The Biobank Law requires that clinical samples collected for biobank research in the future and samples already existing be stored in a biobank, if collected with the type of consent described in the law. Several public biobanks have been established in Finland: by health care districts and catchment areas, universities, and the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare (THL). Fimea keeps a separate registry of Finnish biobanks.
Auria Biobank is the first clinical biobank established in Finland. It obtained a licence to operate from the National Supervisory Authority for Welfare and Health, Valvira (currently Finnish Medicine Agency, Fimea) on March 10, 2014. Auria Biobank has been established by the University of Turku and the hospital districts of Southwest Finland, Satakunta and Vaasa. Approximately 80% of the samples in Auria Biobank are cancer samples. In accordance with the specialities of the hospital districts of Southwest Finland and Satakunta, the biobank supports research in cancer, diabetes and cardiovascular diseases in particular.
Contact information:
Street address: Medisiina D, Kiinamyllynkatu 10, 20520 Turku
Postal address: PL 52, 20521 Turku
info@auriabiopankki.fi
tel. 050 578 0815
Arctic Biobank – University of Oulu
Arctic Biobank – University of Oulu was established in 2020 to host large population-based sample collections from Northern Finland. Arctic Biobank aims to promote research in health and well-being, and in medicine and life sciences. It provides samples and data for high-quality research projects aimed at elucidating the causes of disease and the impact of genetics, environment and lifestyles on their onset. The results of the research will help prevent disease and develop safer, more effective and individualized treatments.
Contact information:
Street address: Aapistie 5B, 90220 Oulu
Postal address: P.O.Box 5000, FI-90014 University of Oulu
Tel. +358 294 48 000
Helsinki University Central Hospital (HUCS) -area of special responsibility and the University of Helsinki have established a clinical biobank that supports the translational research done in the region, and network with national and international biobanks. The research field of Helsinki Biobank is the research done in health and medical science in HUCS area. Helsinki Biobank operates to support research which aims at promoting population health, understanding the factors in disease mechanisms or the development of health care products. The biobank obtained a licence to operate from the National Supervisory Authority for Welfare and Health, Valvira (currently Finnish Medicine Agency, Fimea) on April 21, 2015.
Contact information:
Street address: Haartmaninkatu 3 (4. krs), 00290 Helsinki
Postal address: PL 400, 00029 HUS
biopankki@hus.fi
tel. 050 421 7659
Hematological Biobank (FHRB Biobank)
Hematological Biobank is owned by the Finnish Association of Hematology, Institute for Molecular Medicine Finland and Finnish Red Cross Blood Service. The Association of Finnish Cancer Patients is also involved in Hematological Biobank. Biobanks’s research area covers the prevention, diagnosis, treatment and follow-up of hematological disorders. Hematological Biobank is a national biobank and collects samples and data from patients with hematological disorder in all Finnish hematological units that have made an agreement on sample collection. The aim of the Hematological Biobank is to collect a comprehensive and high quality sample and data repository for hematology research. The Hematological Biobank was registered in Valvira’s (currently Fimea) national biobank registry on July 15, 2014.
Contact information:
Kivihaantie 7
00310 Helsinki
biopankki@veripalvelu.fi
tel. 029 300 1023
The Biobank of Eastern Finland was established by the hospital district of North Savo, The South Savo Social and Health Care Authority, the hospital district of Eastern Savo, Siun sote – Joint municipal authority for North Karelia social and health services and the University of Eastern Finland. The Biobank of Eastern Finland aims to mediate high quality human samples to medical research to promote development of new products and services that promote public health. The Biobank of Eastern Finland was registered to Valvira (currently Fimea) national biobank register on October 29, 2015.
Contact information:
PL 100, 70029 KYS
info@ita-suomenbiopankki.fi
tel. 017 173 311
The Central Finland Hospital District and the University of Jyväskylä established a biobank in Jyväskylä that aims to promote research and to support the development of diagnostics and treatment. The Central Finland Biobank was registered to Valvira (currently Fimea) national biobank register on October 29, 2015.
Contact information:
Northern Finland Biobank Borealis
The population of Northern Finland is uniquely homogeneous, which makes the sample collections of the Northern Finland Biobank especially valuable for research. Northern Ostrobothnia Hospital District (PPSHP), the University of Oulu (UO), Nordlab and the hospital/healthcare districts of Lapland, Länsi-Pohja, Central Ostrobothnia and Kainuu have agreed to establish a biobank in Northern Finland. The biobank operations started on July 10, 2015.
Contact information:
Street address: Aapistie 5B, 90220 Oulu
Postal address: PL 50, 90029 OYS
biopankkiborealis@ppshp.fi
tel. 040 504 9025
Finnish Clinical Biobank Tampere
Finnish Clinical Biobank Tampere (FCBT) was established by Pirkanmaa Hospital District, University of Tampere, Etelä-Pohjanmaa Hospital District and Kanta-Häme Hospital District. FCBT’s license to operate was granted by Valvira (currently Fimea) on September 8, 2015.
FCBT’s role is to support disease prevention, studies on the effectiveness or side effects of treatment of patients, and studies exploiting pathological findings. The main focus of the biobank, in accordance with the research strategy defined by the University of Tampere and Pirkanmaa Hospital District, is research in cardiovascular disease, cancer, immunology and type 1 diabetes.
Contact information:
Biokatu 6
33520 Tampere
biopankki@tays.fi
tel. 03 311 65205
Terveystalo Biobank Finland’s registered areas of research include population’s health promotion, identification of factors involved in disease mechanisms, and disease prevention. Terveystalo Biobank Finland was registered to Valvira (currently Fimea) national biobank register on October 11, 2017.
Contact information:
Markku Nissilä
firstname.lastname@terveystalo.com
THL Biobank belongs to the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare. THL Biobank’s registered areas of research include population’s health promotion, identification of factors involved in disease mechanisms, and disease prevention. THL Biobank is a country-wide biobank and hosts a remarkable collection of population and disease-specific samples for research purposes. Valvira (currently Fimea) granted THL Biobank a license to operate on March 10, 2014.
Contact information:
PL 30
00271 Helsinki
biopankki@thl.fi
tel. 029 524 6073
The research area of Blood Service Biobank is health promotion and prevention of diseases and is specialized in transfusion medicine. The biobank collects samples from blood donors during their blood donation. The Blood Service Biobank was registered in the national biobank registry Valvira (currently Fimea) on May 30, 2017.
Contact information:
Kivihaantie 7
00310 Helsinki
biopankki@veripalvelu.fi
tel. 029 300 1010