The Danish National Biobank

The Danish National Biobank at Statens Serum Institut gives scientists a comprehensive overview of and access to millions of biological samples in Denmark’s health care system for the first time.

Home to the entire Danish population

Over the years, Denmark has built up unique nationwide registries with detailed information about all residents. At the same time, Denmark’s health care system has routinely collected biological material from many individuals.

The Danish National Biobank at Statens Serum Institut gives scientists a comprehensive overview of and access to millions of biological samples in Denmark’s health care system for the first time.

In addition, these can be linked with information from the nationwide registries. This will give researchers new opportunities for investi gating why disease occurs and how to prevent and treat it.

The Danish National Biobank is a project with three strands: the Danish National Biobank Registry, a large physical Biobank and a coordinating centre. The Biobank Registry will contain detailed information on samples consisting of blood, tissue and DNA. For example, a researcher can find blood samples from people with cancer – taken before they developed the disease – and can use the samples to study markers for the later development of the disease.

A gigantic freezer

The ultramodern 2400-m² physical Biobank is one of the world’s largest and includes a gigantic freezer room in which robots store, retrieve and deliver the biological samples. The coordinating centre staff are experts at managing and processing the biological material and will advise and assist researchers on issues arising from the use of the Biobank Registry and the physical Biobank.

The Danish National Biobank was established in collaboration with Statens Serum Institut. In 2009–2010, the Foundation awarded a 10-year grant of DKK 118 million (€15.9 million) to establish and operate the Biobank. It opened in 2012. Other contributors to establishing the Biobank include Denmark’s Ministry of Science, Innovation and Higher Education and the Lundbeck Foundation.