Given the increasing international growth of the research biobanks system and the centrality of the biobank in scientific progress, it is of utmost importance to have personnel trained in the various aspects of quality and reproducibility of biobank-based research.
The Master’s course was designed by the University of Bologna and the University of Eastern Piedmont, in collaboration with BBMRI.it and IRST, which provided the expertise of its training department.
The course aims to develop the skills necessary for the production, management and monitoring of samples and equipment as well as the challenges of biobanking in the context of Responsible Research and Innovation. It also provides in-depth expertise on the different types of biobanking, covering both the most established and central models for the advancement of research (such as pathology and population biobanks) and the most innovative frontiers in the field, such as the biobanking of organoids and induced pluripotent stem cells (iPS).
The teaching staff, with specific experience in these fields, will guide students in learning best practices for the preservation and management of complex biological samples, with a focus on the latest technological developments and applications in clinical and research settings, as well as the ethical-legal implications.
From an organizational point of view, the training includes specific modules dedicated to biobank management, offering skills for strategic planning, management of human and material resources, and economic sustainability of facilities. The leadership skills required to manage multidisciplinary teams, ensuring the effective operation of biobanks in a global and constantly evolving context, will also be explored.
The skills acquired may be spent at biobanks, medical or research centres, CROs, pharmaceutical and/or diagnostic companies designing biobank-based research.
Information on the Joint Master (only Italian version): https://master.unibo.it/biobanche/it