Bank of biological material of the First Faculty of Medicine of Charles University (BBM 1FM CU) was established as a division cooperating on BBMRI_CZ project in September 2011. The aim of this project is to set up Czech part of the large distributed research infrastructure of pan-European importance (BBMRI). BBMRI_CZ project is focused on the collection of tumour samples.

Two sites have been adapted for the processing and long-term storage of samples. Fluids (whole blood, serum, plasma and urine) and DNA are processed and long-term stored in deep-freeze boxes (-80 °C) in the premises of the Institute of Medical Biochemistry and Laboratory Diagnostics. The administrative seat of the BBM 1FM CU was also built here. Tissues are stored in nitrogen vapour (‑156 °C) and RNA Later (-80 °C) at the Institute of Pathology where a laboratory for sample preparation and cryo-depositories were also set up.

The BBM of the First Faculty of Medicine of Charles University was opened on the 28th of June 2012 with the participation of representatives of the 1FM CU and the General University Hospital in Prague (VFN). The collection of samples takes place on the basis of the "Cooperation Agreement" between the 1st Faculty of Medicine and the VFN of 30 November 2011. The project was approved by the VFN Ethics Committee in March 2012.

The first collection and processing of samples began in 2013, and a number of VFN clinics participated in the project, especially the Gynaecology and Obstetrics Clinic, the Urology Clinic and the First Surgery Clinic. At the same time, the BBM database of the 1st Faculty of Medicine of the UK was created, which enables the collection of data on the state of health of donors in an anonymized form.

BBM 1FM CU as a part of BBRI_CZ project is implemented under the ERIC (European Research Infrastructure Consortium) legal entity from September 2013.

In 2015 BBM 1FM CU has been certified for quality management systems according to the norm ISO 9001.

Link to the BBMRI website ( http://bbmri.eu/ )

Link to the BBMRI-ERIC website ( http://bbmri-eric.eu/ )

History in data

2011 (September) Launch of the project Bank of biological material First Faculty of Medicine UK (BBM 1FM CU)

2011 Conclusion of a contract on cooperation in sampling between the First Faculty of Medicine of the UK and VFN Prague

2011-2012 Reconstruction of premises for BBM 1FM CU (laboratories, cryo-storage, office)

2012 Approval of the BBM 1FM CU project by the VFN Ethics Committee, equipping the reconstructed premises with instruments and laboratory equipment, June 28 – opening of BBM 1FM CU

2012-2013 Creation of the BBM 1FM CU database – Trial sampling and putting the database into operation

2013 Start of collection, processing and storage of patient samples, integration of the BBM 1FM CU within the BBMRI into the ERIC infrastructure

2015 Successful quality certification according to ČSN EN ISO 9001:2009

2017 Processed samples from more than 3,000 withdrawals

2018 Recertification of the management system according to ČSN EN ISO 9001:2016 (another successful recertification took place in 2021)

2019 BBM processed samples from 4,800 collections and manages 90,000 aliquots

2021 By the end of 2021, the biobank processed samples from 7,940 collections and created more than 135,000 aliquots

2022 start of sample storage in liquid nitrogen vapour in a robotic storage unit

2023 By the end of 2023, the biobank has already processed samples from more than 11,900 samples, prepared more than 195,000 aliquots and provided 3,870 of them for use