New biobank – modern facilities ensure future research
The hospital is in the process of completing a state-of-the-art biobank facility at Vinderen. The premises must ensure safe storage of valuable biological material. This is important for the hospital's long-term investment in research and personalized medicine. The facilities will be ready by the end of 2024.
Over several decades, Diakonhjemmet Sykehus has built up valuable research biobanks, especially within rheumatology. New biobank premises give the entire hospital a long-awaited opportunity to build up a sustainable and long-term solution for the long-term storage of biological material on its own property.
The new premises meets today's needs and facilitates increased capacity in the years to come. In collaboration with the clinic for rheumatology, the outpatient clinic and research, we have realized an important project for the hospital, says Mattis Schrøder, department manager for construction and technical operations.
Safe long-term storage of biological material
The new biobank in Building D at Vinderen will replace current solutions, including external storage facilities at the Norwegian Institute of Public Health (FHI). They are shutting down their external storage operations, and during the autumn of 2024, ultra-freezers will be moved from Myrens Verksted to the new premises at Vinderen.
Move-in process
The move-in process is led by the Clinical Trials Unit and is thoroughly planned, inform unit manager Line M Jacobsen, and Frank Bakkejord, quality advisor.
The owners of the freezers are informed about the schedule and if they have any questions, just get in touch, urges biobank coordinator Katrine Bjerkan.
The biobank of the future at Vinderen
- This is a big step for research at the hospital. The new premises have been specially designed to meet the requirements of modern biobanks and are equipped with top security solutions and optimal infrastructure to ensure long-term storage of valuable biological material, says head of research at the hospital Espen A. Haavardsholm.
He emphasizes that the biobank exists for research at the entire hospital.
The premises will be able to accommodate 30-35 ultra-freezers, with temperatures of -80°C and -150°C, which ensures the right conditions for the long-term storage of samples such as blood, tissue and synovial fluid. With dedicated cooling, emergency power, access control, continuous monitoring of the temperature in each individual freezer and reserve capacity in the event of a freezer breakdown, the recommendations from Biobank Norway are followed. They are the ones who set the national standards for biobank facilities.
Personalized medicine
The research biobanks that the hospital has developed within rheumatology have been decisive for the development of personalized medicine.
- Through REMEDY, the hospital will continue to use the biobanks actively in future research, especially to identify biomarkers and develop algorithms for predictive treatment effect, explains Espen A Haavardsholm.
Strengthened research collaboration
High standards at the biobanks make it possible to participate in national and international projects that strengthen the scope and quality of research. With these upgrades, the research environment at the hospital can continue to collaborate with outstanding environments at home and abroad.
- When the new room is ready, it will give the research environment a long-awaited upgrade, and ensure that valuable biological material is stored in a way that preserves its quality for many years to come, emphasizes Haavardsholm.
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