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Biobank

ivo.es Research Biobank

The IVO Biobank is a Hospital Biobank mainly focused on oncological pathology.

It aims to collect, store and distribute quality biological samples from oncological patients so that they can be used in biomedical research, thus enhancing the research carried out by the Institution’s different healthcare services, both internally and externally, and on a non-profit basis, through collaboration with other research groups.

The IVO Biobank has all the latest-generation equipment and facilities to provide service and technical support to researchers in terms of sample storage, clinical trials, sample processing, cell culture, technical advice, etc.

The Biobank currently has more than 200,000 biological samples associated with clinical information, which have been stored since 1998.

Most of the biological samples come from surplus diagnostic or therapeutic processes. The types of samples stored are as follows: frozen tissue (normal and tumour), paraffin-embedded and fixed tissue (normal, tumour, pre-neoplastic tissues), blood samples (serum, plasma, lymphocyte sediments), urine (liquid urine, urinary sediments), DNA and RNA. Performing under the highest quality standards is also one of the IVO Biobank’s objectives. For this reason, it participates in external quality programmes of the ISBER-IBBL (Integrated Biobank of Luxembourg) with the aim of continuously evaluating its activity.

The Biobank is managed through a process-based quality management system under the ISO 9001:2015 standard. Currently, the procedures have been adapted to the ISO 20387:2018 standard in order to achieve accreditation for the Biobank’s activity and to guarantee technical training and commitment to quality for researchers.

The IVO Biobank is authorised by the Generalitat Valenciana and registered in the National Register of Biobanks (Registration No.: B.0000773). Until 2020, the IVO was part of the National Platform of Biobanks for Biomedical Research Support, with funding from the Carlos III Institute of Health (ISCIII) since 2009, and we are currently part of the Platform of Biobanks and Biomodels as collaborators. We also belong to the Valencian Biobanks Network (RVB).

Mission, Vision and Values of the Biobank

Mission

To manage collections of high-quality biological samples and information associated with them

Vision

To add value to the collections it contains, facilitating access to associated information

Values

It is based on four core values: Honesty, Credibility, Professionalism and Quality

Biobank managers and technicians

  • Head of the Biobank: Manuel Llombart Fuertes.
  • Scientific Director: Dra. Isabel Gil Aldea.
  • Head of the Pathology Department: Ana Calatrava Fons.
  • Technical Coordinator: Isabel Cortell Granero.
  • Biobank Technician: Patricia Carretero Hinojosa.
  • Documentary Technician: Nuria López Pérez-Madero.

More info

The purpose of the IVO Biobank is to collect, store and distribute quality biological samples from oncology patients for use in biomedical research.

The Biobank’s Management is committed to:

  • Obtaining the maximum satisfaction of research groups requiring biological samples as well as other interested parties
  • Ensuring that the activities carried out by the Biobank are conducted with full respect for human dignity and identity and the inherent rights of the person, in compliance with current legislation on treatment, storage of biological samples, and protection of personal data, as well as the provisions of international treaties on the application of biology and medicine
  • Complying with legal requirements, both those assumed by the Biobank and the requirements and expectations of interested parties
  • Guaranteeing the quality of the data and biological samples stored, as well as the procedures associated with the Biobank’s operations
  • Guaranteeing the quality of the data and biological samples stored, as well as the procedures associated with the Biobank’s operations, by means of good practices and suitable methodologies
  • Maintaining the commitment to continuous improvement in the effectiveness of the quality management system and in the services provided
  • Complying with and reviewing the quality objectives, providing the necessary technical, economic and human resources as a means for properly achieving them
  • Ensuring that the Quality Policy is communicated, understood and accepted by the Biobank’s staff and is available to relevant interested parties

View document

The IVO Biobank has published its catalog of samples in the BBMRI and RVB directories.

Catalog in BBMRI-ERIC: BBMRI-ERIC Directory
Catalog in RVB: atenea.fisabio.san.gva.es/redcap/surveys/?s=XT3DEPHNLKNMJYYA

The IVO Biobank collaborates with the following entities

Processes and sample requests

An application form must be completed in order to request biological samples.


On the basis of this application, the Scientific Director will assess whether the Biobank has the requested samples and will draw up a Sample Availability Report, which will be sent together with the sample application form to the IVO Foundation’s CEIC and the scientific committee of the Valencian Biobank Network (RVB) for evaluation. Both committees are the bodies in charge of assessing the suitability of the request from an ethical and scientific standpoint and will either grant or withhold their approval for the transfer of the samples to the research project in a way that guarantees the rights of the donors and the destination of the samples to scientifically validated projects.

FORM

Request for samples from the Biobank by researchers