Biobank Ireland Trust National Symposium 2024

Biobank Ireland Trust hosted its National Symposium on Thursday, 24 October 2024, at the Herbert Park Hotel in Dublin. Themed “Patients and Biobanking, Research and New Treatments,” the event brought together patients, clinicians, researchers, healthcare professionals and representatives from the wider research community to explore the growing importance of biobanking in advancing medical research and improving patient care.

The symposium was chaired by Áine Lawlor and featured contributions from a range of leading figures in Irish medicine, pathology, research and patient advocacy. Speakers included Professor John O’Leary, Professor Michael Farrell, Professor Richard Flavin, Professor Seán Hynes, Eddie Mullin and Josephine Brady, alongside representatives from Biobank Ireland Trust and the wider research community.

A key focus of the symposium was the important contribution made by patients who donate biological samples and associated clinical information for research. Speakers highlighted the need to ensure that patients and the public remain central to the development of biobanking, with appropriate consent, ethical oversight, transparency and responsible use of samples and data.

The discussions demonstrated how high-quality biological samples, linked with relevant clinical data, can provide an invaluable resource for researchers seeking to understand disease, identify biomarkers, improve diagnosis and develop new treatments.

The symposium highlighted the significant potential of biobanking to support translational research, particularly in areas such as cancer and personalised medicine. Access to well-characterised patient samples enables researchers to investigate the biological mechanisms underlying disease and can help bridge the gap between laboratory research and improved clinical treatments.

The event also provided an opportunity to discuss the future development of biobanking infrastructure in Ireland and the importance of collaboration between hospitals, universities, researchers, patients and other stakeholders.

A strong message from the symposium was the need for a coordinated and sustainable approach to Irish biobanking. Greater collaboration, common standards, appropriate governance, investment in infrastructure and increased public awareness will be important in ensuring that Ireland can maximise the research value of its biospecimen resources.

The symposium also contributed to the wider discussion around Ireland's development of a national biobanking infrastructure and its potential engagement with BBMRI-ERIC, the European research infrastructure for biobanking and biomolecular resources.

The 2024 National Symposium demonstrated the important role that patients, researchers, clinicians and biobanks can play together in improving healthcare and supporting medical discovery. It provided an important platform for discussion and collaboration and reinforced Biobank Ireland Trust's commitment to developing a connected, high-quality and sustainable biobanking network for Ireland.

Biobank Ireland Trust would like to thank all speakers, delegates, patients, supporters and partners who contributed to the success of the 2024 National Symposium.