
Hospital Expert Industry
Biobank Centers
Patients Cost recov. Cost recov. Cost recov.
Public Private – competitive
(not-for-profit) (for-profit)
Provides efficient access to samples, data and expertise
Reduces requirements for raw sample shipment

9. Expert Centers Features
• Specifications defined together with industry
• Industry participates in QM
• Participation in ring trials
• Common reference samples
• Certification / Accreditation
• Confidentialy guaranteed like by CRO
• Different models, great flexibility / brand

10. Global Integration of BBMRI by
Implementation of the OECD GBRCN
Concept in Europe

11. Expert Centres as Highways for
Transnational Research Collaborations
Biological Biological
Resource
Samples Resource
Centre
Samples Medical data Centre
Samples
Medical
Medical
Data
Data
Europe China
Research
Expert Expert
Centre Data Centre

12. Thank you
www.bbmri.eu
M. Yuille et al. Briefing in Bioinformatics 9: 14-24 (2008)