Biobank: bank with priceless collection
Biobanks are becoming a valuable and popular alternative source for exploring scientific ideas, mechanism of diseases and testing new bioactive compounds and biologicals, with the minimal possible discomfort of the animals and at low costs.
BPRC's Primate Biobank is the biggest non-human primate bank in Europe. It strives to be an international example of how to conduct the best science that meets the highest ethical standards. The biobank is based on the principals of the 3Rs: refinement, reduction and replacement in primate research.
| For further information on how to request biological material, contribute data, or collaborate, please contact us at: [email protected] |
These are our freezers. They contain the treasures for researchers and other scientists from all over the world. These large units contain unique material that is of vital importance to researchers who carry out studies we cannot conduct ourselves.
We store and distribute a wide range of biological materials, such as tissues, products derived from serum, blood, DNA, RNA and B cells. These materials are highly valuable to other research institutes, companies and organisations engaged in biomedical research. Researchers from all over the world are free to apply for certain materials, as long as they indicate what type of research they will need the materials for.
Rare and valuable primate specimens
In this way, BPRC makes rare and valuable primate specimens available to both BPRC employees and external scientists. Our Biobank may serve as an alternative source of information that will help people examine scientific hypotheses and pathomechanisms, and test new bioactive substances and biological products. The idea is to minimise the number of animals undergoing testing and to reduce research expenditures. We wish to emphasise here that our Biobank is NOT a commercial activity. We do not sell the cells and tissues we collect, but rather make them available to those who need them. We only expect to be reimbursed for the expenses we incur through storage and postage.
Biobank composition
Our Biobank is run by our veterinary pathologist, from where we literally mail our cells and tissues, several hundreds of times per year. Needless to say, we neatly categorise and label all our cells and tissues, and there are digital files on all the animals' backgrounds. This background information is essential, and is in fact what makes our Biobank unique – because our animals are born here and spend their entire lives here, we know everything there is to know about them. The veterinary pathologist decides what cells and tissues are suited to being stored in our Biobank and for what purposes.
Research groups
BPRC not only disseminates cells and tissues from its Biobank, but also shares them directly through various research groups. As is customary in the academic community, these research groups will make their data available for other purposes once they have been published in academic journals.
Research groups
BPRC not only disseminates cells and tissues from its Biobank, but also shares them directly through various research groups. As is customary in the academic community, these research groups will make their data available for other purposes once they have been published in academic journals.
Visible results
Through its Biobank, BPRC indirectly contributes to several types of research. The cells and tissues we store are used in many studies. For instance, through our Biobank, we were involved in the characterisation of types of bacteria found in stomachs, and the oesophagi are used for diagnostic purposes.
Furthermore, we have helped (and still continue to help) others conduct many studies on the development of brains and brain functions – studies that are not always carried out at BPRC, but to which we do contribute through the cells and tissues we provide. The same is true for the use of our blood products, which are used by researchers investigating the cross-reactivity of certain medications, or the effects of certain medications on certain blood components. These researchers want to test these medications in a Petri dish before actually performing any experiments involving animals.
Significant contribution to science
The Biobank is physical evidence that all animals living at BPRC help advance the cause of science, even after they die, and even if they were never experimental animals in the first place. Because the cells and tissues we harvest after they die can still be used after their death. Which encourages us and others to conduct research that does NOT involve living animals.
The transfer of the material from BPRC to the recipient can be done by:
- Signing Material Transfer Agreement (MTA) form
- Providing a CITES document for outside EU
- Providing administration costs and shipping charges by the recipient
For more details please contact: [email protected].
Please note; Any request for nonhuman primate tissues, DNA, RNA, cDNA, blood / serum samples or assays, shall be accompanied by information about the project objectives and how the requested materials or assays will be used in the project. BPRC reserves the right to decline a request for nonhuman primate tissues, DNA, RNA, cDNA, blood / serum samples or assays if, in BPRC’s opinion, such a request does not fit within the mission statement of BPRC.