Cooperative Health Research in South Tyrol (CHRIS) Biobank

bbmri-eric:ID:IT_1385547708942390

Description

The CHRIS (Cooperative Health Research in South Tyrol) Biobank was established by the EURAC Research Institute of Biomedicine based on a longitudinal study involving approximately 13,500 healthy individuals. It currently stores over 1,300,000 cryo-tubes containing whole blood, blood fractions, DNA, urine, saliva and stool. The biobank has one facility at the hospital in Merano and another at the Institute for Biomedicine in the NOI Technology Park in Bolzano. Both sites are equipped with automated platforms for handling biological samples and mechanical or nitrogen cryo-containers. Ethical-legal issues are considered with the highest attention and strict operating procedures are followed in every process. Monitoring and tracking systems are used to ensure the security of samples, data and personnel. The biobank constitutes a platform for biomedical research, as access to samples is free although strictly regulated.