Biobanks internationally

Many countries have already been involved with large-scale projects for some years, creating biobanks with a high number of samples. The greater the collection of samples, the more representative the end scientific conclusions that can be drawn. On the basis of the scientific euphoria created by advances in genome research, researchers in this area had genetic material in their sights in particular. Using this material, they want to search systematically for the genetic precursors for certain diseases.

Iceland

In 1999, the Icelandic Genealogic Database Project began- the first of its kind in Iceland. This database and the respective samples of approximately 80,000 volunteers were originally controlled and owned by the government. However, since then, the Icelandic biotechnology company deCODE has acquired the database and it is now being put to commercial use. At first, it was intended to collect the DNA samples of all Icelanders, but this failed due to public protests and a shortage of money.

More information can be foundhere

Estonia

The Estonian Genome Project in Estonia encompasses, at present, approximately 10,000 DNA samples from voluntary donors, which is set to increase to 100,000 samples in the coming four years. The data and samples are the property of the state. Earlier this year, the Estonian parliament granted 8 million Euros for further development of the database.

More information can be found here

Great Britain

The ‘UK Biobank' project in Great Britain has also been in the planning stages for some years, having already devoured 100 million Euros in the meantime. The starting signal for the 61-million pound project was finally given this summer in a call for the recruitment of donors. After a three-month test phase at the beginning of the year, in which DNA and medically relevant data were collected from 3,800 participants, the recruitment of up to 500,000 individuals over the next few years has now begun. The biobank is financed by the British Ministry of Health, the Medical Research Council and the Wellcome trust.

More information can be found here

Canada

In 2002, the Canadian biobank project known as Cart@gene was initiated. Within the scope of the project the samples from around 50,000 participants aged between 25 and 74, a random sample from the entire Canadian population, will be gathered. In the first phase, it is intended to obtain the DNA samples of 18,000 older persons aged between 50 and 69. In the second phase the DNA samples of 32,000 persons aged between 25 and 49 will be collected. The information will be cross linked with data from the health insurance system. In the last few years, the project has had to be restructured several times - a precursor to the creation of the P3G Consortium (see below) has been created. The overall concept is currently undergoing an evaluation process. Recruitment of donors is intended to begin in 2007.

More information can be found here

P3G Consortium

Aside from such national projects, there are also attempts to unite several biobanks across national borders and under a single roof. An example of such an initiative is the international P3G network (Public Population Projects in Genomics), created in Canada in 2003, with members from Canada, Estonia, Britain as well as Germany (KORAgen and the Danubian Biobank Consortium). There are a total of 12 active members in the network.

More information can be found here