What is FINBB?

Building the world's best biobank network

The mission of Finnish Biobank Cooperative –FINBB is to enhance the competitiveness of Finnish health and biomedical research by providing researchers a centralized access to collections and services of the Finnish biobanks and their background organizations. FINBB's activities create value for its members and owners by providing services at the national level.

FINBB is a cooperative owned by six largest hospital districts and universities in Finland, and the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare (THL). FINBB has eight member biobanks.

Since January 2020, FINBB has been the national coordinator of the European biobanking network BBMRI-ERIC. All eleven Finnish biobanks are involved in the network activities.

What is a biobank?

Biobank is a collection of biological samples and associated health data. Biobanks grant access to samples and the associated data for high-quality scientific research projects and product development aiming at understanding disease mechanisms and disease prevention and developing new diagnostics and treatments.  

The Biobank Act protects the rights of the donor and allows with the consent of the donor the collection and storage of samples and data in biobanks for use in various future research projects, not just ones with a predefined purpose. Finnish Medicines Agency Fimea directs and supervises the biobank activity in Finland and maintains a national biobank register. Only a registered biobank may engage in biobanking activities regulated by the Biobank Act.